Summary

Medal Passage of the St. Bernard's Pass, Issued by France, 1800
Artist: Bertrand Andrieu
Other Details: Produced by electroforming, an electrotype with glass dome

Obverse Description

Napoleon on horseback amidst mountains hurling thunderbolt; in small letters at left, ANDRIEU.F.; in exergue, PASSAGE DU GD. ST. BERNARD. / LE XXV FLOREAL / AN VIII

Reverse Description

Plain

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

"From mount St. Bernard the army began to meet with difficulties, which might have been thought insurmountable, but enthusiasm conquered them all. They had to draw their artillery along narrow paths, in many places almost perpendicular; and over mountains of snow; a very small force would have arrested their progress, but they met no opposition.

They reached St. Peter near the great mountain St. Bernard, on the 15th May, General Berthier acting as Bonaparte's lieutenant. The whole park of artillery was collected there. The mountain they had to pass over was 1800 feet above the level of the sea; all wild and barren, a vast extent of snow and ice, mingled with a terrific silence. Over this frightful mountain the
mind of Bonaparte conceived the possibility of passing his army with all its artillery, baggage, &c. Obstacles almost invincible presented themselves, but all was foreseen by the genius who conceived the enterprise, and contrived every thing to carry it into execution. " Laskey p.28

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