On July 14, 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion, Tianjin was occupied by the Eight-Nation Alliance. To manage local affairs, the Eight-Nation Alliance established the "Provisional Administration Office for Local Affairs in and around Tianjin" (also known as the "Tianjin Provisional Government" or "Tianjin Military Governor's Office") on July 30th, utilizing the former Governor-General's office. This office was responsible for alleviating the difficulties caused by frequent warfare, such as looting, market closures, and the plight of the people, and gradually restoring normal social order.
At the time, Russia, Britain, and Japan contributed the most troops, so initially, the Tianjin Tianjin Provisional Government was chaired by a three-person committee consisting of Colonel Wogack from Russia, Lieutenant Colonel Bower from Britain, and Lieutenant Colonel Aoki from Japan. In November of the same year, under an agreement from the Allied command, one officer each from France, the United States, and Germany was added, expanding the committee to six. On April 15th of the following year, an Italian representative joined the committee, thus forming the organizational structure of the Tianjin Provisional Government, with each of the seven countries (excluding Austria-Hungary) holding a seat.
During its jurisdiction, the Tianjin Provisional Government had subordinate administrative bodies such as a police force, finance department, censorship department, health bureau, and grain bureau, exercising military rule over Tianjin, Jinghai, Ninghe, and other areas. After the signing of the Boxer Protocol, the Eight-Nation Alliance gradually withdrew from Beijing and Tianjin. In May 1902, Yuan Shikai, the Governor-General of Zhili, negotiated with the foreign military governors stationed in Tianjin, ordering them to abolish the Tianjin Provisional Government. The Qing government did not formally reclaim power in Tianjin until August 15th.
At the time, Russia, Britain, and Japan contributed the most troops, so initially, the Tianjin Tianjin Provisional Government was chaired by a three-person committee consisting of Colonel Wogack from Russia, Lieutenant Colonel Bower from Britain, and Lieutenant Colonel Aoki from Japan. In November of the same year, under an agreement from the Allied command, one officer each from France, the United States, and Germany was added, expanding the committee to six. On April 15th of the following year, an Italian representative joined the committee, thus forming the organizational structure of the Tianjin Provisional Government, with each of the seven countries (excluding Austria-Hungary) holding a seat.
During its jurisdiction, the Tianjin Provisional Government had subordinate administrative bodies such as a police force, finance department, censorship department, health bureau, and grain bureau, exercising military rule over Tianjin, Jinghai, Ninghe, and other areas. After the signing of the Boxer Protocol, the Eight-Nation Alliance gradually withdrew from Beijing and Tianjin. In May 1902, Yuan Shikai, the Governor-General of Zhili, negotiated with the foreign military governors stationed in Tianjin, ordering them to abolish the Tianjin Provisional Government. The Qing government did not formally reclaim power in Tianjin until August 15th.
Before handing over power to Tianjin, the Eight-Nation Alliance specially produced a commemorative medal for the members of the Tianjin Provisional Government Office.
It was designed by J. Chevet and manufactured by the Tokyo workshop Tenshodo https://asiamedals.info/threads/medals-badges-watch-fobs-made-by-tenshodo-workshop.29582/.
The medal obverse features the flags of seven countries—Germany, the United States, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, and Russia - inlaid with black, white, red, blue, and green enamel. The reverse displays the Chinese characters for "Tianjin Provisional Government" surrounded by oak and laurel branches.
According to the "Illustrated History of Milled Coinage and Medals of Modern China /图说中国近代机制币章/ edited by Sun Hao, Shanghai Science and Technology Press, 2017, pp. 279-280."
12 gold medal
60 silver medals
153 bronze medals
were issued.
It is generally believed that gold medals were awarded to high-ranking foreign dignitaries in the Tianjin Provisional Government, while silver and bronze medals were mostly awarded to foreign and local officials with lower ranks.
Gold, enamel.
Size 52 mm.
Weight 97.07 g.
Marked on the rim "Tenshodo" and "K18".
The obverse shows the flags of the seven alliance members who formed the government.
Gouvernement provisoire du district de Tientsin = Provisional Government of Tianjin.
Gouvernement provisoire du district de Tientsin = Provisional Government of Tianjin.
Reverse inscription
天津 - Tianjin
都統衙門 - Provisional Government
Following the capture of Tientsin in July 1900, a provisional local government was established, initially with a three-person committee consisting of representatives from Russia, the United Kingdom and Japan, and shortly afterwards augmented by another four representatives from the United States, Germany, France and Italy. Officially called T’ienchin Tutung Yamen, this provisional government exercised military control over Tientsin, Chinghai, Ningho and some other regions, with a force of some 900 men under their direct control. The Tutung Yamen ended in August 1902 when Tientsin was restored to Qing control.
Details.
J.C. = J. Chevet
Marks.