Gemaskerde optocht door de studenten, voorstellende de intocht van Karel V, Duits keizer in Dordrecht, ter ere van de 280e stichtingsdag van de Universiteit van Leiden 1855

This anonymous medal commemorates the 280th anniversary of the University of Leiden, celebrating it with a depiction of a masked student procession representing Charles V's entrance into Dordrecht. In the Netherlands, historical pageants like these became popular forms of public art, reflecting civic pride and cultural identity. This medal specifically references a key moment in Dutch history, idealizing a past ruler during a time when national identity was very important. The choice of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, as a subject is interesting. Although a foreign ruler, his reign was seen by some as a period of relative stability before the Dutch Revolt. Commemorative objects like these played a role in shaping collective memory, selectively remembering the past to serve present purposes. To fully understand this medal, we can turn to archives, historical documents, and studies of Dutch cultural history. By exploring such resources, we gain insight into the social and institutional contexts that give meaning to this artwork.