Onthoofding van Karel I van Engeland 1684 - 1690

This silver medal depicting the beheading of Charles I was made by Norbert Roëttiers, probably in the late 17th or early 18th century. It commemorates a pivotal moment in British history. The execution of a monarch by his own people was a revolutionary act that challenged traditional notions of divine right and royal authority. Roëttiers, working in France, a country with its own complex relationship with monarchy, would have been aware of the political implications of this event. The medal's imagery, with its Latin inscription declaring Charles a "peaceful king" who "triumphed in heaven," presents a clear Royalist perspective, idealizing Charles as a martyr. It also subtly critiques the institution of Parliament, whose actions were seen as an affront to divine order. To fully understand this medal, historians consult a range of sources: political pamphlets, personal diaries, and official state documents, alongside visual and material culture, which can contextualize the medal's production and reception. It's a potent reminder that art always exists within a web of social, political, and institutional forces.