Description

Anne, 1702-1714. Silver Medal 1708, 33.86 g. Capture of the Citadel of Lille. By P. H. Müller. Victory kicks Lille to the ground, seizing her mural crown. INSVLA FLANDR . GALLIS A FOEDERATIS EREPTA. In exergue: INDEFESSA VIRTVTE IN VICTISSIMI EVGENII SAB . PRINCIPIS . MDCCIIX. Rv. Minerva seated left upon a pile of weapons with her gorgon shield she drives away a French soldier who holds up his shield adorned with three fleurs de lis. SPES HOSTIVM PERTERRITORVM PRAECISA. In exergue: PRVDENTIA FORTISS . DVCIS MARLEBVRG . OBSIDIONEM INSVLANVM PROTE . GENTIS. Edge: SPECTANTE NEC QVICQVAM AVDENTE EXERCITV GALLOR . MAX . SVB DVCE BVRGVND . LVDOVICI NEP. 45.9 mm. Eimer -. MI ii 330/159. Forster 749. van Loon V, 112,1. Saunders/Vanhoudt 1708-30. Vorzüglich / Extremely Fine. Feine Patina / Nicely toned.

The siege of Lille (12 August - 10 December 1708) was the main operation of the 1708 campaign season during the War of the Spanish Succession. Following their victory in the Battle of Oudenaarde, the Anglo-Dutch Allies decided to besiege Lille, an important French city and perhaps the strongest fortress in Europe.

The obverse of this medal points to the indefatigable valour of Eugene, who conducted the siege, whilst the reverse commends the prudence and vigilance of Marlborough, who commanded the covering army, and cut off all the hopes of the terrified enemy. The inscription on the edge is a retort upon Louis XIV, who had placed a similar one upon a medal in 1674, after a Dutch armament had fruitlessly threatened the French coast.