Medal of Distinction of the Army of the South, or Medal of the Baron of the Laguna

The Medal of Distinction [of the Army of the South], popularly known as the Medal of the Baron of Laguna, Medalha de Distinção do Exército do Sul, was given by the EMPIRE OF BRAZIL for services in the campaigns in the southern Brazil between 1811 and, ultimately, 1828. 
Created 31 January 1823 and regulated 18 February the same year, it was conferred to general officers, officers, sergeants and enlisted men from the army and navy, as well as civilians employed with military rank, who participated in at least one campaign between 1811 and 1828, mainly in the 1st Invasion of Uruguay (1811-12), 2nd Invasion of Uruguay or War on Artigas (1816-1820) and the Cisplatine War (1825-1828).

Obverse, for left chest.

In order to be entitled to use, it was required that the Baron of the Laguna, Carlos Frederico Lecor (1764-1836) would personaly issue the competent title, signed and stamped with the imperial seal of the army, indicating the name of the person, quality of the metal to be made and the year or years in which it was deserved.

Gold for general officers; silver for the other officers and white metal or tin for the NCO/Enlisted and similar civil servants.

Reverse, In gold for General Officer.

Use

It should be used on the left side of the chest. The generals could, on the days of great gala, wear it around their necks. It was presented in gold (or gilded) for general officers, gold or silver for officers, and white metal or tin for NCO and enlisted as well as civillian employees with military rank.

Obverse

A cross pattée of four equal arms surmounted by the crest of the house of Braganza (a winged dragon); in the center of the cross, a circle. Inside, in blue field, an olive branch on the hill of Montevideo; on the border of the central circle, the word "MONTEVIDEO" and two branches; in the arms of the cross, the inscription of the years each recipient had been in service in Cisplatina since 1811.
A single year is only marked in the upper arm; two go in the side arms; 3 at the top and sides; 4 in all arms; 5 on the four sides on one side and on the other on top, and so on, with vacant arms being occupied by rosettes.

Reverse, for left chest.

Reverse

In green field, the caption "PETRUS I.B.I.D.", meaning Petrus, Primus Brasiliae Imperator, Dedit (Pedro First Emperor of Brazil gave); on the border, a laurel wreath.

Ribbon

Green, with yellow edges (may have been the first Brazilian decoration with a ribbon with the new national colours); on the ribbon, a metal dowel with the year MDCCCXXII (1822).

João Crisóstomo Calado, with the medal around his neck.

Sebastião Barreto Pinto wearing the medal on his chest. As a major, he commanded the troops from the Dragoons Regiment of Rio Grande, throughout 1816 and 1817.

* * *

Sources

- Regulação para a distribuição da Medalha de distincção (...), 18/2/1823, Conselho Supremo Militar.

- CMG Léo Fonseca e Silva (redator), Marinha do Brasil: Medalhas e Condecorações, Serviço de Documentação Geral da Marinha, Rio de Janeiro, 1983