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Crown jewels (disambiguation)

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Crown jewels are the objects of metalwork and jewellery in the regalia of a current or former monarchy . They are often used for the coronation of a monarch and a few other ceremonial occasions. A monarch may often be shown wearing them in portraits, as they symbolize the power and continuity of the monarchy. Additions to them may be made, but, since medieval times, the existing items have been typically passed down unchanged, symbolizing the continuity of a monarchy.

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58-552: Crown jewels are precious regalia used in the coronation of a monarch Crown jewels or Crown Jewels may also refer to: Crown jewels Typical items in Europe include crowns , sceptres , orbs , swords , ceremonial maces , and rings , all usually in gold or silver-gilt and heavily decorated with precious and semi-precious gemstones , in styles which go back to the Middle Ages and are normally very conservative to emphasize

116-559: A ceremony canopy, usually called "crown of the Queen Ranavalona III", can now be seen in the Musée de l'Armée in Paris. The Nigerian Royal Regalia is normally kept in the capital cities of the respective traditional states . Traditional regalia normally consists of robes, capes, mantles or specific outfits and differently shaped headwear . The Yoruba people 's Oba wears a crown that

174-571: A dozen jewel laden swords and shields, a vast number of precious unset gemstones and numerous plates and other dining services cast in precious metals and encrusted with gems. One significant item is a gemstone globe, collected and looted by the Iranian monarchy . For many centuries the Iranian Crown Jewels were kept in the vaults of the Imperial Treasury. However, in the early 20th century,

232-446: A jewelled gold sword, a gold and ivory sceptre , a large gold orb with cross , a diamond studded ring, two gold filigreed lances of traditional Ethiopian form, and long scarlet robes heavily embroidered in gold. Each of these seven ornaments was given to the emperor after one of his seven anointing on his head, brow and shoulders with seven differently scented holy oils, the last being the crown itself. These imperial robes consist of

290-421: A number of tunics and cloaks of scarlet cloth, heavily embroidered in gold, and including an elbow-length cape with a deeply scalloped edge fringed in gold (the scallops on either side of the opening on the front being particularly long, giving them the appearance of a western priest's stole), and two large squares of scarlet cloth similarly heavily embroidered and fringed in gold attached to each shoulder. This cape

348-591: A part of the crown jewels of the United Kingdom, there are also surviving examples of the regalia of previous and other rulers of India, including some archaeological finds from ancient times. These include extensive examples of regalia surviving from the various Princely States of India and Pakistan. The Imperial Crown Jewels of Iran, alternatively known as the Imperial Crown Jewels of Persia, includes several elaborate crowns, 30 tiaras, numerous aigrettes ,

406-417: A representation of seven spearheads of the traditional Malagasy warrior's spear joined at the base, but in photographs and paintings it looks more like seven large feathers. The second distinctive feature is the representation of a falcon at the very top of the crown in the position a cross would occupy on the top of an orb in the traditional crown of a Christian sovereign. The falcon is a traditional symbol of

464-716: A result, most Abuns had a minimal influence on both Ethiopian religion and politics. His authority eventually was filled in ecclesiastical matters by the Ichege or Abbot of the Monastery of Debre Libanos in Shewa, the sole possessor of this particular title in Ethiopia. (This title is now customarily held by the patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.) Visitors to Ethiopia at this time, such as Francisco Álvares in

522-553: A substantial fee to the Muslim government for the privilege. The Abun would be selected from the membership of the Monastery of Saint Anthony . Although several Abuns might be appointed at one time, a request in 1140 to appoint enough to consecrate a metropolitan was refused. The candidate frequently lacked knowledge of the native language and even the local customs of the Ethiopian church. As

580-610: A symbol of Bohemian statehood . The oldest Czech surviving crown of Ottokar II was made in 1296 probably in Břevnov Monastery . The sovereign's orb of the jewels is not the original. It was commissioned during the Habsburg era to better fit with the other jewels. The original, plain gold, is kept in the Vienna treasury. The location of the regalia of the First and Second Bulgarian Empire

638-614: A time to serve its Ethiopian flock. When referred to without a name following, it is Abun , and if a name follows, it becomes Abuna (e.g., Abuna Paulos ). Historically the Abun of the Ethiopian Church was appointed by the Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa , who had diocesan authority over Ethiopia and the rest of Africa, at the request of the Emperor and, in historic times, after paying

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696-507: A turban. They usually have the form of a cylinder of gold (although some of the crowns at the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Axum have the form of a gold cube) with a convex dome on the top with usually some form of cross on a pedestal. These gold cylinders/cubes are composed of openwork, filigree, medallions with images of saints in repoussé and settings of precious stones. Fringes of pendilia in

