Medal - Battle of Salamanca. British Army enters Madrid ND

Reverse

Equestrian figure (right) of a bareheaded Duke of Wellington being garlanded with flowers by two Spaniards (left). Lettering in exergue

Script: Latin

Lettering:
THE BRITISH ARMY ENTERS MADRID
AUG. XII. MDCCCXII
BRENET.F

Translation: Brenet fecit = Brenet made me

Engraver: Nicolas-Guy-Antoine Brenet

Edge

Plain

Comment

Catalogues: Bramsen 1175 - Mudie Series No.21 (1820).

Obverse: The British armies displayed great courage in dislodging the French, under General Marmont, from their very advantageous positions on the heights. This is described by the British troops about victoriously to pursue the enemy, on whom the Goddess of War is hurling destruction: the back ground represents the Arapile mountains.
Reverse: Entry of the British into Madrid. It was the result of this battle; the inhabitants are represented honouring the conqueror, the Duke of Wellington, with garlands of flowers.
 The battle of Salamanca which took place on the 22nd July 1812 was one of the most decisive of the Peninsular War, and the first victory on the offensive achieved by Wellington. Marshal Marmont made the mistake of despatching the whole of his left wing to seize the road from Salamanca to Ciudad Rodrigo, and while many of his troops were still marching through a thick forest of cork trees, Wellington attacked and separated the whole of the French left wing from the rest of the army. Marmont's division, believing that the British were in retreat, were marching in disorder and upon being attacked by Sir Edward Pakenham were soon put to flight. This victory finally opened the road to Madrid for the Allies: they entered the city on the 12th August 1812.
 Brenet, Nicolas Guy Antoine, born 1773 - died 1846.
This medal is the twenty-first in James Mudie's series of forty 'National Medals' struck in 1820 to commemorate British victories in George III's reign. They commemorate the events of the Napoleonic period, from a British perspective.

The medals were sold individually or in sets contained within a leather bound case in the form of a book.

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