Filips de Schone, hertog van Bourgondie en Johanna, prinses van Castillie, te Zaragoza uitgeroepen tot prins en prinses van Aragon 1502

This small, anonymous medal commemorates the proclamation of Filips de Schone and Johanna as Prince and Princess of Aragon in Zaragoza. In the late 15th and early 16th centuries, political marriages were high-stakes strategies for consolidating power, and this medal is a potent symbol of such maneuvering. Filips, of Burgundy, married Johanna, of Castille. Together they embody the shifting alliances and dynastic ambitions of the era. The medal’s imagery, emblazoned with heraldic symbols, speaks to the identities and claims of these rulers. It not only documents a historical event, but also prompts us to reflect on the personal lives caught in the crosscurrents of power. The representations of royal lineage and inherited status can serve as points of departure for discussions about privilege, gender roles, and the expectations placed on individuals born into positions of power. Consider this medal not just as a historical artifact, but as a marker of human stories intertwined with broader political narratives, reminding us of the ways in which identity and destiny can be shaped by the forces of history.