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The message of peace in the 1701 medal of Clement XI

Written by Greta Gazzaniga

Today’s article is dedicated to one of the rarest medals in our Numismatic Auction 12: the 1701 medal of Clement XI, lot 1229. We will analyze the historical context preceding the minting of this medal.

The legacy of Charles II and the end of an era

The pontificate of Clement XI began with an extremely delicate event from a political perspective. In 1700, the Habsburg dynasty became extinct with the death of its last descendant, Charles II, sovereign of a vast empire. Not only was he King of Spain, but he also ruled numerous kingdoms and duchies in Italy and the Netherlands.

Due to the consanguinity of his ancestors, Charles II inherited a series of genetic malformations that most likely rendered him sterile and thus unable to produce an heir. After two childless marriages, the sovereign decided to appoint a successor to ensure the future stability of the empire. The first candidate was Joseph Ferdinand Leopold of Bavaria, who was descended from Philip IV of Habsburg on his mother’s side. Unfortunately, the child died in 1699, and this event reopened the question of succession.

The choice of Philip of Bourbon and the beginning of the conflict

After consulting his government and the previous pope, Innocent XII, the King reached the conclusion that Spain would not be able to withstand a war against France and that, therefore, choosing an heir from among his French relatives seemed to be the most balanced solution. Thus, at the end of his life, Charles II decided that his successor would be Philip of Bourbon. However, this decision triggered the so-called War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714).

The underlying problem was that the two major powers in Europe were the Kingdom of France and the Habsburg Empire. Philip of Bourbon was the grandson of Louis XIV of France, and this could have led to the entire Spanish domain passing under French control. This prospect was not well received by other European countries. They supported other members of the House of Habsburg, from the Austrian branch, or representatives of other non-French dynasties for the succession, in order to guarantee a balance of power in Europe.

Clement XI: A Pontificate in the Sign of Peace

In light of these events, the pontificate of Clement XI opened with a gesture consistent with the political situation. Generally, in papal medallic art, the first year of a pontificate celebrated the election of the new pontiff. However, in this case, the Pope followed the path set by his predecessor, who sought to preserve peace in Europe.

After the death of Charles II, Philip of Bourbon ascended the throne as Philip V, but the political turmoil did not subside. The Pope therefore decided to send messengers with ‘briefs’ (official papal documents), urging peace. Monsignor Orazio Filippo Spada was dispatched to Emperor Leopold I of Habsburg, Monsignor Lorenzo Fieschi to Louis XIV, King of France, and Monsignor Felice Zondadari to Madrid, to Philip V, to exhort the maintenance of peace among the various kingdoms. Furthermore, he also called upon the Italian duchies to remain neutral in the conflict.

Numismatic Symbolism: The Medal of Clement XI

Unfortunately, despite the efforts of Clement XI, the war began and continued until 1714. Nevertheless, the first medal of Clement XI’s pontificate—and therefore the most significant—underscores his role as a peacemaker. The obverse features the portrait of the Pope crowned by the tiara (triregnum). The reverse depicts a splendid personification of the Church, gazing upward at the light emanating from the Trinity, symbolized by a triangle. This medal was created by Giovanni Martino Hamerani and bears the inscription ‘FIAT PAX SUPER ISRAEL’ around the edge, taken from Psalm 124:5, which can be translated as ‘Peace be upon Israel.’

This medal was struck in the three primary metals—gold, silver, and bronze—but there are also versions in gilt and silvered bronze, as well as a version in lead. In our Auction 12, lot 1229, we are presenting the version in the most noble metal.

Nomisma Aste, Asta 12, Lotto 1229, Clemente XI (1700-1721) Medaglia 1701 Esortazione alla pace

Auction 12, Lot 1229, Clement XI (1700-1721) Medal 1701 Exhortation to Peace

The reverse of this medal would later be reused for the giuli of Clement XI’s seventh year, likely as an attempt by the Pope to renew his plea for peace across the Italian peninsula and, above all, within the territories of the Papal States. In fact, shortly after the war began, French and Imperial troops were quick to bring the conflict to Italian soil. The Empire’s allies began to stir up unrest in the states surrounding the Papal States, attempting to incite pro-imperial revolts, while Clement XI’s foreign policy proved over time to be pro-French.

The truce of 1707 and commemorative coinage

When Philip V was forced to cede the throne of Naples to Charles VI of Habsburg in 1707, a brief moment of truce occurred across the Italian peninsula. Perhaps this apparent calm led to the decision to mint the giuli using the reverse of the Year I medal.

Despite Clement XI’s marginal role in these events, he left a mark on papal numismatics of great artistic value, making this medal and those that followed—crafted by members of the Hamerani family—small windows into the history of Italy at the beginning of the 18th century.

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