Medal "Ferdinand I 1910".

[CtahhR]

This is a strange small piece that is an enigma of an item. Much in line with Ferdinand I himself.

This Medal is a "souvenir" of Tsar Ferdinand's European tour of 1910, handed out to members of the Tsar's entourage.

The trip started with him travelling to England for the funeral of Edward VII on 20th May 1910, where he was one of 9 kings in attendance, the first time Ferdinand I had been on the international stage as a head of an independent state. This was not uneventful but that's another story.

Later in the tour on 15th July 1910 Ferdinand I, whilst in Brussels, Belgium he was the first head of state to fly in an aeroplane (The later Tsar Boris III also flew). They were taken up by Jules De Laminne (who had just founded a pilot school) who was awarded the Order "Saint Alexander" for his efforts on the day.

With the onset of the Balkan and Great wars this was Ferdinand's only true Imperial tour.