The Featured Piece for August 2026
MEDALS FOR CHARITY. MEDICAL DECORATIONS FROM THE LAST CARLIST WAR (1872–1876)
Pablo Larraz Andía
PhD in History of Medicine
During the last civil war of the 19th century, the inadequate care provided to wounded Carlists, the lack of hospitals, and the Red Cross’s legal inability to operate in rebel-held territory led to the creation of “La Caridad: A Catholic association t for the Relief of the Wounded” in October 1874. This was a “ staff ” initiative by Doña Margarita de Borbón Parma, wife of Carlos VII, and it was funded through delegations in various countries, established within Catholic and Legitimist circles.
Over the next two years, the charity raised B development , establishing 33 hospitals in the Basque Country and Navarre, as well as several “flying ambulance units”—teams of doctors and medical personnel equipped with carriages, ambulances, and pack mules, ready to be deployed without delay to the battlefield.
association 's seal featuring the Heart of Jesus on a red Maltese Cross surrounded by daisies.
The " association," presided over and directed by Ms. Margarita, had women’s delegations in nine countries and was led by two directors: the French legitimist William de Bourgade, who was in charge of supplies; and the Jesuit Manuel Barrena, director of staff. María Josefa Vasco, an aristocrat from Granada, served as director of the women’s staff .
La Caridad established its headquarters within the Irache Monastery, which served as the main Carlist hospital during the conflict from October 1874 to May 1876. Doctors from various European nations gathered there, along with modern medical and surgical equipment sent by committees established abroad.
As a way of recognizing its benefactors, La Caridad established a specific order with its own decorations.
On October 8, 1874, Charles VII, from his Royal Quarters in Puente la Reina, issued the Royal Decree granting his wife permission to create the “La Caridad” medal and establish the criteria for awarding it.
Royal Decree Establishing the Medal Titled “La Caridad.” file Tirso Olazábal.
The regulations governing the “La Caridad” decorations were drafted the following day, on October 9, 1874. They outline four categories with different designs, based on the merits earned or the amount of the contributions made. The regulations consist of ten articles that specify the conditions for awarding the decorations, rules for their use, costs, and the series to be produced for each model.
Article 1
The Order of Charity will be conferred by Her Majesty the Queen, either directly or through a proposal r any other person she deems fit to authorize for this purpose.
Article 2
Those who request this honor, either directly or indirectly, will not receive it, nor will they be considered for it. It will be granted solely by Her Majesty the Queen as a reward for services rendered, without distinction of class, sex, or nationality.
Article 3
To receive this distinction, the following requirements must be met:
1. To have exposed oneself to danger on the battlefield to aid the wounded.
2. To have worked in some capacity in the service of hospitals, on a regular basis for at least three months.
3. To have supported ambulances and hospitals during wartime by making significant donations, either in cash or in kind.
4. To have rendered to the “La Caridad” Society for the Relief of the Poor ( association ) some service that Her Majesty the Queen deems worthy of a reward.
Article 4
Women will receive special recognition through the following decoration:
1. For organizing committees to aid the wounded during wartime, for having distinguished themselves through their service in such committees, or for having raised donations totaling more than 2,000 reales (500 francs).
2. For having personally cared for the wounded in hospitals for two consecutive months.
3. By having taken in at least two wounded persons at their home during their convalescence, providing them with appropriate care and without any compensation.
Article 5
The Order of Charity comprises four categories:
1st class : Vermeil cross [silver plated with gold] with the royal crown.
2nd Class class: Silver cross without a crown.
3rd Class class: Bronze medal with the royal crown.
4th Class class: Bronze medal without a crown.
Article 6
There will be only 200 decorations from the first class; 600 from the second; the third and fourth will be produced in an unspecified issue .
Article 7
The crosses and medals will be minted in accordance with model C by Her Majesty the Queen, and the ribbons intended for their use will be white with two violet stripes or borders.
Article 8
Recipients of the First Class Cross ( class ) may wear the ribbon—in the form of a rosette and without the cross—in their buttonhole. Recipients of the Second Class Cross ( class ) will wear the ribbon in its standard form. Those who have been awarded the medal are not authorized to wear the ribbon.
Article 9
First-class crosses class are to be worn around the neck; second-class crosses class and medals are to be pinned to the lapel. Women are to wear their crosses and medals on the left side.
Article 10
The fees for the certificates will be 120 reales (30 fr.) for the first-class cross class; 60 reales (15 fr.) for the second-class cross class; 24 reales (6 fr.) for the third-class medals class; and 12 reales (3 fr.) for the fourth-class medals class.
An analysis of the different models and variants allows us to determine their characteristics.
Cross of 1st class
The central motif consists of the Sacred Heart depicted in human form against a white background, in the center of an eight-pointed Maltese cross in burgundy red enamel. It is surrounded by the registration “LA CARIDAD 1874.” Behind it is a floral border featuring four daisies between the arms of the cross; a fleur-de-lis connecting to the crown; and a bow at the bottom. Above the cross, the royal crown is attached to the ribbon—which is white with two purple stripes on either side—via a ring.
It is worth noting the use of purple— employment —by the " association," a symbol of suffering and the Passion in the Christian liturgy. The charity had chosen this color for the berets and other details of its medical staff's uniforms.
1st Crossclass model Wolfers. Jaume Boguñá Collection.
Case for the decoration. Javier Urcelay Collection. Carlist Museum of El Escorial.
On the reverse side, the center of the cross features a monogram of the letter M in a neo- subject —the initial of Doña Margarita de Borbón Parma’s name—surrounded by a gold border. Despite the provisions of the regulations, most of the identified examples are breast medals rather than neck medals.
