THE SEAL OF DUKE CHARLES EUGENE DE CROY C1690

Seal Detail

A magnificent large brass desk seal, the reverse comprising raised rectangular fin with large central suspension loop, the circular matrix reverse marked with light impression of the previous collection number "704". 

The obverse is beautifully engraved with a central armorial under a royal coronet, tassles and mantle with outer circumscription reading:

*CAROLVS. EVGENIVS.D:G. DVX. DECROY. S. R. I. PRINC. COMES. DE. ROEVX. DOMINUS.IN. MILENDVNCK* 

The seal of Charles Eugène de Croy (1651-1702), a field marshal and Duke from the House of Croy.  His father was Jacques Philippe de Croy-Roeulx (1614-1685), a descendant of Jean III of Croy-Roeulx, son of Antoine le Grand.

He married Wilhemina Juliana van den Bergh, daughter of Hendrik van den Bergh and 13 years older than himself.  They had no children.

He participated in the 1676 Battle of Lund on the Dano-Norwegian side.

Later on he fought with success in the Austrian army against the Ottoman Turks and participated in both the liberation of Vienna in 1683 and the attack on Belgrade in 1690.  On October 18th 1692, he laid the foundation stone of the Petrovaradin Fortress and was promoted to Imperial Field Marshal for his services.

In 1697 he started serving the Russian Tsar Peter the Great and was Chief in Command for his forces for Livonia (Livonia at this time formed part of Sweden and the Polish Commonwealth).  He was in command of the Russian forces in the Battle of Narva on 20th November 1700 when he surrendered and was taken prisoner by the Swedes.

He died at Reval (Tallinn) as a prisoner of war in 1702.  On demand of his creditors, his body, which rested at St Nicholas Church, was not buried for more than 190 years and, when mummified, was exhibited as a curiosity.

In 1685 he inherited the castle at Myllendonk; he sold the castle in 1699 to Maria Gertrude von Berlepsch; so this seal was made between 1695 and 1699.  Presented here in superb condition.

Provenance: Libert auction 2008

Seal Specification

Height:  32mm

Diameter of matrix:  72mm 

Weight:  360g