SOUVENIR OF MARECHALE PELISSIER,
DUCHESSE DE MALAKOFF,
GIFT FROM POPE PIUS IX
Rosary with 60 amethyst beads, 14k (585‰) yellow
openwork gold beads and an oval gold medallion
Adorned with amethyst cameo representing the
Virgin Mary
Vatican hallmark
Beads diameter: 10,33 to 8,58 mm
Gross weight: 72,3 g
In original jewelry box, in red velvet bearing the
Pope Pius IX's coat of arms (traces of wear)
A.B.E. Pius IX's pontificate (1846-1878)
This rosary was offered by Pope Pius IX to the wife
of Marechal Pelissier Duke of Malakoff
Then offered by the Pelissier family to one of the
current owner's grandmothers, this
object has never left her
Historical background:
Marechal Pelissier, Duke of Malakoff, the illustrious
victor of Sebastopol, attributed his success in battle
to the Holy Virgin, and, when he passed through
Marseille, went up to Notre-Dame de la Garde
to lay the homage of his gratitude at Mary's feet
Thus the statue of Notre Dame du Puy was cast
from Russian cannons taken in Crimea at the
request of Marechal Pelissier, Duke of Malakoff
Biography:
Aimable Jean Jacques Pelissier, Duke of Malakoff
(1794-1864)
Former student of Saint-Cyr, his first campaigns
were in the army of the Rhine (1815). Assigned to
the general staff of the Army of Africa (1830), he served in Algeria,
leading the first expedition to Kabylia (1851), where
he seized Laghouat (1852). Appointed commander-
in-chief of the army of the East (May 1855), he
succeeded in taking Malakoff
(September 1855), which immediately earned him
the marshal's baton and his ducal title (August
1856). Ambassador in London (1858), he took the
command of the army of observation of Nancy (April
1859) before being promoted to Grand Chancellor of
the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honor (July
1859) and Governor General of Algeria (1860). He
was married to Sophie Valera (1828-1890)
Expert: Jean Claude Dey
