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France - 1806

Alliance avec la Saxe

Obverse:

The profile heads of Napoleon and Charlemagne combined; the head of Napoleon encircled with a laurel wreath, that of Charlemagne with a crown.

Legend:

NAPOLEON. EMP. CHARLEMAGNE. EMP. AN M.DCCCVI.

Exergue:

On the base of the bust of Napoleon, ANDRIEU F.; and under the head, DENON DIR.

Size:

41 mm.

Reverse:

the heads of Wittekind and Frederick Augustus of Saxony combined; the head of Wittekind crowned, the bust of Augustus in scaled armour.

Legend:

VITIKIND. R.S. FREDERIC. AUG. R.S. AN M.DCCC.VI. The names of the artist and director, ANDRIEU F. DENON DIR. are in similar situations as on the obverse.

Laskey:

Napoleon here identifies himself with Charlemagne, and Frederick Augustus is made to assimilate with Wittekind, the celebrated chief of the Saxons, who for thirty years contended against against all the power of Charlemagne; and who, after his final submission to that conqueror, still retained large territorial possessions, together with the ducal title.

On the alliance of the Elector of Saxony with Napoleon, he gained, in addition to the royal title of King, the title of Duke of Warsaw, also large domains taken from Prussia and Germany, which were added to his former states. This medal was ordered to be struck, at the National Mint, by the government of France, to perpetuate this event.

Bramsen:

Bramsen - 551 Alliance avec la Saxe. (Andrieu.)
NAPOLEON EMP. CHARLEMAGNE EMP. en deux lignes verticales et parallèles. Bustes superposés de Napoléon et de Charlemagne, le premier lauré, le second portant la couronne impériale, longue barbe, cheveux retombant en boucles jusque sur la poitrine.	Rev: VITIKIND. R. S. FRÉDERIC. AUG. R. S. en deux lignes verticales et parallèles. Bustes superposés de Vitikind et de Frédéric Auguste; le premier, cheveux longs, barbe entière, coiffé d'une couronne, le vêtement garni de fourrures; le second, sans barbe, revêtu d'une cuirasse.
Exergue: AN M. DCCC. VI.	Exergue: AN M.DCCC.VI.
Médaille, 41 mm. - T. N. 15, 1; H. m. 40, 207; M. F. 363, 63.

d'Essling:

d'Essling - 1149 Alliance avec la Saxe (Andrieu).
Bustes accolés de Nap. et de Charlemagne.	R. Bustes accolés de Vitikind et de Frédéric Auguste.
(TN. 15.1 - M. 207 - B. 551) Arg. et br. 41 mm.