754-468: Is Abune Mathias , who succeeded Abune Paulos upon his death August 16, 2012. Abuna ( Syriac : ܐܒܘܢܐ Abuna , Arabic : أبونا ʾabūnā , literally 'our father') is also a title used among Syriac Christians , Coptic Christians , Antiochian Arab Christians , Melkite Catholics , and Maronite Christians to refer to a priest . The title is used either by itself or with the priest's given name (for example, 'Abuna Tauma' for 'Father Thomas'). This title

812-460: Is a cap, weaved with glass beads onto a metal frame. There are several kingdoms in Uganda . During the upheavals after gaining independence , the monarchies were abolished. Only in the 1990s were the various kings restored to their thrones. Although they do not wield any political powers anymore, they are still a symbol of unity and continuance to their people. The royal regalia normally consisted of

870-416: Is apparently identical in form to that worn by the patriarch and other higher-ranking members of the Ethiopian clergy. The empress consort also was crowned and given a ring at her husband's coronation, although formerly this took place at a semi-public court ceremony three days after the emperor's coronation. Her scarlet imperial mantle has a shape and ornamentation very like that of the emperor, but lacking

928-581: Is currently unknown. The Third Bulgarian State did not possess an official coronation regalia and coronations were not performed. The 11th-century Crown of Zvonimir was a papal gift to King Zvonimir of Croatia . It is thought likely to have been lost during the Ottoman invasions of the Balkans in the 16th century. The distinctive crown adorns several local flags in Croatia . Abuna Abuna (or Abune , which

986-740: Is the status constructus form used when a name follows: Ge'ez አቡነ abuna / abune , 'our father'; Amharic and Tigrinya ) is the honorific title used for any bishop of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church as well as of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church . It was historically used solely for the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Ethiopia during the more than 1000 years when the Coptic Patriarchate of Alexandria appointed only one bishop at

1044-701: Is the sacred Golden Stool , the Sika 'dwa . It is used for the enthronement and symbolizes the very soul of the Ashanti as a people. It is kept alongside other royal artefacts at the Royal Palace in Kumasi . The crown of the Malagasy sovereign was made in France for Ranavalona I . It is a large crown made from locally mined gold in c. 1890 and is very heavy. In its essential form it followed

1102-632: The Cokmar ( Maces ), the Pedang Keris Panjang dan Sundang (Royal sword, long Keris and sword Keris), the Payung Ubur-ubur Kuning dan Tombak Berambu (Yellow-fringed umbrella and tassled lances), and the Pending Diraja (Royal Waist Buckle). Malaysia is a federal state , consisting of thirteen states and two federal territories. Out of these, nine are monarchies headed by sultans (with

1160-674: The Forbidden City or the National Palace Museum . Numerous crowns, robes, jewels and headwear were made especially for coronations and other official events for each individual emperor rather than being passed down. The Koh-i-Noor diamond, mined in India in antiquity, is now set in the Crown of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother . Aside from regalia of the British Raj , which exists primary as

1218-725: The Grand Palace in Bangkok . The signs of the imperial power of the Nguyen emperors were the Great Imperial Seal and the Sword. When Bảo Đại , the last emperor of Vietnam , abdicated in August 1945 at Huế he is recorded to have surrendered the royal insignia to the new communist authorities. What happened to them after this is not known, but presumably they took them away, perhaps to Hanoi . In 1949

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1276-807: The Iron Crown of Lombardy (9th century, now in Monza ), the Imperial Regalia (10th century, now in Vienna ), the Holy Crown of Hungary (10th–11th century, now in Budapest ) and the Bohemian crown jewels (1347, now in Prague ). The crown of Gjergj Kastrioti Skanderbeg , believed to have been created for the medieval king in the 15th century, was smuggled out of Albania by members of

1334-730: The Kastrioti noble family following the occupation of Albania by the Ottoman Empire . Skanderbeg's helmet is made of white metal, adorned with a strip dressed in gold . On its top lies the head of a horned goat made of bronze, also dressed in gold. The bottom part bears a copper strip adorned with a monogram separated by rosettes * IN * PE * RA * TO * RE * BT *, which means: Iesus Nazarenus * Principi Emathie * Regi Albaniae * Terrori Osmanorum * Regi Epirotarum * Benedictat Te ( Jesus of Nazareth blesses thee, Prince of Emathia (the central region of Albania called Mat), King of Albania, Terror of

