Austria, Empire. A Field Marshal Radetzky Table Medal, c.1858

Bronze, obverse illustrating the left-facing bust of Field Marshal Radetzky, surrounded by the inscription "GEB. IN TREBNITZ IN BOHMEN AM 2, NOV. 1766. GEST. IN MAILAND AM 5. JAN. 1858 / NAR. V. TREBNICI U CECHACH DNE 2. LISTOP. 1766. ZEMR. V MILANE DNE 5. LEDNA 1858" and "FELDMARSCHALL GRAF RADETZKY V. REDETZ POLNI MARSHAL HRABE RADECKY Z RADGE", and engraver marked "SEIDAN", reverse illustrating the Radetzky monument in Prague, inscribed "DEN MITGLIEDERN DES KUNSTVEREINES FUR BOHMEN IM JAHRE 1859." to the left, "CLENUM JEDNOTY KRASOUMNE V CECHACH NA ROK 1859." to the right, surrounded by the inscriptions "ERRICHTET DURCH DEN KURSTVEREIN FUR BOHMEN ENTHULLT AM 13 NOV 1858. / POSTAVEN JEDNOTOU KRASOUMNOU V CECHACH. ODHALEN DNE 13 LISTOP 1858." and "RADETZKY MONUMENT IN PRAG / PAMATNIK RADECKEHO V PRAZE", 80 mm, edge nicks, bruised, light contact overall, better than very fine. Footnote: Johann Josef (Joseph) Wenzel (Anton Franz Karl) Graf Radetzky von Radetz was born on November 2, 1766 in Trebnice, Bohemia. He was a Czech nobleman and Austrian general, and fought with distinction against the French in the Napoleonic Wars. As Army Chief of Staff, he attempted to modernize the Austrian Army. As Commander-on-Chief of the Austrian Army in Northern Italy (1831-1857), he suppressed the revolt in the Austrian-ruled provinces of Lombardy and Venetia in 1848, and is known for the victories at the Battles of Custoza (July 24-25, 1848) and Novara (March 23, 1849) during the First Italian War of Independence. He served as Governor-General of these provinces (1849-1857). His status among conservatives as a national hero inspired Johann Strauss the Elder to compose the "Radetzky March". General Radetzky was in the military for over seventy years to the age of 90, almost up to his death at age 91. He died on January 5, 1858, in Milan, Italy.