Medal - Capture of Breda

Reverse

Rich ivy wreath with the crowned arms of the United Provinces surrounding tablet bearing an inscription in fourteen lines.

Script: Latin

Lettering: D.O.M.S. / Bredam / primo Belgar. in Tyrann. Regem / foedere nobilem; mox Mauritianae / navis faelici. insidius nobiliorem; / dein famelica March Spin obsidione /nobilissimam; tandem ausp. Poten- / tiss. Concord Belgii Patrium, omnes / bellandi gradus transcendens, / aperto Marte, gladiata Fr. Hernrici / Celsiss. Auria Pr destera Faederatae / Patria, Familiaeque suae restituit; / X. Octob. An. M.DC.XXXVII: / S.P.Q.F.B.

Translation: Breda, by the grace of God already famous in the league against a tyrannical king, even more so by Maurice’s clever trick with the boat, and by the way Spinola used famine to capture it, has now fallen by force of arms, under the auspices of the powerful and united fathers of the Netherlands, and the strong arm of Prince Frederik Hendrik, Prince of Orange - through his military skill the city has been returned to her country and to his family. 10 October 1637

Engraver: Jan Looff

Edge

Plain

Comment

Van Loon II, pp. 232-234, ii
Breda was one of the main possessions of the House of Nassau, later Orange-Nassau, and was the scene of a number of stirring events during the Dutch war for independence. It fell to the Spanish in 1581 but was retaken in 1590 when Maurice of Nassau managed to smuggle 68 picked fighters into the city concealed within a barge filled with peat. The city was then starved into surrender by the Spaniards in 1625 but was finally recaptured by Frederik Hendrik after a four month siege in 1637.