The medal of the Zadar Lyceum from 1809 represents not only a medal but also a historical document of the era in which it was created. Crafted during the time of Napoleon's rule in Dalmatia, this medal testifies to the connection between culture, education, and the political system that governed Dalmatia at that time.
The medal is made of bronze and has a mass of 34.50 g. The diameter of the medal is 46 mm and the thickness is 3 mm.
It is not known which master made the molds for its production and where exactly it was forged. However, it is assumed that it was in Venice.
In the central part of the medal's face is a caduceus – a staff around which two snakes are intertwined. Above the caduceus, along the upper edge of the medal, is a semi-circular inscription: “NAPOLEONE MAGNO IMPERANTE” (Napoleon the Great Commander). Along the lower edge of the medal is a semi-circular inscription: “V. DAND. DALM. PROC.” (abbreviation for Vincenzo Dandolo, Proveditor of Dalmatia).
In the central part of the reverse of the medal is the inscription: “LYCAEUM / IADERENSE” (Zadar Lyceum). Around this inscription is an unbroken laurel wreath. Along the upper edge of the medal is the semicircular inscription: “MERITOS . INDICIT . HONORES” (free transl. Honors are bestowed for merits). Along the lower edge of the medal is the year: “MDCCCIX” (1809).
The first mention of this medal can be found in literature from 1812, when Petar Karlić mentions it in “Kraljski Dalmatin”. A more detailed description of the medal is given by Antonio Patrignani, who states that in addition to copper specimens, silver ones also exist.
At the time this medal was issued, Dalmatia was under Napoleon's occupation. In his name, Dalmatia was governed by the General Proveditor Vicenzo (Vicko) Dandolo. The title he held was a historical remnant from the time of the Venetian Republic.
This medal was not only a symbol of Napoleon's rule in Dalmatia, but it also had a practical application. It served as an award for the best students of the Zadar Lyceum at the end of each school year. This practice emphasized the importance of education and academic excellence, even in times of foreign occupation.
The 1809 medal of the Zadar Lyceum provides a unique insight into the culture, education, and politics in early 19th-century Dalmatia. This medal, besides representing an award for the achievements of young students, also reminds us of the complex history of this Croatian region and its position in the broader European events of that time.
By the way, the aforementioned Zadar Lyceum was officially opened on November 5, 1807, and was known as a “wisdom school” with a university character. Its establishment was based on the proclamation “On the General School Foundation,” issued on May 5 of the same year by the French administration in Dalmatia. The lyceum operated within the premises of the Monastery of St. Krševan and soon became the central educational institution with university status in Zadar. At the time, it offered seven faculties: law, medicine, surgery, pharmacy, geodesy, theology, and engineering. While the faculty of medicine had a five-year program of study, geodesy lasted three years, and the other faculties lasted four years. With the establishment of the Illyrian Provinces in 1810, Zadar and Ljubljana, the capital of that province, were the only cities with lyceums of university status. However, as early as 1811, the school reform of the time and Marmont's successor Bertrand abolished the Zadar Lyceum.
Edited: Zlatko Viščević
Photos: Coins, Banknotes & Militaria Store [www.cbm-store.com]
