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- Medallic History of Religious and Racial Intolerance : Medals as instruments for promoting bigotry
Medallic History of Religious and Racial Intolerance : Medals as instruments for promoting bigotry
- By Weiss, Benjamin
- Published 23 December 2008
- Classical Antiquities, Coins and Medals
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Massacre of the Huguenots in the Cevennes by Giovanni Hamerani
As mentioned earlier, the Huguenots, the French Protestants who arose in France during the Reformation, suffered severe persecution by the Roman Catholic clergy. Henry IV, although adopting the Roman Catholic faith, issued the Edict of Nantes (1598), which, while recognizing Catholicism as the official religion, gave Huguenots certain rights, among which was the freedom of worship. Under Louis XIV, however, the clergy regained more influence and the Huguenots were again persecuted. Hundreds of proclamations, edicts, and declarations attacking the Huguenots, confiscating their property and restricting their liberty of conscience, were promulgated during these years, leading finally to the total revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. This caused thousands of Huguenots to flee France and, as one of the unintended consequences of such acts, greatly weakened France's Protestant alliances in Europe. It also resulted, in come cases, in the massacre of the Huguenots and, as shown below, the issuance of a medal which appears to celebrate this slaughter (Figure 16).
This medal commemorates the massacre of the Huguenots in the Cevennes, one of the persecutions directed by Louis XIV against the Protestants during this period. It was executed in Rome by the Italian medallist Giovanni Hamerani and appears to celebrate rather than criticize this massacre, as on the reverse, Religion is shown, hovering in the background behind the soldier, guiding the slaughter.
RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS IN ENGLAND
Let us now turn our attention to a brief Medallic History of religious strife in England and to some of the medals that, in my view, promote religious bigotry. Unlike in France, where the dominant Catholics persecuted the Protestants, in England the Anglican Church gained the upper hand, resulting in predictable consequences toward anyone who chose not to conform to the religious precepts of the Church of England. One of the medals issued during this period, Archbishop Sancroft and the Seven Bishops, serves to demonstrate the repercussions that followed when a monarch tried to go against the religious bigotries of the bishops and their adherents.
Archbishop Sancroft and the Seven Bishops by George Bower
To set the stage for this medal: During the reign of Elizabeth, a new branch of Western Christianity developed in England, termed Anglicanism (from England). By the mid 17th century, this Church of England was independent of the Roman pontiff and comprised a distinct Christian tradition, with theologies, structures and forms of worship representing a middle ground between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. Other forms of worship were not tolerated in England by the hierarchy of the Church, the bishops. But in 1672, Charles II of England joined Louis XIV of France in issuing the Declaration of Indulgence. This historic document suspended all penal laws against Catholic recusants, i.e., those Catholics who did not attend the Church of England, as well as Protestant dissenters who did not adhere to the doctrine of the Church of England. However, the English Parliament objected to Charles’ effort to promote religious tolerance and compelled him to withdraw this declaration, putting in its place laws requiring anyone entering public service in England to take the Anglican sacrament.
In 1687, Charles’ successor, the openly Catholic James II, issued a new Declaration of Indulgence which went even further than that issued by Charles II, in that it exempted Catholics, Protestants, Unitarians, Jews, Muslims, and people of any or even no faith from penalties that were based on their religious (or non-theist) convictions. Further, he required his bishops to read this document to the bishops' parishioners. However, William Sancroft, (1617-1693), archbishop of Canterbury, took exception to the declaration and wrote a petition against the reading of the Declaration of Indulgence. This petition was signed by himself and six bishops. For this action they were all imprisoned in the Tower of London.
Several medals, an example of which is shown here (Figure 17), were issued to protest their imprisonment.
William Sancroft (1617-1693) was the 79th archbishop of Canterbury. He was well supported by the reigning monarchs, being elevated to the archbishopric of Canterbury by Charles II, and upon Charles’ death he officiated in the crowning of James II. But in 1687, a major political problem arose for Sancroft when he wrote, in his own hand, a petition against the reading of the Declaration of Indulgence, which had been issued by James II. This petition was signed by himself and six of his fellow bishops (collectively known as the Seven Bishops). For this offence they were confined to the Tower of London, where they stayed until they were acquitted and released.
