Mislukte aanslag op het leven van Willem I, prins van Oranje-Nassau, door Jean de Jauregui 1582

This silver medal by Gerard van Bylaer commemorates the failed assassination attempt on William I, Prince of Orange-Nassau. Observe the prominent inscription, 'PRODITIONE NON ARMIS AGITUR' – 'It is accomplished by treason, not arms' – a statement fraught with the political and social turmoil of its time. The symbolic language here speaks volumes. One side depicts the assassin, his hand raised, a gesture that echoes Cain's mark, forever stained with fratricide, signifying betrayal and moral corruption. The other side shows a figure protected by divine rays. Note how this motif of divine intervention resurfaces throughout history, from ancient Roman emperors depicted with solar crowns to medieval saints illuminated by heavenly light. This recurring theme taps into a collective memory of leaders sanctioned and protected, reflecting a deep-seated psychological need for reassurance in the face of chaos. The medal serves not just as a historical record but as a potent symbol of resilience against treachery, tapping into the emotional and psychological undercurrents of its era.