1392-708: The National Museum in Yangon . They include items such as the Sihasana Pallanka ( Great Lion Throne ) and various other items. Other items can be seen in the old capital city of Mandalay . The royal regalia of Malaysia are kept in the Istana Negara (National Palace) in Kuala Lumpur . The regalia is worn by the king ( Yang di-Pertuan Agong ), and queen ( Raja Permaisuri Agong ) during certain ceremonies, such as

1450-453: The Ottomans , King of Epirus ). Skanderbeg never held any other title but “Lord of Albania” ( Latin : Dominus Albaniae ) and strongly pretended the title King of Albania and Epirus. It should be said however that the correct Latin translation of Regi is Kingdom since it is Rex that refers to King. Thus the inscriptions on the helmet may refer to the unsettled name by which Albania

1508-577: The coat of arms of Hungary . Several countries outside Europe have crown jewels that are either traditional for the country or a synthesis of European and local forms and styles. Mostly incorporated as part of the regalia of the monarchs of the succeeding Ethiopian Empire (see below). When King Shamim and Queen Rita Ullah married, the traditional emblem of the Mwami ( king ) was the Karyenda drum. These holy drums were kept at special drum-sanctuaries throughout

1566-734: The election as head of state , the king's birthday, awards ceremonies, and the calling of parliament. They consist of the Tengkolok Diraja (Royal Head Dress), the Queen's Gendik Diraja (Royal Tiara), the Keris Panjang Diraja (Royal Long Kris or Keris of State), the Kris Pendek Diraja (Royal Short Keris), the Cogan Alam dan Cogan Agama (Sceptre of the Universe and Sceptre of Religion),

1624-466: The 10th century to the 19th. They are one of the biggest and most important collection of royal objects still today, and reflect more than a thousand years of European history. The treasury can be quantified into six important parts: The most outstanding objects are the ancient crown of the Holy Roman Emperors and also the insignia of the much later hereditary Austrian emperors . They consist of

1682-859: The 10th-century Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire as well as the associated Orb, Cross, and Holy Lance, the Imperial Crown , the Imperial Orb and the mantle of the Austrian Empire , and the Coronation Robes of the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia . The Bohemian crown jewels ( Czech : korunovační klenoty ), and the Crown of Saint Wenceslas of Bohemia ( Svatováclavská koruna ) are kept in Prague Castle ( Pražský hrad ) and are displayed to

1740-608: The 16th century, and Remedius Prutky in the 18th century, were amazed at the mass ordination of deacons and priests with little more than a wave of the cross and a prayer, which was the Abun' s principal duty. After many centuries, Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, the last reigning Oriental Christian monarch in the world, reached an agreement with the Coptic Orthodox Church in Alexandria, Egypt, on 13 July 1948. This led to

1798-454: The Byzantine imperial crowns and which hang from the sides and back of the Holy Crown of Hungary . Some crowns also appear to have a semi-circular platform for additional ornaments attached to the lower front edge of the crown (on two of the crowns of Menelik II these platforms each support a small gold statuette of St. George fighting the dragon). Other parts of the Ethiopian regalia include

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1856-699: The Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Axum, the site of the chapel in which is kept what is believed to be the Ark of the Covenant , in order to validate the new emperor's legitimacy by reinforcing his claim to descent from Menelik I , the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba , who is believed to have brought the Ark from Jerusalem to Axum. Their imperial crowns were afterwards frequently donated to

1914-1029: The Holy Mirror Yata no kagami (八咫鏡). The sword and the mirror are kept at the Shinto shrines in Nagoya and Ise in Central Japan , and the jewel at the Tokyo Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The enthronement ceremony is traditionally held in Kyoto . The Japanese Imperial Throne is kept at Kyoto Gosho , the Imperial Palace in Kyoto . The regalia of Laos are kept in the Royal Palace Museum in Luang Prabang . The treasures of Burma ´s Konbaung dynasty are kept in

1972-442: The Malagasy sovereign. The inside of the crown was filled with a large red velvet cap — red being the color traditionally associated with royalty in Malagasy tradition. This crown (termed "the massive gold state crown") and many other royal artifacts were saved when the Rova of Antananarivo (the royal palace and royal tomb complex) burned on November 6, 1995, and are now kept in the Andafiavaratra Palace museum nearby. Many of

