Accra Medaille

The “Accra Medal” was instituted in 1840 by the Turkish Sultan Abdülmecid I (1839–1861). This campaign medal was established for Britain’s allies, because on 9 December 1840 the British fleet used its guns to blow up the fortress’s powder magazine in Aka—also known as Acre, Saint Jean d’Acre, or Akka—and thereby succeeded in halting the advance of the rebellious Muhammad ‘Ali Pasha, the vassal who ruled Egypt on behalf of the Ottoman ruler.

The Sultan made the medal available to the British Admiralty, which in turn decided that everyone entitled to wear a “Syria” clasp on their Naval General Service Medal could also receive and wear this medal.

Medals were awarded in four grades.

The large gold medal, 29 millimeters in diameter, set around with large rose-cut diamonds.

The Sultan himself wore this medal.

The gold medal, 29 millimeters in diameter, set around with rose-cut diamonds.

The inset gold medal, 29 millimeters in diameter, set around with small rose-cut diamonds.

These medals were for the Grand Vizier and the ministers. In this way, they celebrated the restoration of their power with the help of a foreign power.