NIJMEGEN RELIEVED FROM THE FRENCH

BOSKAM, Jan: The Netherlands, 1702, Silver, 43 mm
Obv: A female figure representing Nijmegen trampling on the Serpent of Discord. Nijmegen is holding the shield of Minerva in one hand and a book with three seals in the other hand    LIBERTAS. NEOMAGI. INTUS. ET. EXTRA (The Freedom of Nijmegen from Within and Without)
Rev: A view of the siege; the French retreating before the artillery barrage on the city walls, the English relief forces approaching in the distance    NUMERUM. VIRTUTE. RETUNDIT. (By Valor She Repulses the Many)
Exergue:  MDCCII
Signed:  I.B. F. / I. BOSKAM. F
Very rare
Ref: Med. Ill. ii, 233/15; Fearon 39/153.7; Hawkins Tf. CXVI, 1; KPK 1996; v. Loon IV, 299 (354?); Thes. Num. 181

Nijmegen (Nijmwegen, Nimwegen, Nimeguen) is a town in the Netherlands on the west bank of the Waal. In the episode depicted on this medal the French, under Marshal Boefflers, laid siege to the town. However, his efforts were thwarted by the combined efforts of Athole (Godart van Ginkel, 1st earl of Athole, a Dutch general in the service of England who commanded the Dutch contingent under Marlborough) and the inhabitants of Nijmegen, who manned the guns on the ramparts and fired on the French, causing their retreat. The French took revenge by destroying the parks and gardens of Cleves. The reverse of the medal shows the inhabitants of the town, women as well as men, on the ramparts. Besides the siege commemorated by this medal, the town was the site of the Treaties of Nijmegen (1678-1679) which ended the Dutch Wars. These treaties confirmed the control by William of Orange (later William III of England) of the United Provinces (Dutch Republic) but conceded much of the Spanish Netherlands to France.

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