Mocking medal on Maria Theresa’s “changing fortunes in war”. Obverse the undressed Maria Theresa, to her left Charles Albrecht of Bavaria, who is carrying away her garments, to her right a Jesuit priest is trying to pull her by the arm with whose hand she is covering her shame. THE NAKED QUEEN OF HUNGARY. Reverse Maria Theresa, pulling a pair of men’s trousers under her own dress. Behind her is a lady-in-waiting who is helping her to dress. On the left, Charles VII trying to grasp the crown that is slipping from his head. THE QUEEN OF RELUCTANLY PUTS ON A PAIR OF BEIJERIAN TROUSERS. Copper, silver-plated; dm 4 cm; 1742.
The medal refers to the situation in the War of the Austrian Succession in the spring of 1742. She had emerged from the Silesian War against Prussia as the loser. Charles VII of Bavaria laid claim to the imperial crown. Just one day after his coronation in Frankfurt in February 1742, Munich was conquered by Maria Theresa’s troops. She finally regained her position of power.
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