Instelling der militaire Willemsorde, ter ere van Willem I Frederik, koning der Nederlanden 1815

This silver medal was created by Joseph-Pierre Braemt to honor Willem I Frederik, king of the Netherlands. The medal embodies the complex interplay between power, identity, and national pride in the 19th century. The medal, with the portrait of the King, represents the values of military prowess, loyalty and leadership, all central to the construction of national identity. The imagery of the cross symbolizes military valor and the crown represents the authority of the monarchy, both reinforcing a hierarchical social order. In its original context, this medal was not just a token of appreciation, but a potent symbol of power dynamics and the social expectations placed upon individuals within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The establishment of the Military Order of William served as an instrument for consolidating royal authority and national sentiment, with the medal operating as a tool of distinction. The weight of the metal itself hints at the weight of duty and allegiance expected from the medal's recipient.