Henri IV, 1553-1610, King of France 1589, and Marie de' Medici, 1573-1642, His Wife 1600 [obverse] 1603

This gilded medal of King Henry IV and his wife Marie de' Medici was created by Guillaume Dupré around 1600. It offers us a window into the constructed identities of French royalty during a period of significant social and political change. Portraying Henry in armor underscores his role as a warrior king, while Marie’s regal attire emphasizes her status and the power she wielded as queen consort. These symbolic choices reflect the era's expectations of gender and power, where masculinity was equated with military strength, and femininity with dynastic continuity. The choice to depict both rulers side-by-side conveys a message of unity. It subtly reinforces the idea of a cohesive, stable monarchy. Medals like these served as propaganda, shaping public perception and solidifying the monarchy's image. Consider how objects like this both reflected and shaped the identities of those in power and those they ruled.