Halve maan door de 300 bootsgezellen van admiraal de Boisot gedragen

anoniem, 1574

When in 1566 several hundred Dutch noblemen petitioned the Spanish authorities for greater tolerance in matters of religion, they were ridiculed as 'gueux': beggars. In response, they took the French name 'gueux' (vulgarised to 'geuzen') as a symbol of honour and wore a beggar's badge on their clothes. These were tokens that town authorities gave to beggars to show that they were legally allowed to beg. The crescent shape of the medals and the text around the edge 'Better Turkish than Papish' had several connotations. Turks had a reputation for cruelty; but they were also known for their tolerance to other religions. Moreover, the Islamic Turkish Empire was at war with Catholic Spain. Apart from badges, the Geuzen also carried small wooden begging bowls and flasks, reminiscent of the pilgrims who lived by begging.

Artwork typecopy, beggar's medal
Object numberNG-VG-1-407-C
Dimensionslength 4.8 cm x weight 9.83 gr

Halve maan door de 300 bootsgezellen van admiraal de Boisot gedragen

Identification

Title(s)
Halve maan door de 300 bootsgezellen van admiraal de Boisot gedragen
Object type
Object number
NG-VG-1-407-C
Description
Tinnen penning in vorm van halve maan met afgebroken draagoog. Voorzijde: gezicht, dat maan voorstelt; aan rand omschrift: LIVER TVRCX * DAN PAVS. Keerzijde: gezicht, dat maan voorstelt; aan rand omschrift: ENDESPIT * DELAMES.
Inscriptions / marks
- circumscription: ‘ENDESPIT DELAMES’
- circumscription: ‘LIVER TVRCX * DAN PAVS’
Catalogue reference
- R. van Luttervelt, 'Liever Turks dan Paaps', De Gids 124 (oktober 1961), p. 150-163.
- Riza Nour, 'Maansikkel', Revue de Turcologie, Alexandrië 1933, p. 230-411 (met afbeeldingen).
- S. Wigersma Hzn, 'De draagtekens van het jaar 1566', De Vrije Fries 1906, p. 13 (met afbeeldingen).
- Kees van der Pols, 'Vroege geuzenpenningen', De Beeldenaar (2007) nr. 1, p. 17-22.

Creation

Creation
anoniem, Netherlands
Dating
1574
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Material and technique

Material
Technique
Dimensions
length 4.8 cm x weight 9.83 gr

This work is about

Person
Subject
Place

Acquisition and rights

Credit line
Gift of J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff
Copyright
Public domain

Documentation

- R. van Luttervelt, 'Liever Turks dan Paaps', De Gids 124 (oktober 1961), p. 150-163.
- Riza Nour, 'Maansikkel', Revue de Turcologie, Alexandrië 1933, p. 230-411 (met afbeeldingen).
- S. Wigersma Hzn, 'De draagtekens van het jaar 1566', De Vrije Fries 1906, p. 13 (met afbeeldingen).
- Kees van der Pols, 'Vroege geuzenpenningen', De Beeldenaar (2007) nr. 1, p. 17-22.

Persistent URL

To refer to this object, please use the following persistent URL:
https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/2009126