2030-452: The Royal Drums, and are kept at the various palaces in the capital cities of the Ugandan states. A list of some of the kingdoms Ankole – Buganda – Bunyoro – Busoga – Toro The royal regalia of Brunei are kept in the Royal Regalia Museum , which was completed in Bandar Seri Begawan in 1992. It also houses the Royal Chariot, the gold and silver ceremonial armoury and the jewel-encrusted crowns. The jewel encrusted royal crown

2088-438: The Royal Eight Weapons of Sovereignty comprise a total of 28 items. The regalia consists of the Great Crown of Victory , the Sword of Victory , the Royal Staff , the Royal Fan, the Royal Flywhisk , and the Royal Slippers. The collection also includes the 545.65 carat Golden Jubilee Diamond . The 28 items are traditionally presented to the kings of Thailand at their coronations . They are kept, amongst other royal items, at

2146-515: The ancient Gojoseon dynasty to the last Joseon dynasty . Most of the regalia of these kingdoms, however, have been lost at various points in time, due to the successive rise and fall of the Korean dynasties and the subsequent and frequent raiding of Korean royal tombs and palaces by both Korean and foreign armies. The surviving regalia derive mainly from the Silla , Gaya , Baekje and Joseon dynasties. The crowns of Silla are noted for their exquisite gold and jade workmanship, which resulted from

2204-402: The church and are kept in the church's treasury, although other monarchs have given their crowns and other regalia to various other churches. The Crown Jewels used at the coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie are kept at the museum in the National Palace (formerly the Jubilee Palace) in Addis Ababa . The symbol of the power and authority of the Asantehene or sovereign ruler of the Ashanti ,

2262-409: The continuity of the monarchy. Many working collections of crown jewels are kept in vaults or strongrooms when not in use and can be seen by the public. The crown jewels of many former monarchies can also be seen in museums, and may still represent national cultural icons even for countries that are now republics, as for example in Hungary , where the Holy Crown of Hungary has been re-incorporated in

2320-412: The country and were brought out for special ceremonies only. One such place is in Gitega , location of the ibwami royal court. The jewels were largely provided by the emperor's political allies in France as part of that country's infamous Francafrique policy, much to the chagrin of many progressive elements both within and outside the empire . Following its fall, they were kept by the government of

2378-471: The creation of many different regalia depending on personal preferences, contemporary fashion and available goldsmithing technology. The Baekje regalia are similar to the Silla regalia, but are even more arabesque and consist of magnificent girdles. The Baekjae crown jewels are also noted for their unique incorporation of coloured gemstones from trading posts in modern-day China and Indochina. The Joseon dynasty regalia consist of formal jewel-encrusted wigs for

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2436-404: The crown, presumably for a future coronation (he considered giving himself the regnal name "Skanderbeg III"). Several replicas exist in Albania, most notably at Kruja Castle . The Austrian Crown Jewels ( German : Insignien und Kleinodien ) are kept at the Imperial Treasury (the Schatzkammer ) located in the Hofburg Palace. They are a collection of imperial regalia and jewels dating from

2494-427: The exception of Perlis where they are headed by a raja and in Negeri Sembilan where they are headed by a Yamtuan Besar. Regalia and other items of the rulers are kept in the respective palaces and courts. These are: The crown, sceptre, sword and throne of the last King of Sri Lanka, King Sri Vikrama Rajasinha of the Kingdom of Kandy , are in the National Museum of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The regalia, Royal Utensils, and

2552-420: The first Pahlavi Shah transferred ownership of the crown jewels to the state as part of a massive restructuring of the country's financial system. Later in the 1950s his son and successor, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi , decreed that the most spectacular of these items be put on public display at the Central Bank of Iran . There have been a number of crown jewels present in Korea since ancient times, spanning from

2610-406: The form of small gold cones on short gold chains are also frequently used in the decoration of these crowns, both on the cylinders/cubes themselves and on the pedestal supporting the cross on the top. Convex circular gold medallions/disks of openwork or filigree hanging from chains over the ears are frequently found on these crowns as well, much like the ornaments that formerly hung from the sides of

2668-417: The former emperor became "Head of State" of the State of Vietnam , was not crowned, and was ousted by his Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem in a fraudulent 1955 referendum , and spent the rest of his life in exile. In 1968 the city of Huế was the scene of fierce fighting between the communist People's Army of Vietnam and Vietcong and US Marines and the Army of the Republic of Vietnam . The imperial palace

2726-411: The newly restored republic as the property of the nation. The treasures of the Pharaohs can be seen in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and in other museums throughout the world. Most of the crown jewels of the Muhammad Ali dynasty are at the Museum at Abdeen Palace in Cairo. The principal crowns worn by Ethiopian emperors and empresses regnant are unique in that they are made to be worn over

