Orden und Militaria bis 1918

| 23 slightly stained. Extremely rare award docu- ment dating from the third award period – a mere four years – of the Second Mexican Em- pire from 1863 to 1867. Heinrich Laube (1806 - 1884) was a German author and member of the Frankfurt Parlia- ment, as well as the artistic director of Vienna’s Burgtheater between 1849 and 1867. Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph Maria of Austria, the younger brother of the Austrian Kaiser Franz Josef I, was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico on 10 April 1864. Napo­ leon III falsely led him to believe that the Mexican people wanted an emperor from the House of Habsburg and even had Maximilian deliver a referendum that had been manipulat- ed by the opponents of Juarez. When French troops were forced to leave Mexico after the American Civil War ended, the Emperor lost his final European support against Juarez. Thereupon, Empress Carlota (Charlotte of Belgium) travelled to Europe to plead for assistance from both Napoleon III and Pope Pius IX – but to no avail . In May 1867, Querétaro City, to which the Emperor had withdrawn with his followers, fell. Maximilian was sentenced to death and subsequently executed. 300142 II € 1.800 ÖSTERREICH - KAISERREICH 4007 Leopold-Orden, Kommandeurskreuz mit Kriegsdekoration Komturkreuz als Kriegsfertigung aus ver­ goldeter Bronze, farbig emailliert. Im Ring die Sternpunze, im Kronenring Sternpunze und Herstellerpunze von Rothe, Wien. Am konfektionierten Bandabschnitt. Breite 40,5 mm. Order of Leopold, the Commander’s Cross with War Decoration Commander’s Cross of wartime manufacture in gilt bronze, enamelled in colour. The ring stamped with the star hallmark, the crown ring with the star hallmark and manufacturer’s mark of Rothe, Vienna. On a customised ribbon section. Width 40.5 mm. 300568 II € 4.500 4007