Ferdinand van Toledo, hertog van Alva 1571 - 1800

This small silver medal portrays Ferdinand van Toledo, the Duke of Alva. It was made around 1567 by Jacques Jonghelinck, a sculptor and die cutter working in Antwerp. This medal offers a lens into the complex politics of the 16th century. Alva was sent by Philip II of Spain to suppress the Dutch Revolt, a struggle against Spanish rule fueled by religious and economic grievances. Alva’s brutal tactics earned him the nickname "The Iron Duke." This medal, in its creation and circulation, reflects Alva's attempt to craft a specific image of himself. A Latin inscription on one side translates to “To the God of our Fathers,” a possible reference to the justification of his actions through divine will. Consider how such an object was used, as it was passed from hand to hand. It can be viewed as an artifact of power, propaganda, and the fraught relationship between the colonizer and the colonized. The piece serves as a potent reminder of how leaders can manipulate their image.