History

The Military Merit Medal was instituted by Prince Paul Alexander Leopold II and was originally conferred upon officers and high-ranking military members to reward long and meritorious service in the Napoleonic Wars.

The medal was suspended in 1888, and then renewed by Prince Leopold IV in 1908 as a general long service military award.

Following its renewal, the medal could also be conferred upon non-commissioned officers and enlisted men. These medals featured silver coloured crossed swords on the ribbon.

In 1914, crossed swords were added to the obverse design, and recipients could exchange their old medal for the new version. The 1914 version of the medal was still awarded to officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted men.