Original Item. Only One Available. This is an original Italian 1935-1936 East Africa Campaign Medal, officially designated the Medaglia commemorativa delle operazioni militari in Africa Orientale, accompanied by its named award certificate dated October 25, 1936. The certificate was issued to Soldier Attilio Biagini, son of Ettore, and specifically authorizes him to wear the decoration with the Roman gladius (gladio romano) on its ribbon, denoting qualifying participation in the military operations of the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.

The medal is struck in bronze and retains its distinctive blue-and-black striped suspension ribbon, complete with the small bronze Roman sword device. The obverse depicts the left-facing portrait of King Victor Emmanuel III, surrounded by the inscription VITT. EM. III RE D'ITALIA IMP. DI ETIOPIA, identifying him as King of Italy and Emperor of Ethiopia. The reverse bears the inscription AFRICA ORIENTALE above an East African landscape with a Roman fasces at left, together with the Fascist slogan MOLTI NEMICI MOLTO ONORE ("Many Enemies, Much Honor").

The accompanying certificate is particularly attractive, measuring approximately 10 ¼" x 15 3/16" [26 x 38.5 cm]. It features an elaborate printed architectural design with classical columns, decorative reliefs, and two large eagles flanking the lower portion. The recipient's name and personal details have been entered by hand, while an additional handwritten notation in the upper left corner reads N° d'ordine 148296, indicating an administrative order number.

Dated Rome, October 25, 1936-XIV, the certificate bears the name and signature of Benito Mussolini in his capacity as Minister. Of particular interest, the ministerial signature appears to have been applied by stamp or facsimile rather than individually signed in pen. A second, smaller reproduction of Mussolini's signature appears beneath the printed quotation at the bottom of the certificate.

This identifies the Italian State Printing Institute's security printing works, which produced official government documents and controlled-value printed material.

The grouping remains in good overall condition, showing wear appropriate to its age. The bronze medal has developed a dark patina, with the original relief and lettering remaining identifiable. The ribbon shows fading, fraying, loose threads, and some wear around its attachments, while the Roman gladius device remains present.

The certificate displays age toning, scattered spotting, old fold lines, and handling wear. Most notably, the lower edge has suffered considerable brown staining, with irregular deterioration and paper loss concentrated toward the lower left corner. Despite this damage, the principal text, recipient's identification, decorative design, and ministerial signature remain legible. Careful handling is recommended to preserve the weakened lower margin.

N° d'ordine 148296

Il Soldato Biagini Attilio di Ettore è autorizzato a fregiarsi della medaglia commemorativa con gladio romano per le operazioni militari in Africa Orientale. (R. Decreto 27 aprile 1936-XIV N° 1150).

Roma li 25 ottobre 1936-XIV

IL MINISTRO

B. Mussolini

LEVATE IN ALTO, LEGIONARI, LE INSEGNE, IL FERRO E I CUORI A SALUTARE DOPO QUINDICI SECOLI LA RIAPPARIZIONE DELL'IMPERO SUI COLLI FATALI DI ROMA.

Mussolini

ISTITUTO POLIGRAFICO DELLO STATO - OFFICINA CARTE VALORI

Translated:

Order No. 148296

Soldier Attilio Biagini, son of Ettore, is authorized to wear the commemorative medal with Roman gladius for the military operations in East Africa. (Royal Decree No. 1150 of April 27, 1936, Year XIV).

Rome, October 25, 1936, Year XIV

THE MINISTER

B. Mussolini

RAISE HIGH, LEGIONARIES, THE STANDARDS, THE STEEL, AND YOUR HEARTS TO SALUTE, AFTER FIFTEEN CENTURIES, THE REAPPEARANCE OF THE EMPIRE UPON THE FATEFUL HILLS OF ROME.

Mussolini

STATE PRINTING INSTITUTE - SECURITY PRINTING WORKS

Historical Context

The Second Italo-Ethiopian War began on October 3, 1935, when Italian forces invaded Ethiopia from the neighboring Italian colonies of Eritrea and Somaliland. The invasion formed part of Mussolini's ambition to expand Italy's colonial possessions and establish a larger African empire. Ethiopia had remained independent despite earlier Italian attempts at conquest, most notably defeating Italian forces at the Battle of Adwa in 1896.

The Italian campaign involved regular army formations, colonial troops, Blackshirt militia, artillery, armored vehicles, and extensive air support. Following the replacement of General Emilio De Bono by Marshal Pietro Badoglio in November 1935, Italian forces advanced farther into Ethiopian territory. The campaign was marked by the extensive use of modern weaponry, including chemical weapons, against Ethiopian forces.

The capital, Addis Ababa, fell to Italian troops on May 5, 1936. Four days later, Mussolini announced the annexation of Ethiopia and the establishment of the Italian Empire, with King Victor Emmanuel III assuming the additional title of Emperor of Ethiopia. Ethiopia was subsequently incorporated into Africa Orientale Italiana, or Italian East Africa, alongside Eritrea and Italian Somaliland.

The East Africa Campaign Medal was instituted on April 27, 1936, shortly before the conclusion of the principal military operations. Its initial eligibility covered members of the armed forces, militarized personnel, and certain civilians formally attached to the campaign. Later royal decrees expanded and clarified the categories of eligible recipients, including personnel involved in subsequent colonial operations and administrative service.

An important feature of the decoration was the Roman gladius attached to the ribbon. The medal was suspended from a silk ribbon consisting of eleven alternating vertical stripes, six blue and five black. The bronze sword device was decorated with a laurel branch and an eagle-headed hilt, with the traditional Savoy motto FERT appearing on its guard.

The gladius distinguished recipients whose service fulfilled the applicable requirements for participation in military operations. The medal could also be awarded without the sword device to certain qualifying personnel serving in support, transport, administrative, or other capacities. Eligibility was further regulated by Royal Decree-Law No. 1584 of July 23, 1936, and Royal Decree No. 2463 of May 10, 1937.

Attilio Biagini's certificate is therefore particularly informative, as it expressly records his entitlement to the decoration with the Roman gladius. His documented rank is that of Soldato, or Soldier, although his specific military formation and individual service history remain unidentified.

The medal's design was the work of Italian medalists Giuseppe Romagnoli and Vito Perrone. It combines the Italian monarchy's imperial title with the imagery and political slogans of Mussolini's government. The Roman fasces was adopted as a principal emblem of Italian Fascism, while the African mountain landscape represents the territory commemorated by the award.

The reverse inscription, Molti nemici, molto onore, meaning "Many Enemies, Much Honor," was a slogan used by Mussolini in Fascist propaganda. Its appearance on the medal illustrates how the government incorporated political messaging into official military decorations during the imperial period.

The certificate likewise reflects the ceremonial language of Fascist Italy. Its Roman architectural elements, eagles, and quotation from Mussolini's imperial proclamation draw directly upon the regime's frequent references to ancient Rome. The reference to the reappearance of empire after fifteen centuries presents Italy's conquest of Ethiopia as a revival of Roman imperial power, a central theme of Fascist propaganda during 1936.

The date of October 25, 1936, places Biagini's award authorization less than six months after the capture of Addis Ababa. At the time, the Italian government was issuing formal recognition to personnel who had qualified for the commemorative decoration, while the newly established colonial administration was consolidating Italian control of East Africa.

Although the Fascist government declared the Ethiopian campaign victorious in May 1936, armed resistance continued throughout the occupation. Italy's colonial rule in Ethiopia lasted until 1941, when British Commonwealth and Ethiopian forces defeated the Italian position in East Africa during World War II.