Original & Rare Spanish Medal Of 1908

Commemorating The Siege Of Saragossa in 1808

A highly desirable silver medal measuring 1.1/4 inches in diameter (30mm) and in very fine condition.
It is complete with original ribbon attached to contemporary gilt pin bar for wearing.

OBVERSE
Head and shoulders portrait of Captain General José de Palafox y Melzi, Duke of Saragossa in military uniform, a laurel branch below, circumscribed PALAFOX٠LAUDEMUS VIROS GLORIOSUS٠’ (Palafox - we praise our glorious soldiers)
REVERSE
An allegorical full-length helmeted standing male figure facing left, a sword in his right hand, an upright standard in his left hand, accompanied by a lion, the city of Saragossa beyond, the date ‘1808’ to either side of the figure’s head, circumscribed above ‘CIVES٠CÆS٠AUG’1908’ (Citizens of Saragossa August 1908)

The medal was instituted by Royal Decree on 9 July 1908 to mark the centenary of the first siege of Saragossa during the Napoleonic Peninsula Wars in which Palafox led the citizens of the city in heroic street-by-street resistance to the French invaders who withdrew on 13 August 1808 after sixty-one days. The medal is rarely found.

A very nice medal for the serious collector and fully guaranteed to be genuine & authentic.

Mailing cost from France to the U.K. by standard airmail will be 3.00p. - I also ship worldwide

INFORMATION
The first siege of Saragossa (Zaragoza) took place from June 15 to August 13, 1808, and illustrated the Spanish determination to defend their cities from French invasion. The Spanish were able to successfully defend their unfortified cities despite them being inferior to the French army at the time. At first, Napoleon had thought of the ongoing uprisings as small and isolated. But he learned later after dispatching a number of flying columns that the uprising was much more widespread than initially thought. The second siege of Zaragoza was an epic struggle which motivated the Spanish resistance against the French throughout the Peninsular war. This was after irregular Spanish troops had successfully defended their city from the French. As a result, Napoleon launched his campaign in Spain and the army that had retracted to the Ebro during the first siege headed to the north-eastern corner of Spain where they successfully fought the battle of Tudela and a second siege was unavoidable.