Summary

Medal Conquete du Hanovre, 'Occupation of Hanover', Issued by France, 1803
Artist: Romain Jeuffroy
Minted by Paris Mint

Obverse Description

British bull dog tearing up a scroll (the Treaty of Amiens); text around, 'LE TRAIT D'AMIENS ROMPU PAR L'ANGLIETERRE EN MAI DL L'AN 1803'; in exergue; 'DENON DIREXIT / JEUFFROY FECIT'.

Reverse Description

Victory on horseback racing to right extending a wreath with right hand and holding to the neck of the horse with her left; text around, L'HANOVER OCCUPE PAR L'ARMEE FRANCAISE EN JUIN DE L'AN 1803; in exergue, FRAPPEE AVEC L'ARGENT DES / MINES D'HANOVRE L'AN / 4 DE BONAPARTE'.

Edge Description

Plain.

Significance

The obverse depicts the British Bull dog tearing up the Treaty of Amiens. Laskey wrote in 1818: "At the formation of the definitive treaty at Amiens, we held Malta by conquest. France was unwilling that it should remain with us, and we as unwilling that it should become the property of France. In fact, the arrangements respecting Malta were the only stipulations for which England contended with France during the negotiations: every thing else was a surrender on our part. In order therefore that Malta might be, if possible, independent of both parties, it was agreed that it should remain in the hands of the British for a certain period; after which, it was to be given up to the knights of the order, and to be garrisoned by a Neapolitan force, until the knights should be able to defend it themselves. Now, as the evident spirit, and indeed letter, of this agreement was, that the knights should be independent of any power, we were not obliged to give the island up, until such an event should take place, but Bonaparte himself had rendered that impossible; for, under his influence the property of the order in various parts of Europe was sequestrated; and of course, as he had rendered it impossible that the events which were to happen before we surrendered Malta, could now take place, it naturally followed, that if we were not justified in keeping it, still there existed no reason for giving it up: the failure therefore of the fulfilment of the treaty was on the part of France, not of Great Britain, and Napoleon had no right to avail himself of the error he had committed. Had Malta been given up, it must of course have become the property of France, which would have been in direct opposition to the treaty; so that the calls upon Britain to fulfil the treaty of Amiens, were as futile as they were unjust. " Lakey p. 58

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