Croatia 32 Austria 33 Czech Republic 34 Sweden 35 Finland 36

This post will be the longest post to date, just for the fact of dealing with Sweden and Austria in one go. As we said earlier, Europe provides us with the greatest concentration of crowns in the world and as our meridian cuts west ward we cover several of the small countries in Europe while dealing with the larger ones.  We begin with a very small exhibit in Croatia (32 on the map). Then to Austria for one of the most historically important and extensive collection of crowns (33 on the map). The Czech Republic has on of the most fairy tale like crowns in the world with accompanying history (34 on the map). Stockholm in Sweden house the largest complete collection of Crowns in Europe (35 on the map). Then we finally also backtrack slightly to Finland (36 on the map) as I forgot to add it to my previous post..

Croatia/Zvico Bacic/Sacred Art Expo (Permanent Display 1crown)

Crown of Zadar

http://home.hu.inter.net/~jekely/crown.htm

Austria/Vienna/Shatzkammer Hofburg (Permanent Display 3 crowns, 1circlet, 1empty frame)

Imperial Crown of Charlemagne

The crown of the Holy Roman emperors, called the crown of Charlemagne, is the oldest in Germany. It is imbued with legendary, even esoteric mystique and no-one could claim legitimate rulership without being crowned with it. To this day legend has it, that he who owns it will rule all Europe. It was pursued by Hitler and Napoleon desired to be crowned with it but the custodians of the crown kept it hidden. It is a splendid example of early medieval craftsmanship and style, with strong religious symbology and many precious stones.

Imperial Crown of Rudolf II

In later years the Holy Roman empire was all but dissolved except in name. This name eventually fell under the Austrian Empire. The crown made for Emperor Rudolph II is a grandiose testimony of this highly eccentric and artistic man, as well as of the height of the renaissance civilization at his court in Vienna. Like its Russian Imperial counterpart it is also a miter type crown. This one is however clearly not Russian but decidedly Teutonic. 

Crown of Duke Stephan Boskcais

This crown is commonly referred to as the Crown of Transylvania and could have served as such albeit for a short time. 

Arch Ducal Hat of Joseph II (empty frame)

This crown would constitute the Crown of the Heir Apparent for the Imperial throne of Austria. It is today, merely and empty frame. 

Austria/Klosterneuburg/Klosterneuburg Abbey (Permanent Display 1crown)

Arch Ducal Hat 1616

In Austria, the royal Princes were called Archdukes. This is a surviving crown used by a person of that rank. 

Austria/Graz/Joanneum Museum (Permanent Display 1crown)

Arch Ducal Hat of Styria 15th Century

Austria/Tirol/Mariastein Church (Permanent Display 1crown)

Arch Ducal Hat (replica)

Austria/Vienna/ Kunsthistoriches Museum (Permanent Display 1crown)

The Crown/Helmet of Skanderberg

This is the official coronation crown and crown of state  for the small country of Albania that used to be an independant kingdom.

Czeque Republic/Prague/St Vitus Cathedral ( Periodic Display of 1crown)

Crown of St Wencelas 14th Century

Of extreme, beauty and set with many precious stones, the Crown of St. Wencelas is revered as a true relic. Said to contain a piece of the crown of thorns in the cross at the apex of the crown, it is kept in the ancient vaults of St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. It is rarely displayed for the public and then only for special occasions. Seven keys are required to unlock the special vault containing the crown.  These keys are dispersed among; the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Archbishop of Prague, the Chairman of the House of Deputies, the Chairman of the Senate, the Dean of the Metropolitan Chapter of St. Vitus Cathedral and the Mayor of Prague.

Czech Republic/Prague/Prague Castle (Permanent Display 1 crown)

Funerary Crown of Ottokar II

Sweden/Stockholm/Royal Palace (Permanent Display 10crowns, 1coronet)

The Royal Crown of the Kings of Sweden 1560

In most countries with reigning royal families, the crown jewels in essence, are owned by posterity and the state and reserved solely for the use of the royal family. Sweden is an exception, in that the royal regalia and all other jewels are the private property of the King and held in the Bernadotte Trust for the future generations

The Queen Consort's Crown

Extreme intricate workmanship gives the crown of Queen Maria Eleonora its purposefully intended sparkle. This Queen who ruled in her own right, knew how to impress as is evident by this spectacular crown. It is considered the official crown to be used by the Consort Queens even though in modern times the Swedish Royal family do not wear the crowns but they are merely displayed at high state functions.  

The Crown for the Hereditary Prince of Sweden displays a single silver wheat sheaf on the front. This is the symbol for the princes of Sweden. 

A small "Queen Victoria style" coronet made for the use of a queen. 

The crown of Prince Frederick Adolf 1771

The crown of Prince Carl 1771

The crown of Prince Oskar 1844

The crown of Prince Wilhelm 1902

The crown of Princess Eugenia 1860

The crown of Princess Hedvig Elisabet Charlotta 1778

The crown of Princess Sophia Albertina 1771

http://www.kungahuset.se/monarkin/kungligasymboler/riksregalierna.4.7c4768101a4e888378000989.html

Sweden/Strangnas/Strangnas Cathedral (Permanent Display 1crown)

Crown of King Eric IX

Sweden/Uppsala/Uppsala Cathedral Museum (Permanent Display of 6funerary crowns)

Funerary Crown of King Johan III

Funerary Crown of Gustav Vasa

Funerary Crown

Funerary Crowns

Funerary Crown made from silver wire and pearls

Sweden/Stockholm/State Historical Museum (Permanent Display 1relic crown, 1 medieval circlet)

Crown of St.Elizabeth

Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, donated two crowns to be reworked in forming a crown/lid for the holy reliquary of St Elizabeth. This was the result. 

