- Time Period: WW1
- Institution: 1914
- Country: Mexico, United States
The Cross for Loyalty to the Assassinated President Venustiano Carranza is a medal issued during the early years of the twentieth century, between 1910 and 1920 when control of Mexico’s government was attempted by several parties.
The United States involvement in the Mexican Revolution was varied and seemingly contradictory, first supporting and then repudiating Mexican regimes during the period 1910-1920. For both economic and political reasons, the U.S. government generally supported those who occupied the seats of power, whether they held that power legitimately or not.
When Francisco I. Madero was elected president in October 1911, the U.S. president was a lame duck. The U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Henry Lane Wilson was initially sympathetic to the new regime, but quickly came into conflict with it. Ambassador Wilson conspired with General Victoriano Huerta to oust Madero.
The United States government under newly inaugurated president Woodrow Wilson refused to recognize Huerta’s government and sent troops to occupy Veracruz. President Wilson’s government recognized the government of Venustiano Carranza in 1915.
The Cross for Loyalty to the Assassinated President Venustiano Carranza Design
The Cross for Loyalty is typically designed in the shape of a cross, which is a common motif for many military medals and decorations. At the center of the cross, there is usually a circular medallion. This medallion features a depiction of President Venustiano Carranza. The image of Carranza may vary in detail but typically includes his profile or bust.
Around the outer edge of the central medallion, there may be an inscription. This inscription may include Carranza’s name, title, and dates of birth and death, as well as the words “Por la Lealtad” (For Loyalty) or similar phrases. The cross often has arms that radiate outward from the central medallion, creating a cross-like shape. These arms are usually plain but may sometimes feature decorative elements or symbols.
The medal is typically suspended from a ribbon that allows it to be worn around the neck or pinned to a uniform. The ribbon’s color and design may vary but often incorporate the national colors of Mexico, which are green, white, and red.
