Wednesday 15 August 2012

Namur 45 Barcelona 46


We finally come to the end of our first trip around the world. Second from last we have the Belgian town of Namur (45 on the map) and lastly the great city of Barcelona as promised in our second post (46 on the map)



Belgium/Namur/St. Aubin Cathedral (Permanent Display 1crown)


Reliquary Crown


Belgium as a monarchy does not have any Crown Jewels per say but this crown does however have its home on Belgian soil. It is said to contain a piece of the True Cross and due to Belgium's strictly Catholic Royal family could probably be considered as the closest thing to a Belgian Royal Crown.


Spain/Barcelona/Barcelona Cathedral (Permanent Display 1crown)


Crown of King Martin of Sicily and Aragon


This crown has an almost Moorish feel to its design. It is clearly of a very unique inspiration and looks unlike any other in Europe.


(All images on this blog are considered defaulted to the public domain due to age and ready sourcing from the internet. If an image on this blog is disputed it will be altered or removed following written protest from an authentic source. please contact me at danielgswan@hotmail.com)


Thursday 26 July 2012

France 44

We are almost done with our round the world trip and we stop now in France (44 on the map) to visit its many crowns on display.









France/Paris/Louvre Palace Museum (Permanent Display 4crowns)

Crown of Louis XV 1722

This is the last royal crown of France. Made for the coronation of King Louis XV. It once was set with the Regent diamond in the front Fleur’de’lis above the circular band and with the Sancy diamond in the extreme top of the Fleur’de’lis on the apex of the arches. The crown was emptied of its valuable stones during the revolution and the Regent was set in Napoleon’s sword hilt. The original crown is now set with imitation stones for display purposes. The Regent and Sancy however are also on display separately, as part of the permanent exhibit in the Louvre.

Crown of Napoleon 1804

This golden crown was made for the coronation of Napoleon. Made to emulate the classic Roman style which exemplified the Napoleonic age, it was never actually used during the ceremony or otherwise. Instead the Emperor opted for a modest solid gold laurel wreath as can be seen in many portraits

Relic Crown of St. Louis

This crown is of ancient medieval origin and is said to contain a piece of the true cross of Christ, imbuing it with reliquary status. Called the Crown of St. Louis, it’s made of gold and silver and set with precious stones.

Crown of Empress Eugenie 1855

This small crown, worn on top of the head, rather than around, is made of gold and set with diamonds and emeralds. The classic style is again evident, especially in the use of the eagle as motif

France/Paris/Chaumet Place Vendome (Permanent Display 1coronet)

Crown of Empress Marie Louise (replica)

Originally this crown was made by Chaumet Paris from gold with silver mountings and set with rubies and diamonds. Sadly now it is merely a silver replica set with garnets and white sapphires.

France/Paris/Basilique St Denis (Permanent Display 2funerary crowns)

Crown of Charles X

Crown of Marie Therese of Savoy

France/Paris/Musee d l’Armees (Permanent Display of 1symbolic crown)

Crown of Queen Ranavalona III of Madagascar

After the Madagascsar people ousted their monarchy, the last Queen lived out her days in exile. This, largely symbolic crown remained with her until her death and then found its way into the historic collection in the Musee d lÁrmees.

France/Dijon/Musee des Beaux Arts (Permanent Display of 1funerary crown)

Funerary Crown of Philip the Bold of Burgundy
 
 
France/Bruges/Brotherhood of the Blood (Permanent Display of 1funerary crown)

Funerary Crown of Mary of Burgundy

France/Tourtoirac/Museum of the Kings of Araucania (Permanent Display 1crown)
  Crown of Araucania Patagonia

France/Lyon/Museum of Natural History (Permanent Display 1crown)
Crown of Charles V (replica)


France/Amiens/Cathedral Museum (Permanent Display 1 Crown)


14th Century Crown


France/Location unknown (Not Displayed 1crown)


Crown of the Dauphin

This Crown is known to exist although its owner remains anonymous and it wherabouts are unknown.

