Lot 2518

Description

Germany, commemorating the Battle of Hochstadt (Battle of Blenheim) struck wooden medal 65mm and 16.5mm thick, 1704, obv. Ten portraits of Europern rulers to right and left in shields, rev. Eugene of Savoy and Duke of Marlborough in shields over battlefield. Extremely fine, very unusual and very rare.

The Battle of Blenheim was a major battle in the War of the Spanish Succession, August 13, 1704. A French and Bavarian army under Count Camille de Tallard and the Elector of Bavaria (Maximilian II) were advancing on the Austrian capital of Vienna. To counter this threat, the Austrian commander Eugene of Savoy moved north and the English allies under the Duke of Marlborough moved south from the Low Countries. They met up and encountered their opponents at a small Bavarian village of Blenheim near Hochstadt. The battle was decisive in Austrian and English favour.