Stock No. 2727	Escape of Princess Clementina from Innsbruck
Very attractive bronze Jacobite medal showing the escape of Princess Clementina (betrothed to Prince James Stuart) from Innsbruck Castle. 28 April, 1719. Obverse: Bust of Princess Clementina, left, hair decorated with diadem and wreathed with pearls, pearl ear-ring and necklace, in gown bordered with jewels and ermine mantle. Legend: CLEMENTINA . M . BRITAN . FR . ET . HIB . REGINA. Below, OTTO . HAMERANI . F. Reverse: Princess Clementina in a cart drawn at speed by two horses: in the distance, Rome and the rising sun. Legend: FORTVNAM . CAVSAMQVE . SEQVOR. (I follow his fortune and his cause). Exergue: DECEPTIS . CVSTODIBVS . MDCCXIX. (The guards being deceived, 1719.). See "Medallic Illustrations" volume II, page 449/49. Maker :- Otto Hamerani

Condition :-Extremely Fine
Circa :- 1719
Size :- 1.9 inches (48.3 mm) diameter
This is a beautifully executed medal which radiates a great deal of action and emotion. Princess Clementina Sobieski was the grand-daughter of John Sobieski, King of Poland. She was betrothed to Prince James Stuart and was on her way to Rome to marry him. George I was opposed to the marriage because he feared that there would be an heir and, in order to gratify him, the Emperor arrested Princess Clementina on her way to Italy and confined her in Innsbruck Castle. Ultimately, the guards were deceived and Clementina escaped by a rapid and perilous flight to Bologna, where she was married by proxy to James who was in Spain at that time, in case any other impediments should befall. Clementina's father, Prince James Louis Sobieski, approved her escape declaring that, as she became engaged to Prince James she ought to "follow his fortune and his cause". The design of this medal shows Otto Hamerani at his best.

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