The decoration came in two versions: one manufactured by Feu, with a gold crown, 2.7 cm wide x r 3 cm high; and another, slightly larger, made in Brussels by Worfers, 3.8 cm wide by 6 cm high, also with a gold crown. Those awarded to knights feature a straight ribbon, while those for ladies feature a bow. The decoration also included gold and silver lapel pins, all of similar design .
The case is covered on the outside with purple paper, and its lid features Queen Margarita's crown and monogram in gold within a golden circle. The interior is lined with green velvet and silk.
2nd-Class Cross class
From design : a silver version similar to the previous one, but without the royal crown. The loop on the ribbon attaches directly to the fleur-de-lis. The case is also similar, with a few minor variations in the finish.
class 's Second Class Cross in its original case. Private collection.
3rd-place medal class
Round, 2.8 cm wide x 4.2 cm high, with the “La Caridad” emblem in relief on the obverse, measuring design similar to those at 1st and 2nd class, but unglazed. On the reverse, Doña Margarita’s monogram in neo-Gothic script and floral ornamentation occupies the center. It is flanked by a bouquet of daisies on the right and a bouquet of lilies on the left. These symbolize the legacy of the Carlist queen, as well as the principles of purity and spirituality that inspired the association.
Arranged in concentric circles, the inscription “QUIS NOS SEPARABIT A CARITATE CHRISTI” [Who will separate us from the love of Christ] encircles it. In an outer circle, two slender laurel branches encircle the design. At the top, it is attached to the crown, which, in turn, is connected by a loop to the ribbon—white with purple stripes on the sides. Just below the loop that joins the two branches, the initials “E.O.” of the die engraver appear in tiny letters.
Actually, the medal was mostly made of silver, although there are also some made of bronze.
class , 3rd-class medal without ribbon (obverse). García de Polavieja Collection.
class 's 3rd-class bronze medal with ribbon (reverse). San Telmo Museum (Donostia/San Sebastián).
4th-place medal class
Circular, 2.8 cm in diameter; the design and ribbon are identical to those of the 3rd class class, but without the royal crown. Generally made of silver, some were also made of bronze. This is the most common model among the decorations of La Caridad. The cases for the 3rd and 4th classes class share similar characteristics with those of the crosses.
class 's 4th-place silver medal. Pablo Larraz Collection.
The medal in its original case. San Telmo Museum (Donostia/San Sebastián).
La Caridad Ambulance Medal
Although some sources mention two variants, this is a single “ model.” It is circular in shape, made of copper, 2.8 cm in diameter, without a ribbon or case. The obverse sample s the Maltese cross with the familiar emblem of the “ association,” this time surrounded by a crown of thorns, a symbol of suffering. Around the edge, in a border, is the inscription “AMBULANCIAS DE LA CARIDAD EN LA GUERRA. 1874 ESPAÑA 1875” ( registration ). Below the cross are two tiny letters, the initials “E.O.” of the die engraver.
On the reverse side is an image of the Immaculate Conception, crowned with stars and with her hands clasped in prayer, standing on a crescent moon and trampling on a serpent. On either side, two bouquets of lilies frame the image. Surrounding the image is the inscription: “O MARY, CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN. PRAY FOR US.”
Produced in the final months of the war, the medal was intended to be submission d to the wounded who were hospitalized in Irache, as a token of recognition and protection. Although it was the cheapest and simplest medal to produce, very few examples are known to exist.
Medal of the Ambulances of La Caridad. García de Polavieja Collection.
La Caridad Plaque
An extraordinary medal in enameled silver with gold accents, 9 cm in diameter. Once again, it features the Maltese cross with the Sacred Heart in the center, framed by daisy branches and the inscription “LA CARIDAD. 1874.”
Like the previous one, it was not provided for in the regulations. Manufactured in Paris by Pouteau, we do not know if it is the only one of its kind. In any case, it must have belonged to a high- position r within the “ association ”: either to its president, to Doña Margarita de Borbón herself, or to William de Bourgade, its principal architect.
Plaque of La Caridad. Jaume Boguña Collection. Photo: FECOM Forum.
In conclusion, we can affirm that the “La Caridad” Charitable association took a special interest in and devoted significant resources to the creation and production of its own decorations. In doing so, it sought to express its appreciation to its benefactors, as well as to the staff volunteers who had selflessly worked in hospitals and ambulances. Today, these decorations—whose details are imbued with significant symbolism—are rare items of B interest to collectors. Many of them originate from France, where Doña Margarita and a large number of her principal subscribers resided.
FILES
file by Tirso Olazábal.
file by the Marquise of La Caridad.
file History of the Shrine of Loyola.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOGUÑA MORRAJA, J., HERRERO GIMÉNEZ, J., and RODRÍGUEZ BELLES, A., Military Decorations of the Carlist Wars (1833–1875), Vol. II, S.L., 2025, pp. 289–301.
LARRAZ ANDÍA, P., Between the Front Lines and the Rear. Healthcare During the Civil War: The Alfonso Carlos Hospital in Pamplona (1936–1939), Madrid, conference proceedings, 2004.
LARRAZ ANDÍA, P., Light in the Twilight: Healthcare and Humanitarianism in Armed Conflicts (19th and 20th Centuries), Government of Navarre, Pamplona, 2022, pp. 72–102.
ROMA, J.M., Centennial of Spanish Traditionalism: A Historical Album of Carlism, 1833–1933, Barcelona, Gráficas Ribera, 1935, p. 158.