VICTORY ON THE BATTLE OF BREITENFELD

DADLER, Sebastian: Sweden, 1631, Silver, 65 mm
Obv: Battlefield scene with angel carrying sword in clouds above    AVXILANTE DEO PRESSIS VICTORIA VENIT AN:[no] MDCXXXI VII (sic) SEPT:[embris]
Rev: Justice with a sword; Courage with a helmet; Piety with olive branch, all around crowned Peace column; "Jehovah" (in Hebrew) in a radiant halo above, next to hand of Devine providence; view of Leipzig in background.   IVSTITIA ET PIETAS CONSTANS ANIMVSQVE TRIUMPHANT GOTT MIT UNS (below column)
Signed:  SD
Rare
Ref: Wiecek 72; Dominag II, 476; Hildebrand, 117 (28); Schultze 38; Dass. 726;   Europese Penningen # 1072

This medal was struck for the Saxon Elector John George I to commemorate the victory of the allied Swedish and Saxon troops over the imperial army, led by the great Bavarian general, Count Johann Tilly (1559-1632), at Breitenfeld, near Leipzig on September 17th 1631. In the Battle of Breitenfeld, the Saxons were forced to retreat, and Count Tilly moved his imperial infantry forces to a position in order to attack the exposed Swedish flank. However, a brilliant counter maneuver was executed by the Swedish King Gustavus II Adolphus, cutting Tilly off from his communications at Leipzig and separating him from his artillery. The result was the complete defeat of the imperial army. Tilly died shortly thereafter, in 1632, while trying to prevent the Swedish army from crossing over into Bavaria.

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