The Medal for Bravery "Miloš Obilić" (), commonly known as the Medal of Miloš Obilić, is a state decoration awarded by the

Republic of Serbia , image_flag = Flag of Serbia.svg , national_motto = , image_coat = Coat of arms of Serbia.svg , national_anthem = () , image_map = , map_caption = Location of Serbia (gree ...

, and before that by the

Kingdom of Serbia The Kingdom of Serbia was a country located in the Balkans which was created when the ruler of the Principality of Serbia, Milan I of Serbia, Milan I, was proclaimed king in 1882. Since 1817, the Principality was ruled by the Obrenović dynast ...

and the

Kingdom of Yugoslavia The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a country in Southeast Europe, Southeast and Central Europe that existed from 1918 until 1941. From 1918 to 1929, it was officially called the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, but the term "Yugoslavia" () h ...

, for heroic acts.

History

The original Medal for Bravery was established on 14 November 1912. This medal had two degrees (gold and silver), which differed in appearance. The gold medal was worn on a red ribbon, while the silver medal was worn on a tricolor ribbon (red-blue-white, the colors of the flag of Serbia). This medal was used very briefly and was soon superseded by another model. This was because Serbia was represented by an allegorical female figure on the medal's obverse. According to some historians, the female figure was based on Serbian heroine Milica Stojadinović-Srpkinja. The female figure was considered to be an unfitting motif on the medal for bravery for the Serbian soldier. Serbian officers openly expressed dissatisfaction, after which it was decided to change the model to the one depicting Miloš Obilić. Medal for Bravery "Miloš Obilić" was founded on 12 July 1913 by King Peter I and granted to soldiers for acts of great personal courage or for personal courage demonstrated on the battlefield. The medal was awarded in two degrees (gold and silver). It started being awarded during the

Second Balkan War The Second Balkan War was a conflict that broke out when Kingdom of Bulgaria, Bulgaria, dissatisfied with its share of the spoils of the First Balkan War, attacked its former allies, Kingdom of Serbia, Serbia and Kingdom of Greece, Greece, on 1 ...

, continued during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

1914–1918, and during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, 1941–1945, to members of the Yugoslav Army and of Allied forces. On the

obverse The obverse and reverse are the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags, seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, ''obverse'' ...

is the ideal figure of

Miloš Obilić Miloš Obilić ( sr-Cyrl, Милош Обилић, ) is a Legend, legendary Serbian knight traditionally said to have served Prince Lazar during the Ottoman Serbia, Ottoman invasion of Serbia in the late 14th century. Although absent from conte ...

, the Serbian medieval knight who sacrificed his own life at the

Battle of Kosovo The Battle of Kosovo took place on 15 June 1389 between an army led by the Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović and an invading army of the Ottoman Empire under the command of Sultan Murad I. It was one of the largest battles of the Late Middl ...

in 1389, by assassinating the Ottoman Sultan

Murad I Murad I (; ), nicknamed ''Hüdavendigâr'' (from – meaning "Head of state, sovereign" in this context; 29 June 1326 – 15 June 1389) was the sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1362 to 1389. He was the son of Orhan Gazi and Nilüfer Hatun. Mura ...

. The Medal for Bravery "Miloš Obilić" was worn on a red ribbon. The designer was Đorđe Jovanović. In 2009 the National Assembly adopted a law regulating medals and continued to award the Medal for Bravery (two classes: gold and silver) and in 2010 extended its name to include "Miloš Obilić" (the Medal for Bravery "Miloš Obilić").

Notable recipients

In 2012 it was posthumously awarded to

Srđan Aleksić Srđan Aleksić ( sr-cyr, Срђан Алексић; 9 May 1966 – 27 January 1993), nicknamed Srđo, was a Bosnian Serb amateur actor, prospective swimmer, and soldier in the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) during the Bosnian War. He saw his n ...

, a young Serb killed while defending his Bosniak friend.

Gallery

File:Medal for Bravery Kingdom of Serbia obverse.jpg, 1912 version medal

References

External links

THE BRAVERY MEDAL (1913), The Official website of the Serbian Monarchy
{{Orders, decorations, and medals of Serbia Bravery Medal Orders, decorations, and medals of Yugoslavia Courage awards Awards established in 1913 1913 establishments in Serbia Orders, decorations, and medals of the Kingdom of Serbia

History

Notable recipients

Gallery

See also

References

External links