In the Roman Republic and early Empire, the Grass Crown (or Blockade Crown; in Latin, corona obsidionalis or corona graminea) was the highest and rarest of all military decorations. It was presented only to a general, or commander who broke the blockade of a beleaguered Roman army. In style, the crown was made from the plant materials taken from the exact battlefield. Such materials could include, grasses, flowers, weeds, and various cereals; including wheat. The crown was presented to the general by the army he had saved. Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix the Dictator is a famous recipient of the grass crown.

Pliny wrote about the grass crown at some length in Naturalis historia:

But as for the crown of grass, it was never conferred except at a crisis of extreme desperation, never voted except by the acclamation of the whole army, and never to any one but to him who had been its preserver. Other crowns were awarded by the generals to the soldiers, this alone by the soldiers, and to the general. This crown is known also as the "obsidional" crown, from the circumstance of a beleaguered army being delivered, and so preserved from fearful disaster. If we are to regard as a glorious and a hallowed reward the civic crown, presented for preserving the life of a single citizen, and him, perhaps, of the very humblest rank, what, pray, ought to be thought of a whole army being saved, and indebted for its preservation to the valour of a single individual? ^*

Pliny also lists the persons who by their deeds won the grass crown:

• Lucius Siccius Dentatus
• Publius Decius Mus, received two crass crowns, one from his own army, and another from the troops which he had rescued when surrounded.
• Fabius Maximus, after Hannibal had been expelled from Italy.
• Marcus Calpurnius Flamma
• Scipio Aemilianus Africanus
• Gneius Petreius Atinas, a primipilus centurion during the Cimbric War
• Lucius Cornelius Sulla during the Social War at Nola.
• Augustus was presented a grass crown by the Roman Senate, this crown was more likely a political hommage than a real bravery award.

See also

• Mural crown
• Civic Crown
• Naval crown

External links

• Corona

Roman awards and decorations