Nichan al-Iftikhar – The Order of Glory

• Accession Number:2018.2.1
• Place:Tunisia
• Dimensions:7.6 x 1 x 6.5 cm
• Date:mid-19th century
• Materials and Technique:gold, silver, diamonds

• Nişan-i Iftihar, the Order of Glory, was founded in 1831 by Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II (r. 1808–39) as the second highest order in the Ottoman Empire. It was instituted in Tunisia in 1835 by Mustafa ibn Mahmud (1736-1837), the Bey, 9th leader of the Husainid Dynasty, and ruler of Tunisia (r.1835–7), which was under the sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire.

Further Reading

This Tunisian Order of Glory, First Class, has been created in silver and is adorned with diamonds. It has a golden centrepiece bearing the calligraphic monogram (tughra) of Ahmed I (1805–55), who succeeded his father, Mustafa ibn Mahmud. The Husainid Dynasty was founded in the early 18th century by Al-Husayn ibn Ali, a commanding officer of the Ottoman cavalry, whose Turkish origin can be traced back to the Mediterranean island of Crete.

This order was awarded to the French General Charles Marie Esprit Espinasse (1813–59), who was stationed in North-Africa from 1835 to 1849 and later became Minister of the Interior and General Security as well as Senator to the Second Empire.

— Filiz Çakır Phillip