Commemorative medal of the Mexico Expedition

Small British and Spanish contingents that were originally part of the adventure preferred to withdraw quickly leaving only the French forces assisted by small numbers of Austrian, Belgian and Turkish troops. These forces, whose numbers would later rise to approximately 38,000 men, were successively placed under the command of generals Charles de Lorencez, Élie Frédéric Forey and finally François Achille Bazaine. The campaign was the scene of some of the most notable battles in French military history, such as the glorious struggle for the village of Camaron where, on 30 April 1863, sixty two legionnaires resisted bravely for nine hours against over two thousand Mexicans, allowing for the capture of the city of Puebla on 17 May 1863 thus paving the way to Mexico. In the capital, an assembly of notables recognized Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg, brother of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, as Emperor of Mexico. However, even with the support of 20,000 Mexicans who embraced the new emperor, Maximilian's forces were harassed in their work of pacification by the troops of President Benito Juárez who had the support of the United States. In February 1867, Emperor Napoleon III ordered the repatriation of all remaining French troops from Mexico, the last elements left the port of Vera Cruz on 12 March 1867. An abandoned Emperor Maximilian, defeated and captured near the city of Querétaro, was executed in June of that year.

• Name — Commemorative medal of the Mexico Expedition • Type — Commemorative campaign medal • Eligibility — French citizens and foreign nationals serving in the ranks of the French Foreign Legion • Awarded For — Military service in Mexico 1862-1863 • Status — No longer awarded • Established — 29 August 1863 • Total Awarded — ~38,000 • Caption2 — Ribbon of the Commemorative medal of the Mexico Expedition • Illustration — General Gustave Léon Niox, a recipient of the Commemorative medal of the Mexico Expedition • Illustration — Major Napoléon Charles Bonaparte, 5th Prince of Canino, a recipient of the Commemorative medal of the Mexico Expedition • Illustration — Admiral Henri Rieunier, a recipient of the Commemorative medal of the Mexico Expedition

• Marshal of France Élie Frédéric Forey • General Pierre Émile Arnaud Édouard de Colbert-Chabannais • General Gustave Léon Niox • General Jean François Jules Herbé • General Armand Alexandre de Castagny • General Philippe Marie André Roussel de Courcy • General Auguste Mercier • General Édouard Aymard • Admiral Henri Rieunier • Vice Admiral Édouard Pottier • Rear admiral Benjamin Jaurès • Colonel Charles Nicolas Friant • Colonel Charles Paul Narcisse Moreau • Navy captain Henri Rivière • Major Napoléon Charles Bonaparte, 5th Prince of Canino • Ottoman general Vitalis Pacha

• Museum of the Legion of Honour (in French)