1798 NAPOLEON BATTLE OF THE PYRAMIDS BRONZE ART MEDAL

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NAPOLEON - 1798 - BATTLE OF THE PYRAMIDS - BRONZE ART MEDAL Diameter: 41mm (approx.1.6") Weight: 40g (approx.1oz) Edge/Relief: 5mm Art medal, in bronze, a scarce 20th century restrike** in very good condition as scanned, many knocks on rim, by Bovy, edge marked horn of plenty (Paris Mint)*. Bibliography : see CGMP p26 Vol2. Obv. 6th effigy. Signed A.BOVY. Rev. Bonaparte riding horse in front of infantery addressing his soldiers with famous words in legend : SOLDATS! DU HAUT DE CES PYRAMIDES / 40 SIECLES VOUS CONTEMPLENT. In exergue in two lines : NAPOLEON EN EGYPTE / 25 JUILLET 1798. Signed A. BOVY. The Battle of the Pyramids was a battle fought on July 21, 1798 between the French army in Egypt under Napoleon Bonaparte and local Mamluk forces. It was the battle where Bonaparte put into use one of his significant contributions to tactics, the massive divisional square. In July of 1798, Napoleon was marching from Alexandria toward Cairo after invading and capturing the former. He met two forces of the ruling Mamluks 15 kilometers from the Pyramids, and only 4 miles from Cairo. The Mamluke forces were commanded by Murad Bey and Ibrahim Bey and had a powerful and highly developed cavalry. The Battle of the Pyramids, Louis-François, Baron Lejeune, 1808. Enlarge The Battle of the Pyramids, Louis-François, Baron Lejeune, 1808. Napoleon realized that the only Egyptian troops of any worth on the battlefield were the cavalry. He had little cavalry of his own and was outnumbered by a factor of two or three to one. He was thus forced to go on the defensive, and organized his army into hollow "squares" with artillery, cavalry and baggage at the center of each square, and so dispersed sustained charges of Mameluke cavalry with supporting artillery fire. He then stormed the Egyptian camp in the village of Embebeh, routing the disorganized Egyptian infantry and scattering their army. The battle won Cairo and Lower Egypt for France. Upon hearing news of the defeat of their legendary cavalry, the waiting Mamluk armies in Cairo dispersed to Syria to reorganize. The Battle also signalled the final chapter of 700 years of Mamluk rule in Egypt. Despite this auspicious beginning, Admiral Horatio Nelson's victory in the Battle of the Nile ten days later ended Bonaparte's hopes for a glorious conquest of the Middle East. More Medals? don't forget to visit our STORE and also see our Sister Shop on eBay.fr : STORE eBay.fr **About “ Restrikes ” from the Paris Mint : A re-strike is not a copy it is a medal minted from the same die as the original strike at a later date ; it is guaranteed from the Paris mint as well with the hallmark stamped on its edge ; Advantages for the collector often are : restrikes are usually more affordable, usually in better condition and of higher quality due to progress in medals making tools, you often get a higher quality medal than an original strike. Also sometimes, even professionals cannot guarantee a medal from the Paris Mint to be ‘100% original’ as there has been many restrikes all along since the first strike of a medal. *Mint Marks used at the PARIS MINT: Plain Edge ==> All medals before March 30th 1832 have plain edges and before 1841 for bronze or copper. Antique Lamp ==> from March 30th 1832 until October 21st 1841 (on gold & silver only). Anchor ==> from October 21st 1841 until September 25th 1842. Ship Prow ==> from September 26th 1842 until June 12th 1845. Pointing Hand ==> from June 13th 1845 until October 1st 1860. Bee ==> from November 1st 1860 until December 31st 1879. Cornucopia (Horn of Plenty) ==> from 1880 until now. L@@K AT MY AUCTIONS FOR OTHER GREAT MEDALS @@ @ @@ EZ & HASSLE FREE TRANSACTIONS FROM PARIS TO TEXAS OR ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD @ @@ Interests/Themes keywords : Art medal, Art nouveau, France, Napoleon, Bonaparte, Revolution, Empire, 1800, 1802, 1804, 1805, 1806, 1807, 1809, 1808,1815, 1812. ABOUT US We are professional sellers running a family business, th... read more

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