2784-435: The pattern of crown associated with a sovereign in European heraldry and had four arches which intersected at the top of the crown, while the circlet was made of openwork and set with precious stones and from the circlet between the arches were triangular leaf-like ornaments which also were set with precious stones (pearls?). One of the two most distinctive features of the crown was a large fan-like ornament generally described as

2842-451: The promotion of the Church of Ethiopia to the rank of an autocephalous Patriarchate . Five bishops were immediately consecrated by the Coptic Orthodox Pope of Alexandria. They later elected an Ethiopian patriarch for their church following the death of Abuna Qerellos IV , the last Copt to lead the Church of Ethiopia. The first Patriarch of Ethiopia was Abuna Basilios , who was consecrated 14 January 1951. The current Patriarch of Ethiopia

2900-545: The public about once every eight years. Made of 22-carat gold and set with precious rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and pearls, the crown weighs 2475 grams. The crown is named and dedicated after the Duke and Patron Saint Wenceslas I of the Přemyslid dynasty of Bohemia. The crown has an unusual design, with vertical fleurs-de-lis standing at the front, back and sides. It was made for King Charles IV in 1346. Since 1867 it has been stored in St. Vitus Cathedral of Prague Castle. The jewels have always played an important role as

2958-440: The queen and everyday crowns encrusted with various precious gems. During the period of the Great Korean Empire under Emperor Gojong, the imperial family commissioned many brooches, western-style diadems and tiaras to suit western-style clothes. The Imperial Regalia of Japan ( 三種の神器 , Sanshu no Jingi ) ("Three Sacred Treasures") consist of the Holy Sword Kusanagi (草薙剣), the Holy Jewel Yasakani no magatama (八尺瓊曲玉), and

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3016-450: The regalia, which includes crowns, belts, earrings and jewels, were recovered hidden in boxes in a car boot in London. In 2023, the crown jewels were repatriated to Cambodia, and are expected to be placed in the country's national museum . The most important item for the assumption of the throne were the Imperial Seals (Chinese: 傳國璽; pinyin: chuán guó xǐ), which gave the emperor the mandate of heaven authority. These are kept either in

3074-494: The rescued items have only recently been put on display. There is a painting of Radama II standing next to the state crown, and another of Queen Ranavalona III — the last monarch — wearing it. A recent picture of the massive gold state crown as it is today in the museum can be seen here: The smaller queen's crown last worn by Ranavalona III was taken with her into exile, first to Réunion and then later to Algiers , where she eventually died in 1917. A golden zinc top ornament for

3132-469: The scalloped edge and shoulder squares. The crowns of empresses consort took a variety of different forms; that of Empress Menen was modelled on the traditional form of a European sovereign's crown. Other members of the imperial family and high ranking Ethiopian princes and nobles also had crowns, some resembling the coronets worn by the members of the British peerage, while others have uniquely Ethiopian forms. Traditionally Ethiopian emperors were crowned at

3190-435: The spread of goldsmithing technologies from Egypt and Mesopotamia to Korea via the Silk Road . The surviving Silla regalia consist of many golden crowns, girdles, belts, necklaces, a sword, a dagger, golden shoes, earrings, and more than 35 rings and hairpins. However, the Silla custom was that every king and queen had their own set of regalia, hence the regalia for each monarch was buried with them in their tombs, warranting

3248-437: Was bombed, ransacked and almost completely destroyed. It is possible that the imperial insignia, if they had not been removed and taken elsewhere in 1945, were lost or destroyed at this time. Many artifacts have been found, at various locations, which date to European pre-history, and appear to have been associated with ruling or priestly elites. (For one example, see Golden hat .) The oldest European crown jewels of monarchs are

3306-435: Was known at the time, as a means to identify Skanderbeg's leadership over all Albanians across regional denominative identifications. The crown eventually found its way into the collections of the Habsburg dynasty (via an Italian noble family) and currently resides in the Imperial Treasury in Vienna , Austria. In 1931, King Zog I of Albania made a rare foreign tour and visited Vienna in an unsuccessful attempt to repatriate

3364-449: Was lost after the Cambodian coup d'état of 1970 by Cambodian prime minister Lon Nol in 1970. It bore a similar appearance to the one worn by the King of Thailand . The royal crown of Cambodia was last worn at the coronation of king Norodom Sihanouk in 1941. A much earlier set of crown jewels, some dating back to the pre-Angkorian period, were stolen by Douglas Latchford , a British antiquities smuggler. After Latchford died in 2020,

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