Spain: Cross for the Defenders of Astorga

Spain: Cross for the Defenders of Astorga, red enamelled cross, 39 mm, the arms with swollen ends, blue central oval with cannon crossed with a sword and a musket, suspension involving a scrolled embossed 'EN ASTORGA CON VALOR ADQUIRIMOS ESTE HONOR', blue and white ribbon, minor enamel damage, repair to reverse, very fine.

Astorga, in North West Spain, lay on the flank of the French advance toward Portugal. Its defenders surrendered in April 1810 only after exhausting their ammunition and inflicting heavy casualties on the invaders.