History

The Cross is associated with the Cross for Military Valour, ITA321, which was instituted by King Victor Emmanuel III during the Kingdom of Italy.

The modern Cross design was established in 1949 by a decree issued by the President of the Republic, wherein the royal emblem on the obverse was replaced with the initials “RI” to represent the Italian Republic.

This Cross is only be awarded to recognize valorous actions undertaken in wartimes. Thus, it is awarded to military personnel, and civilian employees of the military, who have committed an act of bravery that could have been ignored without dereliction of duty and honour, and that placed the recipient in a situation of serious personal risk.