This medal commemorates and, in fact, supports the action taken by William Sancroft and his fellow bishops in refusing to read James II's Declaration of Indulgence. As this declaration was designed to grant individuals a degree of religious tolerance, the medal provides an example of one issued condoning religious intolerance. This medal and like copies were often worn around the neck by clergy in support of these bishops, who were considered heroes, and as the legend on the medal edge suggests, were “undismayed” by the penalties inflicted upon them by the Crown. A similar medal (M.I.,i, 62, 1/36) in support of these bishops was struck in Holland and which intimated that their imprisonment was an honor rather than a disgrace. Then, as now in some circles, religious intolerance is worn as badge of honor.
As mentioned earlier, the Huguenots, the French Protestants who arose in France during the Reformation, suffered severe persecution by the Roman Catholic clergy. Henry IV, although adopting the Roman Catholic faith, issued the Edict of Nantes (1598), which, while recognizing Catholicism as the official religion, gave Huguenots certain rights, among which was the freedom of worship. Under Louis XIV, however, the clergy regained more influence and the Huguenots were again persecuted. Hundreds of proclamations, edicts, and declarations attacking the Huguenots, confiscating their property and restricting their liberty of conscience, were promulgated during these years, leading finally to the total revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. This caused thousands of Huguenots to flee France and, as one of the unintended consequences of such acts, greatly weakened France's Protestant alliances in Europe. It also resulted, in come cases, in the massacre of the Huguenots and, as shown below, the issuance of a medal which appears to celebrate this slaughter (Figure 16).
Figure 16. MASSACRE OF THE HUGUENOTS IN THE CEVENNES
(Weiss Collection)
by Giovanni HAMERANI: France, 1673, Bronze, 45 mm
Obverse: Equestrian Portrait of Louis XIV LVD. XIV. D. G. FR. ET. NAV. REX.
Exergue: IO. HAMERANVS . FECIT ROME
Reverse: Warrior, watched over by Religion, stomps on Gorgon, representing the Huguenots QVIS CONTRA. NOS. (Who Is Against Us); below, 1673
Signed: IO. HAMERANVS . FECIT
Reference: Forrer II, p.403; BW373
(Weiss Collection)
by Giovanni HAMERANI: France, 1673, Bronze, 45 mm
Obverse: Equestrian Portrait of Louis XIV LVD. XIV. D. G. FR. ET. NAV. REX.
Exergue: IO. HAMERANVS . FECIT ROME
Reverse: Warrior, watched over by Religion, stomps on Gorgon, representing the Huguenots QVIS CONTRA. NOS. (Who Is Against Us); below, 1673
Signed: IO. HAMERANVS . FECIT
Reference: Forrer II, p.403; BW373
The Cevennes, referred to in this medal, are a mountain range in southern France, home to the Camisards, the name given to the Protestant peasantry who, from 1702 to 1705 and for several years afterward, carried out organized military resistance to the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Although the Camisards killed many Catholics and burned several churches, ultimately Louis prevailed over them. It wasn't until 1789 that the Protestants' civil rights were restored and their religious equality guaranteed.
This medal commemorates the massacre of the Huguenots in the Cevennes, one of the persecutions directed by Louis XIV against the Protestants during this period. It was executed in Rome by the Italian medallist Giovanni Hamerani and appears to celebrate rather than criticize this massacre, as on the reverse, Religion is shown, hovering in the background behind the soldier, guiding the slaughter.
RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS IN ENGLAND
Let us now turn our attention to a brief Medallic History of religious strife in England and to some of the medals that, in my view, promote religious bigotry. Unlike in France, where the dominant Catholics persecuted the Protestants, in England the Anglican Church gained the upper hand, resulting in predictable consequences toward anyone who chose not to conform to the religious precepts of the Church of England. One of the medals issued during this period, Archbishop Sancroft and the Seven Bishops, serves to demonstrate the repercussions that followed when a monarch tried to go against the religious bigotries of the bishops and their adherents.
