before the genius of Marlborough and Eugene, whose union
and concord are represented by the fasces, and in vain
attempted to protect herself behind the entrenchments at
Malplaquet and the fortifications at Mons. The Colossus at
Rhodes was a statue of the Sun, which, like Louis XIV., who
grasped at a larger empire than he could govern, fell to pieces
through its own unwieldiness.
204. C am pa ig n o f 1709.
Victory, facing, holding a trophy and a laurel wreath. Leg.
v ir t v t e m il it v m b e l g ic o r v m . (By the valour of the Dutch
soldiers.) Ex. pv g n a ad m a l p l a q u e t x i . s e p t . m d c c ix .
(The battle of Malplaquet, 11 Sept. 1709.)
Rev. A triple branch of laurel with a mural crown on each.
Leg. c o nc o ed ia dvcvm. (By the unanimity of the Generals.)
E x . TORNACUM, FANVM GISL . ET MONTES HANONLE . CAPTA .
m d c c ix . (Tournay, St. Ghislain, and Mons in Hainault taken*
1709.)
1-45. Van Loon, V. 149. Thes. Num. 985.
No specimen of this medal has been met with. The obverse
records the valour of the Dutch troops at the battle of Malplaquet,
and too much cannot be said in their praise. Again
and again they returned to the charge, forcing their way
through tremendous difficulties, into which their gallant but
impetuous commander, the Prince of Orange, had led them,
but they were at length overpowered by numbers. The reverse
records with truth the cordiality of the Generals, and their
reward in the three mural crowns which decorate their laurels.
St. Ghislain was necessary to the Allies to keep up the communication
between Tournay and the army besieging Mons,
and it was therefore attacked and taken after a short but
vigorous resistance the day before the battle of Malplaquet.
205. C am pa ig n o f 1709.
Europa, seated, I., on her Bull, is protected by three warriors,
Germany, England, and Holland, from a fourth, France, who
brandishes a lighted torch, and above whose head is the Sun:
in the distance, a city in flames. Leg. v ir t u s . e t . Co n cordia .
EUROPAM . A . GALLORUM . TYRANNIDE . VINDICANT. (Valour and
unanimity defend Europe from French oppression.)
Rev. Fame, with a laurel wreath, sounds her trumpet amidst
piles of captured arms : cities in the distance. Leg. tornaco .
ST GISLENII . FANO . ET . POST . OESOS FUGATOSQUE PROPE
URBEM GALLOS . MONTIBUS . IN . HANNONIA . CAPTIS. (Tournay,
St. Ghislain, and, after the slaughter and flight of the French
near the city, Mons in Hainault taken.) Ex. annus f e l ic it e r
c la u su s . 1709. (The year prosperously concluded.)
2-9. Rapin, viii. 7. Van Loon, V. 149.
Hague, jR. (cast and chased). Extremely rare.
This medal was executed at Amsterdam, and was probably
always cast and not struck from dies.
By the valour and unanimity of the Allies France had been
still more humbled, and her condition at the end of this year’s
campaign in the Netherlands was even more deplorable than
at the beginning. This year may therefore be said to have
terminated prosperously for the Allies. But although the latter
had gained several victories, their losses had exceeded that of
their adversaries, and as soon as Mons was captured, they
dispersed for the winter, and the example was gladly followed
by their equally wearied opponents.
206. C am pa ig n o f 1709.
Pallas, standing, I., holds a laurel wreath and a spear; on
the ground is her Gorgon shield. Leg. a n n u s f e l ic it e r
c l a u su s . (The year prosperously concluded.) Ex. fanvm st
g i s l e n i captvm . m d c c ix . (St, Ghislain taken, 1709.)
Rev. Hercules, standing, r., holds his club and the shield
of Mons: a city in the distance. Leg. t e r n i s c a s t r is d e l e t i s .
(The triple entrenchments destroyed.) Ex. m o n t e s ha n n . e x pu
g , m dc c ix . (Mons in Hainault taken, 1709.)
1*45. Van Loon, V. 149. Thes. Num. 936.
No specimen of this medal has been met with.
The triple entrenchments were those thrown up by Villars to