Halve maan door de 300 bootsgezellen van admiraal de Boisot gedragen

anonymous, 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 g

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: ‘LIVER TVRCX * DAN PAVS’
    • circumscription: ‘ENDESPIT DELAMES’

Creation

  • Creation

    anonymous, Netherlands

  • Dating

    1574

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Material and technique

  • Dimensions

    length 4.8 cm x weight 9.83 g

This work is about

  • Person

  • Subject

  • Place

  • Period

    1574-10-03

Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    Gift of J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff

  • Acquisition

    gift 1885

  • Copyright

    Public domain

Documentation

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

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