Archbishop Sancroft and the Seven Bishops by George Bower
To set the stage for this medal: During the reign of Elizabeth, a new branch of Western Christianity developed in England, termed Anglicanism (from England). By the mid 17th century, this Church of England was independent of the Roman pontiff and comprised a distinct Christian tradition, with theologies, structures and forms of worship representing a middle ground between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. Other forms of worship were not tolerated in England by the hierarchy of the Church, the bishops. But in 1672, Charles II of England joined Louis XIV of France in issuing the Declaration of Indulgence. This historic document suspended all penal laws against Catholic recusants, i.e., those Catholics who did not attend the Church of England, as well as Protestant dissenters who did not adhere to the doctrine of the Church of England. However, the English Parliament objected to Charles’ effort to promote religious tolerance and compelled him to withdraw this declaration, putting in its place laws requiring anyone entering public service in England to take the Anglican sacrament.
In 1687, Charles’ successor, the openly Catholic James II, issued a new Declaration of Indulgence which went even further than that issued by Charles II, in that it exempted Catholics, Protestants, Unitarians, Jews, Muslims, and people of any or even no faith from penalties that were based on their religious (or non-theist) convictions. Further, he required his bishops to read this document to the bishops' parishioners. However, William Sancroft, (1617-1693), archbishop of Canterbury, took exception to the declaration and wrote a petition against the reading of the Declaration of Indulgence. This petition was signed by himself and six bishops. For this action they were all imprisoned in the Tower of London.
Several medals, an example of which is shown here (Figure 17), were issued to protest their imprisonment.
Figure 17. ARCHBISHOP SANCROFT AND THE SEVEN BISHOPS
(Weiss Collection)
by George BOWER: England, 1688, Silver, 51 mm
Obverse: Bust of Sancroft (r) GVIL. SANCROFT. ARCHIEPISC. CANTVAR. 1688.
Reverse: Medallions of the six imprisoned bishops with the Bishop of London in the center (left to right from top): William Lloyd, Bishop of St. Asaph; Francis Turner, Bishop of Ely; John Lake, Bishop of Chichester; Henry Compton, Bishop of London; Thomas Ken, Bishop of Bath and Wells; Thomas White, Bishop of Peterborough; and Sir John Trelawney, Bishop of Bristol.
Edge: SI FRACTUS ILLABATUR ORBIS IMPAUIDOS FERIENT RUINAE (If the Shattered Universe Were to Fall, the Ruins Would Strike Them Undismayed).
Signed: .G B. F.
(Weiss Collection)
by George BOWER: England, 1688, Silver, 51 mm
Obverse: Bust of Sancroft (r) GVIL. SANCROFT. ARCHIEPISC. CANTVAR. 1688.
Reverse: Medallions of the six imprisoned bishops with the Bishop of London in the center (left to right from top): William Lloyd, Bishop of St. Asaph; Francis Turner, Bishop of Ely; John Lake, Bishop of Chichester; Henry Compton, Bishop of London; Thomas Ken, Bishop of Bath and Wells; Thomas White, Bishop of Peterborough; and Sir John Trelawney, Bishop of Bristol.
Edge: SI FRACTUS ILLABATUR ORBIS IMPAUIDOS FERIENT RUINAE (If the Shattered Universe Were to Fall, the Ruins Would Strike Them Undismayed).
Signed: .G B. F.
Reference: M.I. i, 622/37; Eimer 56/288; Fearon 34/139.1; V. Loon III, 339; BW424
William Sancroft (1617-1693) was the 79th archbishop of Canterbury. He was well supported by the reigning monarchs, being elevated to the archbishopric of Canterbury by Charles II, and upon Charles’ death he officiated in the crowning of James II. But in 1687, a major political problem arose for Sancroft when he wrote, in his own hand, a petition against the reading of the Declaration of Indulgence, which had been issued by James II. This petition was signed by himself and six of his fellow bishops (collectively known as the Seven Bishops). For this offence they were confined to the Tower of London, where they stayed until they were acquitted and released.
This medal commemorates and, in fact, supports the action taken by William Sancroft and his fellow bishops in refusing to read James II's Declaration of Indulgence. As this declaration was designed to grant individuals a degree of religious tolerance, the medal provides an example of one issued condoning religious intolerance. This medal and like copies were often worn around the neck by clergy in support of these bishops, who were considered heroes, and as the legend on the medal edge suggests, were “undismayed” by the penalties inflicted upon them by the Crown. A similar medal (M.I.,i, 62, 1/36) in support of these bishops was struck in Holland and which intimated that their imprisonment was an honor rather than a disgrace. Then, as now in some circles, religious intolerance is worn as badge of honor.
