Luzern - Löwendenkmal

The initiative to create the monument was taken by Karl Pfyffer von Altishofen, an officer of the Guards who had been on leave in Lucerne at that time of the fight. He began collecting money in 1818. The monument was designed by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, and finally hewn in 1820-21 by Lukas Ahorn, in a former sandstone quarry near Lucerne.

Inscriptions and translations (from a page in the website from the Gletschergarten, no longer on the web):

HELVETIORUM FIDEI AC VIRTUTI The loyalty and bravery of the Swiss DIE X AUGUSTI II ET III SEPTEMBRIS MDCCXCII 10. August, 2. and 3. September 1792 HAEC SUNT NOMINA EORUM QUI NE SACRAMENTI FIDEM FALLERENT Honour roll of the soldiers, who, while upholding their oath of allegiance,
FORTISSIME PUGNANTES CECIDERUNT Fell in the line of duty:		SOLERTI AMICORUM CURA CLADI SUPERFUERUNT Survived the battle through the care and attention of friends:
DUCES XXVI 26 officers		DUCES XVI 16 officers
Maillardoz, Bachmann, Reding, Erlach, Salis-Zizers, H. Diesbach, Gottrau, L. Zimmermann, Wild, Castelberg, Gros, P. Glutz, S. Maillardoz, Ernest, Forestier, Diesbach, Steinbrugg, Waltner, I. Maillardoz, Müller, Montmollin, Castella, Orgemont, Caprez, Allemann, Chollet, Boecking, Richter		H. Salis-Zizers, Dürler, Pfyffer-Altishofen, E. Zimmermann, Repond, I. Zimmermann, Deluze, A. Zimmermann, Glutz, Gibelin, Maillardoz, De Ville, Constant-Rebecque, Lacorbière, Forestier, Loretan.
MILITES CIRCITER DCCLX approximately 760 soldiers		MILITES CIRCITER CCCL approximately 350 soldiers
HUIUS REI GESTAE CIVES AERE COLLATO PERRENNE MONUMENTUM POSUERE The citizens of Lucerne erected and funded this monument to commemorate this battle

STUDIO C. PFYFFER
Thanks to the efforts of Karl Pfyffer

ARTE A.THORVALDSEN
The design of Albert Thorwaldsen

OPERA L. AHORN
The execution by Lukas Ahorn

The following is inscribed on a wall of the commemorative chapel: "INVICTIS PAX" (peace to the undefeated). - "PER VITAM FORTES, SUB INIQUA MORTE FIDELES" (brave in life, loyal in unjust death).

Carved into the rock face near the Lion Monument is an inscription recalling an older battle in 1567, the retreat at Meaux and the rescue of the French King Charles IX from the Hugenots by Ludwig Pfyffer. "Retreat from Meaux I MDLXVII" / "Without the loyal allegiance of the Swiss Guard / my life and my freedom / were at risk”. / Words of Charles IX."

Statues - Hither & Thither

Löwendenkmal

The Lion of Lucerne

Description

Annotation

Sculptor

Sources & Information

Tags

Locatie (N 47°3'30" - E 8°18'39") (Satellite view: Google Maps)