Early Medieval Circlet from a Royal Lady's burial vault

Finland/Kemi/Gemstone Gallery (Permanent Display 1crown)

Crown of Finland

In 1918 a crown was planned and designs were drawn up for the proposed King of Finland. However, the political situation changed before the new crown could be manufactured for the coronation of independent Finland's first monarch. By the end of 1918 the uncrowned monarch had abdicated and Finland instead adopted a republican constitution. In the 1990's the original designs were used to create the crown made of silver gilt and decorated with the arms in enamel of the various provinces of the country. Two arches rise from the base and is not topped by an Orb and Cross like in most European crowns, but rather a gold rampant lion as found in the Coat of Arms of Finland. Strictly speaking this crown cannot be seen as a replica as the original was never made. Thus it could be referred to as a belated genuine crown but one that will sadly never be used officially. 

(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)

Moscow 24

Now that we reach Europe again we have arrived at the biggest concentration of Crowns in the world. Our next stop traveling westward is a large enough collection to be handled by itself. This is the Imperial collection of historic Crowns in the Kremlin Moscow (24 on the map)

Russia/Moscow/Kremlin (Permanent Display 14crowns, 1 empty frame)

The Imperial Crown of Russia

The “miter style” crown is only used by two imperial courts, that of the Holy Roman empire and Imperial Russia. It signifies the close association between these imperial offices and the respective churches, nl. Russian Orthodoxy and Rome. This crown strongly resembles an orthodox miter. Wrought in silver and set with thousands of diamonds and a single large spinel, it truly shows forth the glorious natural wealth of Russia and the once magnificent Romanov dynasty. 

The Empress Consort Crown of Russia.

Set entirely of diamonds, there used to be two of these crowns in the collection but one was sold after the revolution by the Bolsheviks along with many other pieces. It is a "small" crown similarly in size to that of Queen Victoria's. 

Crown of Anna Ioannovna

An older version of the mitre style imperial crown. Made for Czarina Anna Ioannovna and containing diamonds and spinel. 

The Astrakh Crown

Also called the Cap of Kazan, this helmet-like crown was owned by the famous, Ivan the Terrible, first Czar of all the Russias

The Monomakh Crown

The origin of this piece attempts to be legendary but it is however uncertain. Dated around the 14^th century and probably of Byzantium manufacture, if not just inspired by it. It does however prove the romantic fascination the early rulers of Russia had with the Byzantian ideal and marks the true bond between them and the Orthodox faith.

One of many lesser Bolshevic style crowns

Crown of Peter the Great

Another lesser Bolshevik Crown made of gold and precious stones and trimmed with fur

A replica of the Crown of Kazan made from gold and precious stones for the Imperial Family to be worn to a costume ball

The Altabas Crown of Ivan V

A Bolshevik Crown made for Nicholas II to wear to a Costume Ball

An empty frame

Crown of the Order of Malta

The head of the Order of Malta is an elected Princely Title in its own right. They are called; His Eminent Highness, the Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta. Paul I of Russia was elected to this position and had this crown made especially for this title. Even though the Order exists to this day and continues to be lead by an elected Prince, the crown however remains in Russia on display in the Kremlin.

Two nuptial crowns called "Stefana". These belonged to the Count Pushkin and was used by his family during the Orthodox wedding ceremonies.

http://www.tristarmedia.com/bestofrussia/regalia.html

Russia/Moscow/State Historic Museum (Permanent Display 1crown)

Crown of Swedish origin

(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)

Tehran 22 Antananarivo 23

Remember we are moving west on a North to South Meridian which now reaches one of the largest Nation Jewel Treasures in the world. The Tehran Bank houses the Crown Jewels of the former Persian Empire (22 on the map). Far South our imaginary meridian reaches only slightly west to the capital city of Madagascar, Antananarivo (23 on the map) which like Hawaii also has a Royal Crown. 

Iran/Teheran/Bank of Teheran (Permanent Display 4crowns)

The Pahlavi Crown

Used by Reza Shah Pahlavi for his coronation in 1926, this crown was also used at the coronation of Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. Made of gold, silver and red velvet, it is set with pearls, 5 emeralds and 3380 diamonds, of which the largest weighs 60 carats.

The Crown of the Shahbanu of Iran

The wife of the Shah was known as the Shahbanu Farah Diba. this crown was made especially for her to wear at the coronation. It is made from diamonds, rubies, large carved emeralds and pearls. 

The Kiani Crown

The former crown of the Shah's of Iran typically is of far more ancient craftmanship.

The Crown of the Shazada of Iran

The Crown Prince and heir to the throne is known as the Shahzada and this is the traditional crown of the Shahzada. 

 

http://www.iranchamber.com/museum/royal_jewels/national_iranian_jewels02.php

Madagascar/Antananarivo/Rova Palace Museum (Permanent Display 1 crown)

The Crown of Ranavalona III of Madagascar

The crown was damaged in a fire in recent years but is still in such a condition as to be exhibited. 

(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)