Nederlaag van Lodewijk XIV, koning van Frankrijk in de slag bij Malplaquet 1709

This silver medal, crafted by Christian Wermuth, commemorates the defeat of Louis XIV at the Battle of Malplaquet. On one side, we see a regal portrait of Louis XIV, encircled by an inscription declaring him "King of France and Navarre." Turn it over, and a striking image appears: a lightning-struck tree, symbolizing France, with the fleur-de-lis emblem prominently displayed. The motif of the fallen tree is ancient, cropping up across cultures to symbolize shattered power and the ephemerality of earthly might. We might think of the Norse Yggdrasil, felled to herald Ragnarok, or even classical depictions of broken columns signifying loss. Here, the personal emblem of French royalty is being struck by lightning, which speaks volumes. This image touches a deep-seated fear of nature's wrath and the fragility of human ambition. Symbols like these resurface, often in times of upheaval, reminding us that history is not linear, but a constant cycle of rise and fall.