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France - 1807

Bataille d`Eylau

Obverse:

similar to the preceding.

Size:

40 mm.

Reverse:

the Emperor Napoleon, represented as the genius of War and France, seated on a pile of warlike arms, undraped, the head laureated, a sword in the right hand, and the penate goddess, Victoria, standing on a globe, in the other. The idea of this allegory seems to have been derived from a medal of Nero's, indicative of Rome; where her look and posture denote dignity, as her attributes do the conquest of the world by her achievements in war; accordingly the poets call her the martial city, the eternal city, the mistress of all cities, and goddess over all nations: no doubt such flattery, attributed to Napoleon and France, fully gratified the ambition of the one and the pride of the other.

Legend:

VICTORIAE MANENTI DENON D. On the base, the artist's name, BRENET.

Exergue:

BATAILLE DE PREUSS EYLAU VIII FEVRIER MDCCCVII.

Laskey:

The great and sanguinary battle of Eylau began on the 7th of February, about three in the afternoon, and with a short intermission during the night, continued till midnight on the 8th; during this time, the attacks of the French, under the immediate direction and eye of Napoleon, were incessant and impetuous, and repulsed by the Russians with invincible bravery and courage. The loss of men on both sides must therefore have been exceedingly great. In regard to the final issue of this memorable and sanguinary action, in which both sides claimed the victory, nothing can be more discordant and flatly contradictory than the Russian official accounts, and the French bulletins, which shew that neither have a claim to implicit credit. Subsequent circumstances tend to shew that the action, however sanguinary, was indecisive, and that neither party could boast of any great advantage. At midnight, when the carnage ceased, the Russians remained masters of the field of battle; but in the morning, they began to retreat, and left the French to take possesssion of Eylau, on which event this medal was directed to be struck and issued from the National Medallic Mint at Paris.

Edwards:

Edwards - 272

Plate XIX. No. 6

8th February, 1807.

Medal.

Neapolio imperator rex.

R. Battle of Preussich Eylau.

NEAPOLIO IMPERATOR REX. (Napoleon, Emperor and King.) Laureated head, to the right, similar to that of No. 8 Plate XIV. Beneath: ANDRIEU F. (fecit).

R. VICTORIÆ MANETI . (To constant Victory). The Emperor, represented as Diomed, upon an antique gem, seated upon a pile of arms and ensigns, holding in his right hand a sword, and in the left a little statue of Victory. Exergue: BATAILLE DE PREUSS-EYLAU VIII FEVRIER MDCCCVII. (Battle of Preussich Eylau, February 8, 1807) Beneath the Exergue: BRENET; and on the left side, circularwise, DENON D. (direxit). [40"]

Inedited. Paris Medal Mint.

The battle of Preuss or Preussich Eylau, one of the most murderous of the campaign, was gained by the French army on the 8th of February 1807. The Russian army, which had begun the attack, with a view to rest upon Thorn, while outflanking the left of the Grand Army, lost in this bloody affair twenty generals, nine hundred officers, and thirty thousand men, either killed or wounded; together with sixteen standards and twenty-four pieces of cannon. Napoleon ordered that these cannon should be employed to erect a statue on the Place des Victoires at Paris, in honour of Lieutenant-General d'Hautpoul, who was mortally wounded while executing at the head of the second division of Cuirassiers that famous charge of cavalry which cut through the whole Russian army.

Bramsen:

Bramsen - 628 Bataille d'Eylau. (Brenet.)
NAPOLEON EMP. ET ROI. Tête laurée, à droite.	Rev: VICTORIAE MANENTI. Napoléon comme Diomède sur une pierre gravée antique, est assis sur un monceau d'armes et de drapeaux. Il tient une épée et une petite statue de la Victoire.
	Exergue: BATAILLE DE PREUSS EYLAU VIII. FEVRIER MDCCCVII.
Médaille, 40 mm. - T. N. 19, 6; H. m. 41, 212; M. F. 367, 75.

d'Essling:

d'Essling - 1163 Bataille de Preuss-Eylau (Andrieu et Brenet)
Tête de Nap. à dr.	R. VICTORIAE MANENTI. L'emperor en Diomède ass sur un amas d'armes.
(TN. 19.6 - M. 212 - B. 628) Arg. et Br. 41 mm. 2 var. d'avers.

Milan:

Milan - 597 Napoleone — Battaglia di Preuss-Eylau
D. NAPOLEON EMP. ET ROI. Nel centro, testa laureata di Napoleone a d.; nel campo, in basso, al centro, sotto il taglio del collo: ANDRIEU F. / DENON DIR^T. Contorno a piatto e gola.	R. VICTORIAE MANENTI. Nel campo, al centro, Napoleone nudo, con mantello imperiale sulla spalla, seduto su affusto di cannone e gruppo d'armi e di bandiere, volto a d., regge con la mano d. protesa, Vittoriola con ramo di palma e corona di alloro e con la s., spada; nel campo, in basso, a s.: DENON D. ed in basso, sopra il taglio della base, al centro: BRENET. All'esergo: BATAILLE DE PREUSS EYLAU / VIII. FEVRIER / MDCCCVII. Contorno a piatto e gola.
Autore: ANDRIEU / BRENET;	Data: 1807
Caratteristiche tecniche: Argento;	Ømm 40,5; 0; Coniazione
Condizione giuridica: Stato-Brera n.242; N. Inv.: M.0.9.30451
Bibl.: Bramsen, n.628; Julius, n. 1727; Essling, n. 1163; Millin, n. 212; De Félissent, ---

Bataille d`Eylau