Nomos 12

NETHERLANDS, Leiden. Medal (Silver, 48mm, 35.95 g 12), unsigned, but by G. van Bylaer, 1574. .VT.SANHERIB.A.IERVSALEM / 2.REG.19. (=as was Sennacherib before Jerusalem, 2 Kings 19) Scene of an Angel destroying the army of the Assyrians before the walls of Jerusalem. Rev. SIC.HISPA.A.LEYD.NOCTV.FVG / 3.OCTO.1574. (=so did the Spanish flee from Leiden on the night of 3 October 1574) Scene of the Spanish retreating from their siegeworks at the approach of the Prince of Orange’s relieving force. Van Loon I, pp. 192-193. A superb, sharp and beautifully toned example. Extremely fine.

The siege of Leiden was one of the great events of the first part of the Eighty-Years War - the Dutch Revolt. The Spanish, who under the Duke of Alba had earned a reputation for horrible cruelty, had first besieged Leiden in late 1573 but lifted it in April 1574 in the face of an approaching Dutch army. This army was defeated and in May the Spanish returned. William of Orange promised the people of Leiden that if they held out they would be relieved within three months. In fact, they lasted until October when, with the surrounding dikes broken and the Dutch fleet arriving at the city, the Spanish fled. By this time the people were starving but the relieving force brought them herring and bread to assuage their hunger (this was a distinct improvement from their previous diet of rats and crackers). In honor of this event, every year on 3 October the people of Leiden eat bread and herring.