Satirical Medal - Coronation of Francis I as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire in Frankfurt Spottmedaille

Reverse

Vicariate coat of arms with double-headed eagle and Bavarian breastplate

Script: Latin

Lettering: SEMPER: TRIUMPITANS:

Edge

Plain

Comment

François I (8/12/1708-18/08/1765) was the son of Léopold de Lorraine and Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans. He succeeded his father in the duchies of Lorraine and Bar in 1729. In 1736, he renounced his two duchies, exchanging them for the Grand Duchy of Tuscany (1736-1765) and the promise to succeed Charles VI of Habsburg after marrying his daughter Marie-Thérèse (1736). He had a total of sixteen children, including Joseph II, Leopold II and Marie-Antoinette, the wife of Louis XVI. He had to fight for five years to obtain the imperial title (1740-1745). As Emperor, he remained dominated by his wife, and died in 1765.