The commander’s baton of Michiel de Ruyter

Admiraal de Ruyter was presented with this diamondstudded commander’s baton, as well as several other gifts, in 1676 by the Spanish Viceroy of Naples. At the time the Dutch and Spanish fleets were engaged together against the French in the Mediterranean. Two months later, on 22 April, De Ruyter was hit by a French cannon during fighting off Messina. He died a week later of his wounds.