This handsome, high-relief bronze medal was originally issued in 1836 by King Louis-Philippe, the last king of France, who came to the throne in 1830. It is an obvious attempt by Louis-Philippe to link himself to the glory of Napoleon Bonaparte and his Empire. This can be seen in ways both obvious and subtle. First, Louis-Philippe has insinuated himself onto a medal that features not just Napoleon, but also Napoleon's "Triumphal Arch", the monument to his victories in the center of Paris. Louis-Philippe's portrait faces that of Napoleon, so the two can see eye to eye, with both styled as Roman Emperors. The legends make a point of stating the Napoleon began the Arc, but that Louis-Philippe finished it.

The Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe stands in Paris in the center of the Place de l'Étoile, at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. It is the linchpin of the historic axis leading from the courtyard of the Louvre Palace, a sequence of monuments and grand thoroughfares on a route leading out of Paris. The Arc is more than just a huge monument - it is a true work of art. It is covered inside and out with sculptural friezes, the four largest of which are depicted near the bottom of this article. The iconographic imagery pits heroically nude French youths against bearded Germanic warriors in chain mail, and set the tone for public monuments with triumphant nationalistic messages until World War I.

The Arc was commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon Bonaparte after his victory at the Battle of Austerlitz, at the peak of his fortunes. It was finally completed, after a long pause during the Restoration, during the reign of King Louis-Philippe, in 1836. The sculpture representing Peace was now interpreted as commemorating the Peace of 1815, which of course was not Napoleon's original intention!

The Arc de Triomphe stands over 165 feet in height and is 145 feet wide. It is the second largest triumphal arch in existence (North Korea built a slightly larger Arch of Triumph in 1982 for the 70th birthday of Kim Il-Sung). The Arc de Triomphe is so colossal that an early daredevil was able to fly his plane straight through it!

Beneath the Arc is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I, interred here on Armistice Day, 1920. The Eternal Flame next to it was the first such flame lit in Western Europe since the Vestal Virgins' fire was extinguished in the year 391 A.D. It burns in memory of the dead who were never identified, now for both World Wars. The slab on top carries the inscription ICI REPOSE UN SOLDAT FRANÇAIS MORT POUR LA PATRIE 1914–1918 ("Here lies a French soldier who died for his country 1914–1918").

Profile effigies of Napoleon Bonaparte, facing right, and King Louis-Philippe, facing left. Both are depicted in the classical style of a Roman emperor, Napoleon with a laurel wreath (indicating victory) and Louis-Philippe with an oak wreath (indicating strength) on their respective heads. The dates of Napoleon's initiation of the Arc de Triomphe (1806) and Louis-Philippe's completion of it (1836) appear under their portraits, while the legend DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE ("May God protect France") appears above them. The artist's signature "MONTAGNY F.” ("Montagny Fecit”), Latin for "Montagny made it" also appears.

A meticulously engraved image of the Arc de Triomphe (or ARC DE L'ÉTOILE, as it was called then), with an appropriate star above it it, from the Place de l’Étoiles (“Square of the Stars”). The Arc is dedicated AUX ARMÉES FRANÇAISES ("To the French Armies"). The main legend FONDÉ PAR NAPOLÉON EN 1806, TERMINÉ PAR LOUIS PHILIPPE I EN 1836 translates as "Began by Napoleon in 1806, completed by Louis Philippe I in 1836". The artist's signature "MONTAGNY F.” ("Montagny Fecit”), Latin for "Montagny made it" also appears.

This medal is presented in the traditional, blue Monnaie de Paris gift box. A clear plastic display stand is included.

The Friezes of the Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is a treasure trove of sculpture and high relief friezes. All of the major academic sculptors of France from that era are represented in the sculpture of the Arc de Triomphe: Cortot, Rude, Étex, Pradier and Lemaire. The main sculptures are not integral friezes but are treated as independent trophies applied to the vast ashlar masonry masses, not unlike the gilt-bronze appliqués on Empire furniture.

In many ways the Arc also serves as an historical codex of France under Napoleon. For example, in the attic above the richly sculptured friezes of soldiers are thirty shields engraved with the names of major Revolutionary and Napoleonic military victories. The inside walls of the monument list the names of 558 French generals, with the names of those who were killed in battle are underlined.

Perhaps the most important works are the four sculptural groups at the base of the Arc. Pictured below, these are (in order from left to right): The Triumph of Napoleon in 1810 by Jean-Pierre Cortot; The Resistance of 1814 and The Peace of 1815, both by Antoine Étex; and the most renowned of them all, The Departure of the Volunteers of '92 commonly called La Marseillaise, by François Rude. The face of the allegorical representation of France calling forth her people on this last was used as the belt buckle for the seven-star rank of Marshal of France.