Krest "50-letie zaversheniya Kavkazskikh voyn"

The Cross “50th Anniversary of the End of the Caucasian Wars” (Крест «50-летие завершения Кавказских войн») was awarded by Emperor Nicholas II to veterans of the Caucasian War and commemorated the 50th anniversary of the annexation of the Eastern Caucasus to the Russian Empire.

In the center, the Roman numeral “L” means 50. 25 August—the year 1859—was the day the long war against the highlanders of the Caucasus, led by Imam Shamil, ended.

On the same day, exactly fifty years after those dramatic events, the insignia “50th Anniversary of the End of the Caucasian Wars” was approved and presented. The insignia was a black-enamel Caucasian Cross, with crossed swords passing through its round center. The anniversary dates “1859–1909” were on the cross’s horizontal arms. To the right and left of the cross’s upper arm were the gold monograms of Alexander II and Nicholas II, laid over the blades of the swords. A silver imperial crown was attached to the edge of the cross’s upper arm, and in the center of the cross was the gold Roman numeral “L” (50 years). A similar bronze insignia, but without enamel or gold, was intended for lower ranks of the army.