(All images on this blog are considered defaulted to the public domain due to age and ready sourcing from the internet. If an image on this blog is disputed it will be altered or removed following written protest from an authentic source. please contact me at danielgswan@hotmail.com)

Friday 20 July 2012

Corsica 41 Switzerland 42 Netherlands 43


Corsica (41 on the map) houses the Napoleon Museum. Switzerland (42 on the map) also exhibits a replica crown and the monarchy of the Netherlands (43 on the map) has two crowns but does not display them other than at official events.



Corsica/Ajaccio/Bonaparte Museum (Permanent Display 1 crown/wreath)

 
Napoleon's Wreath

This is a replica of the Gold Wreath used by Napoleon in his Roman Empire inspired coronation.

Switzerland/Grandson/Castle Museum (Permanent Display 1 crown)

The Crown of Charles the Bold

This is a modern replica of the crown or rather bejewelled hat worn by Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy as he wore in battle.

http://www.chateau-grandson.ch/de/museen_und_sammlungen.html

Netherlands/The Hague/Noordeinde Palace (Not Displayed 2crowns)

The Crown of Willem I of the Netherlands

The Crown of William II of the Netherlands


The Dutch Monarchy does not exhibit its Crown Jewels but rather only uses them in display at the Investiture Ceremony of  the Monarch and State Portraits. The Crown of Willem II is more often used as it is considered the official Crown. There is however no precedent for which can be used. The Crown of Willem I was used in the State Portrait of Queen Juliana and can be clearly discerned due to the large cross on the top. Queen Beatrix on the other hand has had the Willem II Crown displayed at her Investiture and State Portrait

(All images on this blog are considered defaulted to the public domain due to age and ready sourcing from the internet. If an image on this blog is disputed it will be altered or removed following written protest from an authentic source. please contact me at danielgswan@hotmail.com)

Friday 29 June 2012

Denmark 39 Norway 40

We move slightly north-west of Germany to Denmark (39 on the map) and then further north to Norway (40 on the map).




Denmark/Copenhagen/Rosenborg Castle (Permanent Display 3 crowns)

Crown of Christian V 1670

Crown of the Queens of Denmark 1731

Crown of Christian IV 1596


Norway/Trondheim/Nidaros Cathedral (Permanent Display 2crowns, 1coronet)

King’s Crown 1818

Queen’s Crown 1830


Crown Prince’s Coronet 1846

(All images on this blog are considered defaulted to the public domain due to age and ready sourcing from the internet. If an image on this blog is disputed it will be altered or removed following written protest from an authentic source. please contact me at danielgswan@hotmail.com)

Wednesday 20 June 2012

Italy 37 Germany 38

Now comes the difficult part. We Have Italy (37 on the map) and Germany (38 on the map). These two countries are strewn with crowns exhibited in almost as many places as there are crowns and there are many. The Pope is the only head of state who is first an ecclesiastical head before he is a governmental head. Therefore we will list those crowns, called tiaras, here. Other Ecclesiastical Crowns will follow once we have completed our first round trip of the planet.  Let's begin now with Italy and the Papal Tiaras. 


Italy/Rome/Vatican (Permanent Display 17 tiaras)(Photo List incomplete) 

Tiara of Benedict XVI 2011

Tiara of John Paul II 1981

The Tiara of Pope Paul VI 1963 is not in the Vatican and will be discussed in the World Tour of Ecclesiastical Crowns and Miters.

Tiara of John XXIII 1959

Tiara of Pius XI 1922

(No Photo)
Tiara of Pius X 1908

(No Photo)
The "Golden Tiara" of Leo XIII 1903

(No Photo)
The "Austrian Tiara" of Leo XIII  1894

The "Paris Tiara" of Leo XIII 1888

The "German Tiara" of Leo XIII 1887

The "Palatine Tiara" of Pius IX 1887

This tiara although manufactured in 1887 for  Pius IX, is the most well known and most publicized tiara in history as two consecutive Popes chose to be crowned with it and to use it between 1939 and 1963. This being the time of modern news media led to this tiara being more photographed than any other, giving it an almost iconically recognizable status. It also happens to be the second last tiara ever to be used. 


The "Belgian Tiara" of Pius IX 1871 


The "Spanish Tiara " of Pius IX 1854

The "Notre Dame Tiara" of Pius IX 1850's is not in the Vatican and will be discussed in the World Tour of Ecclesiastical Crowns and Miters.


