he was himself wounded, his army retreated in a very masterly
manner under the direction of Boufflers. The right of the
ranch, where, the attack commenced, was drawn up on the
plain of Malplaquet, from whence the battle usually takes its
name. The unanimity and valour of the generals and troops
ot the Allies were never more conspicuous than on this day.
| 1 9 8 . B a t t l e o f M a l p l a q u e t . 1 7 0 9 .
Busts facing each other, of Eugene and Marlborough, hair
long,bothin armour and scarf; Eugene wears the collar and
badge of the Golden kleece, and Marlborough the collar of the
Garter with the George. Leg. e v g e n iv s . fr a n c . dvx . sabavd *
Sa“ !)' DVX * D * s - - — Below, k . (Georg
Rev- Lf dsoaPe; sun setting amidst clouds. Leg. c rv en tv s
o c c id it . (It sets in blood.) Ex. g a l l i ad . m o n t e s h a n v ic t i
a . m dc c ix d X! . s e p t . (The French defeated near Mons in
Hamault, 1 1 Sept. 1 7 0 9 .)
932*7’ RaPm’ V“ i' 6' Van k 0011’ V- U 5 - Thes- Num.
MB. At. Gotha, At.
Two dies were used for the obverse of this nmdal, easily
distinguished by one being without the artist’s initial
The sun the emblem of Louis XIV., setting 'in blood
alludes to the defeat of the French after a most sanguinary
conflict m which their loss was not less than 12,000 men
whilst that of the Allies exceeded 2 0 ,0 0 0 . Of this battl« «
French officer wrote: ■; Th. Eugme, ^ Marlboroughs ought
o be ™n d.r ,. ran ■
they had not met with resistance worthy of them. Thev mav
say, .with justice, that nothing can stand before them- and
indeed, what shall be able to stem the rapid course o f ’these
two heroes, if an army of 100,000 of the best troops posted
between two woods trebly intrenched, and performing their duty
as well as any brave men could do, were not able to stop them
one day ? (Coxe, Mem. o f Marlborough, Vol. III. p. 9 3 .)
1 9 9 . B a t t l e o f M a l p l a q u e t . 1 7 0 9 .
Bust of Eugene, r., hair long, in armour, collar and badge
of the Golden Fleece. Leg. e v g e n iv s f r a n c . dvx sab . ca e s .
e x e r . g e n e r . comm. (Eugene Francis, Duke of Savoy, General-
in-Chief of the Army of the Emperor.)
Rev. Jupiter, seated on his Eagle, hurls destruction against
Phaethon, who falls from his chariot. Leg. armatvs v t o r b em
r e s t it u a t . (Armed that he may reinstate the world.) Ex. pv g .
ad b langiacvm xx . s e p t . MDCoxx. (Battle near Blaugies, 11
Sept. 1 7 0 9 .)
1 -5 . Bapin, viii. 4 . Van Loon, V. 1 4 5 . Thes. Num. 9 3 3 .
No specimen of this medal has been met with : it is probably
the work of Christian Wermuth. The Eagle is the emblem of
the Emperor, the Sun that of Louis XIV., who is here considered
as only a Phaethon, punished for misguiding the powers
entrusted to him. The legend expresses an opinion that this
interference of the Emperor would produce peace; such was
the general expectation, and it was also Marlborough’s, who
wrote, “ God Almighty be praised, it is now in our power to
have what peace we please, and I may be.pretty well assured of
never being in another battle.” The right wing of the Allies,
which was commanded by Eugene, extended towards the hamlet
of Blaugies, and was confronted by Villars.
2 0 0 . B a t t l e o f M a l p l a q u e t . ” 1 7 0 9 .
Phaethon (Louis XIV.), in the chariot of the Sun with his
reins broken, averts his head from the zodiacal signs of Leo
(Holland), Virgo (Anne), Libra (Justice), and Scorpio (Defeat).
Leg. so l em m e n t it v r , qvem s id e r a t e r r e n t . (He but counterfeits
the sun, whom the stars affright.) Below, n . (Nuremberg.)
Rev. Sun setting behind a mountain: the city of Mons in
the distance. Leg. so l r v it in t e r e a , e t m o n t e s vmb ra n tv r .
(Meanwhile the Sun sets, and the Mountains (or Mons) are
darkened.—Virg. Aen. iii. 5 0 8 .) Ex. s t r a g e s g a l l : ad m o n t e s
h annon : x i s e p t : m d c c ix . (The slaughter of the French near