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)

Serbia 28 Hungary 29 Poland 30 Central Africa 31

I think this is the "straightest" line from north to south that our meridian has ever accomplished. We begin today with the small nation of Serbia (28 on the map) then we move up to Hungary (29 on the map) then Poland (30 on the map) and finally we drop south to the Central African Republic that had a small stint in the  70's as a European style Empire. 

Serbia/Belgrade/Historical Museum (Periodic Display of 1crown)

Crown of Serbia 1901

With this piece, symbolism plays the main role. The crown was made in 1901 from bronze taken from a cannon used 100 years earlier in the Great Uprising. King Peter I was crowned on the anniversary to strengthen Serbian independence. Consisting mostly of enameled and gold plated bronze and set with a few stones, this crown has little intrinsic value but rather historic value. 

Hungary/Budapest/Parlaiment Buildings (Permanent Display 1crown)

Crown of St.Stephen

The Crown of St Stephen is considered to be one of the most holy of all the relic crowns of Europe. It is to this day believed in Hungary, and that if the crown was to either be destroyed or leave Hungarian soil, the country and its people would suffer total destruction. Also, no-one could claim sovereignty in Hungary without having total custody of the crown. For this reason the crown was vehemently pursued by Hitler during WW2 but it was so well hidden, that for years after the war its whereabouts were actually lost. This was considered to be the reason for the suffering, communism caused in those times. Controversy followed as reports of its whereabouts where eventually confirmed to be Fort Knox USA. It was eventually recovered and restored to the people of Hungary, where it is on display for them in the Parliament Building in Budapest, today. Ironically, or should we say, as providence would have it, the fall of communism and eventual economic growth has also returned to the beleaguered people of this ancient country.

Hungary/Budapest/National Museum (Permanent Display 3crowns)

Votive Crown of Nagyvarad

Crown of St Margaret

Crown of the Byzantine Emperor Monomachos

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

Poland/Warsaw/National Museum (Permanent Display 1crowns, 1coronet)

Crown of Augustus III

Crown of Marie Josepha

Poland/Plock/Plock Cathedral (Permanent Display 4crowns, 2 circlets)

Crown of Boleslaw the Brave (replica)

This Crown was reconstructed between 2001 and 2003 from detailed original drawings of the medieval Crown of Boleslaw and using gold coins believed to be minted from the gold of the former crown. It is set with a mixture of synthetic and genuine gem stones.

http://www.replikiregaliowpl.com/galeria.php

Crown of Kazimierza Wielkiego

Crown of the Duke of Masovia also known as the Plock Diadem

The Sroda Crown

After being pawned by Charles Iv of Luxembourg to a Jew in Sroda in 1348, this crown was lost to history after the Plague visited the small town. It was rediscovered when an old building was demolished in 1885 revealing what has become known as the Sroda Treasure. 

Funerary Crown of Stefano Batorego

Funerary Crown of Zygmunta Starego

Central African Republic/Bangui/Location unknown (Not Displayed 1 Crown)

Crown of Emperor Bokassa 1976

Made from gold and precious stones, this crowned formed the central feature of the farce of a coronation that cost so much it bankrupted an entire nation. The crown has as its focal point a diamond set in the central front panel. What is ironic is that the stone is not of gem quality and intrinsically worthless. It was however sold to the emperor at an exorbitant price because the natural formation of the rough stone looked vaguely like Africa. 

http://www.hubert-herald.nl/RCA.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)

Ukraine 25 Romania 26 Greece 27

As we move into Europe proper, we enter a very densely packed area for crown displays. As such I will mention the countries on the map and not cities in the title but these will be noted in conjunction with the photos. Today we visit Ukraine (25 on the map), Romania (26 on the map) and then our imaginary meridian edges slightly west into Greece (27 on the map). 

Ukraine/Zolochiv/Zolochiv Castle (Permanent Display 1crown)

The Crown of Rus-Ukraine (replica)

This Crown is a replica made from design contemporary sketches and paintings of the original.  When the Ukraine gained their independence they wanted to solidify their national identity and one of the projects was to establish a historical museum in the Castle occupied by their former Royal family and to recreate the long lost Crown. There are rumours however that the original still exists but its location remains concealed. 

Romania/Sinaia/Pelisor Palace (Permanent Display 1crown)

The Steel Crown of Romania 1881

During the war of independence fought in Romania in the late 1800's a canon was taken from the Ottoman forces against which Romania was fighting. The steel from this canon was upon victory melted down to create this Steel Crown for King Carol I of the independent Kingdom of Romania. The idea was to serve as a symbol and as such have historic value rather than the crown being of expensive gold and gems. 

Romania/Bucharest/National History Museum (Permanent Display 2crowns)

The Crown of Elizabeth the Consort Queen of King Carol I 1881

The Crown of Queen Marie of Romania 1922

This Crown is made in the Art Nouveau style and strongly influenced by Medieval design and themes. Wrought in gold it includes amethysts and turquoise gemstones as well. 

Romania/Itinerant/Location unknown (Not Displayed 1crown) 

The Crown of the Gypsy King Florin Cioabă

Greece/Athens/Location unknown (Not Displayed 2crowns)

Symbolic Crown of Greece

In similar fashion to the Crowns of Spain and Portugal, this crown seems to exist only to function as a symbolic crown representing the monarchy. It is made of thinly rolled gold and would obviously not be worn but merely displayed at functions of state. 

http://web.archive.org/web/20071007001105/http://www.royalhouseofgreece.gr/royal_regalia.pdf

The Crown of Otto of Bavaria 1832

This crown is that of Otto of Bavaria, who became King of Greece in 1832. He decided to install one of the Wittelsbach crowns as the official crown of Greece. Ousted in the coup of 1862 he fled the country with the crown which he considered to be his own property. In 1959 it was given back to the then King Paul of the Hellenes, who’s son was also to suffer deposition. Both these crowns are known to exist and remain in Greece to this day. They are not displayed due to political tensions.

(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)