Beggars’ Medal
â€˜Rather Turkish than popish.â€™ That is the message of this medal worn by the Beggars fighting in Dutch waters against Philip IIâ€™s ships. The enemy of your enemy is your friend, and the Islamic Turks are Spainâ€™s fiercest foes. Their symbol is a crescent moon. The rebels are thus demonstrating their resolve: anything is better than submission to the Catholic Church and the Spanish king.