RUSSIA. Imperia. Medal for the suppression of the Polish rebellion. 1863-1864

In the winter of 1863 on the territory of the Polish and Belarusian lands that entered at the end of the 18th century part of the Russian Empire, broke out the second in the last 30 years the national liberation uprising. To suppress it a military contingent of more than 100 thousand people was deployed in the western provinces. By the winter of next year the main rebel forces were defeated. To honor those who took part in the suppression of the uprising the imperial court issued a medal “For the suppression of the Polish insurrection of 1863-1864.” It can be seen in the exposition of the Museum of Local Lore. The medal was purchased from a private individual in 1989. This award was established on the 1st of January, 1865 and had two varieties – from light and dark bronze. On the front side of the medal, in the whole field, there is an image of the State Emblem of the Russian Empire.
Medals from light bronze received all military ranks as well as cossack regiments and horseback hundreds who took direct part in the hostilities. The same medal was given to civilians of all classes who came out in arms against the rebels. The dark bronze medal was awarded to military officials and military officials who were on the territory of hostilities but did not take part in combat operations.