Page 29 - The Lugdunum Auction 21

François de France, Duc d’Anjou (1555-
1584) was the youngest son of the
French King Henry II and Catherine de
Medici.

Born in 1555, he became heir to the
throne of France in 1574 following
the death of his brother Charles IX of
France and the accession of his other
brother Henry III of France.

He joined the Protestant rebels in Sep-
tember 1575 after having escaped from
the French court where he was aliena-
ted by his brother, King Henry III.

This military opposition led to the Pea-
ce of Monsieur on 6 May 1576, a very
favourable treaty for the rebels which
gave François a great popularity among
the Protestants in Europe.

The Treaty of Plessis-lès-Tours,
1580
This medal bearing the date of 1580
must commemorate the Treaty of Ples-
sis-lès-Tours signed in September 1580
between the Dutch Staten Generaal
and François, Duc d’Anjou. The latter
beeing supported by William the Si-
lent, main leader of the Dutch Revolt
against the Spanish Habsburgs that re-
sulted in the formal independence of
the United Provinces in 1581.

François, Duc d’Anjou (1555-1584)

Based on the terms of the treaty and in order to obtain French support in expelling the Spanish troops,
François assumed the title of „Protector of the Liberty of the Netherlands“ and became sovereign of the
Dutch Republic.

The treaty was ratified at Bordeaux on 23 January 1581. Its terms limited the authority of the new sove-
reign to a minimum, giving him a representative role, while the power remained in the hands of the States
General.

In July 1581, the States General of the United Provinces published the Abjuration of the Hague, by which
they formally declared their independence from the monarchy of Philip II of Spain, leaving open the pos-
sibility of applying the terms of the treaty.
Unpublished and of the highest rarity

According to our researches, this medal seems to be unpublished. It is missing in all important reference
works on French medals, like the Trésor de Numismatique et de Glyptique (1834), Les Médailleurs français
by Mazerolle (1902) and in A catalogue of French medals in the British Museum By Jones (1982).