Karel III, koning van Spanje neemt Madrid opnieuw in bezit 1710

This silver medal commemorates Charles III of Spain's recapture of Madrid. While the piece celebrates a moment of political triumph, it also opens a window onto the complex dynamics of power, identity, and representation in 18th-century Europe. Charles III, as king of Spain and the Indies, reigned over a vast empire built on colonial exploitation. His image on one side of the medal, adorned with symbols of authority, speaks to the legacy of European expansion and the subjugation of indigenous populations. The reverse side depicts Madrid's 'reception' as a kind of restoration of order under his rule. Consider how such objects, meant to solidify royal authority, also reveal the tensions inherent in colonial power. How does the medal's imagery reflect or obscure the human cost of empire? What stories remain untold in this shiny declaration of victory?