Tweehonderdjarige herdenking van het Ontzet van Leiden 1774 1774

This is a medal made by Theodorus Victor van Berckel, commemorating the two-hundred-year anniversary of the Relief of Leiden. The medal encapsulates the fraught relationship between the Dutch Republic and Spanish rule during the Eighty Years’ War. The figure of the Dutch Maiden, wielding a sword, represents the Republic’s fight for freedom. She stands defiant, next to the Dutch lion. The Latin inscriptions, "For Truth" and "To God, the Defender," reflect the religious and political convictions of the Dutch during this time. The figure of God stands next to an alter with fire coming from it, celebrating the end of the siege of Leiden in 1574. As a commemorative object, this medal is a piece of propaganda, solidifying the victory over the Spanish and the importance of Leiden in this victory. The medal serves as a reminder of the intricate interplay between power, faith, and identity during the formation of the Dutch Republic.