The Tiara of Pius IX 1846

The Tiara of Gregory XVI 1845

The Tiara of Gregory XVI 1834

The Tiara of Pius VII 1820

This tiara is unique in the fact that it is made of embroidered cloth and only the cross on the top is from metal.  It was ironically the first tiara made after Napoleon destroyed the existing collection.

The "Napoleon Tiara" of Pope Pius VII  1804

After Napoleon invaded Rome he ordered all the Papal tiaras destroyed. He then later gave this tiara to Pope Pius VII to show his power over the Vatican. It was made too heavy and too small in circumference in order to humiliate the Pope who couldn't wear it in practicality. It is probably the most intrinsically valuable tiara in the Vatican Collection.

The Tiara of Gregory XIII 1572 is the only tiara to have survived the Napoleonic destruction and is not currently exhibited in the Vatican. It will be discussed in the World Tour of Ecclesiastical Crowns and Miters.
Now we move on to other historic displays in Italy.

Italy/Monza/Monza Catherdral (Permanent Display 2 crowns/circlets)

The Iron Crown of Lombardy

This crown made of gold enamel and precious stones is strengthened by an iron band said to be hammered from one of the crucifixion nails. As a holy relic it was used for the coronation of Italian kings and Napoleon demanded to be crowned with it as Emperor over Italy

The Crown of Monza

Italy/Milan/ Risorgimento (Permanent Display 1crown)

Emperor Napoleon's Crown of Italy

This “excuse” for a crown, was made for Napoleon’s coronation, as King of Italy. It was thankfully never used  except in paintings and instead, the traditional Iron Crown was used for the coronation. 

Sicily/Palermo/Palermo Cathedral (Permanent Display 1crown)

Crown of Queen Constanza of Aragon 13th Century

Sicily/Enna/Alessi Museum

Early Renaissance Crown

Now for Germany. Once a conglomeration of small Kingdoms that eventually amalgamated into an Empire, Germany is the home of fairy tales and  many a crown display. 

Germany/Berlin/Charlottenburg Palace (Permanent Display of 2crowns)

Crown of King Frederick I (empty frame)1701

Crown of Queen Sophie Charlotte
(empty frame) 1701


Germany/Stutgard/Burg Hohenzollern (Permanent Display 1crown)


Crown of Wilhelm II of Prussia 1889

Germany/Stutgard/ Württembergisches Landesmuseum (Permanent Display 1crown)

The Crown of Wurttemberg
Gemany/Dresden/Rustkammer Museum (Permanent Display 1crown)

Crown of Augustus II of Saxony

Germany/ Munich/Rezidenz Palace Museum (Permanent Display 8crowns)

The Royal Crown of Bavaria 1807

The Crown of the Queen Consort of Bavaria 1807

The Crown of St. Hendrik 

Crown of Empress Kunigunde

Crown of Princess Blanche 1370

Medieval Crown of a Royal Lady

Imperial House Crown of Karel VII

Imperial House Crown of Karel VII







Germany/Aachen/Aachen Cathedral Domschatzkammer (Permanent Display 2crowns)

Crown of Richard I of England displayed on the Charlemagne Reliquary Bust


Crown of Margaret of York

Germany/Essen/Cathedral Treasury (Permanent Display 1crown)

Crown of Otto III

Germany/Karlruhe/ Badisches Landesmuseum (Permanent Display 1crown)

The Royal Crown of Baden

 
This crown is not made of gold but rather gold brocade sown over a stiffened velvet interior. The gemstones however are real and set in gold but then sown to the fabric base. 







Germany/Hanover/Schloss Marienburg (Permanent Display 3crowns)


The King's Crown of Hanover

The Queen's Crown of Hanover

The Nuptial crown of Hanoveria

http://www.royal-magazin.de/german/hannover/hannover-brautkrone.htm

http://www.schloss-marienburg.com/sise-exhibition-castle-weddings.htm

(All images on this blog are considered defaulted to the public domain due to age and ready sourcing from the internet. If an image on this blog is disputed it will be altered or removed following written protest from an authentic source. please contact me at danielgswan@hotmail.com)