Charles II (1630-1685) on the throne

Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of Britain from 1653 to 1658, who executed King Charles I, did not play the most plausible role in the history of his country. He not only undermined the foundations of absolute monarchy, but also, out of hatred for monarchs, destroyed all the most valuable historical symbols of royal power: crowns, scepter, orb, thrones, mantles. Some of them were melted down into coins, some were stolen. And today, in the museums of London, including the Tower, royal values ​​are stored, which were created after 1660.

Regalia - signs of royal, imperial or royal power - have been known since ancient times and are approximately the same in developed countries: this is a crown, orb, scepter, mantle, sword or sword, throne. And if you look closely at the traditional ceremonial images of the English kings, they are seated on the throne, on the head a crown, in the hands of an orb and a scepter. You can name other attributes and symbols of royal power, not so noticeable, for example, a shield, knightly armor.

The most important symbol of royalty is the crown. It is usually made of gold and decorated with precious stones. According to researchers, the Roman crown served as a prototype for the crown. It was the coronation that has long been considered a legal, traditional and hereditary procedure for the monarch to take power and its attributes.

The coronation also meant that the new monarch was allowed to continue the hierarchical hereditary chain of the former rulers. In addition, the coronation is also a very important religious ceremony for the people, during which the sacrament of anointing to the kingdom is performed. Thus, the whole coronation ritual has a special meaning of God's blessing on the kingdom.

The first crown of England - the crown of St. Edward - did not survive, it turned out to be a victim of the very process of destroying all the attributes of royal power undertaken by Cromwell. The crown that can be seen in the Tower is a copy of the destroyed crown of St. Edward. It was created for the coronation of King Charles II in 1661. This crown is adorned with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds and is considered the most valuable in the world. Among the precious stones that adorn it, we should especially mention the Stuart sapphire, the Black Prince ruby.

The Imperial State Crown, which is worn by the current reigning Queen Elizabeth II during the opening of the British Parliament or on the occasion of other state celebrations, was commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1837. Queen Victoria herself wore this crown at her coronation on January 28, 1838.

Among other royal regalia, one should name the orb and the scepter - they are also symbols of royal power, signs of royal dignity. Power with its round shape goes back to the globe. She was held in her left hand, and the scepter in her right. The scepter was an attribute of the gods Zeus (Jupiter) and Hera (Juno), it was one of the signs of dignity of the Greek and Roman rulers.

The Royal Scepter of Great Britain is adorned with the world's largest diamond, the Star of Africa, which weighs 530 carats and is the largest

The ceremonial state clubs are part of the world-famous Cullinan diamond.

From the collection of the kings of Great Britain, one should also highlight the Great State Sword, which was made at the end of the 17th century. Her scabbard is adorned with diamonds, emeralds and rubies.

Only in the presence of all regalia does the king have complete supreme power: he is the best of the best, he is the main military leader, his words are the law for all loyal subjects.

Another crown, created for the coronation in 1937 of Elizabeth, wife of King George VI, is adorned with the Kohinoor diamond, which means "mountain of light." This is the most famous jewel in England.

The Kohinoor diamond was "born" in India over 300 years ago. There is a belief that the Kohinoor diamond brings bad luck to the men who own it. It was never sold for money, but passed by force from one ruler to another. Finally, in 1849, he was sent to London in a forged casket, which was packed in a special chest, with the guards by sea from Punjab (State of India). And in 1850 it was presented to Queen Victoria. In 1851, the priceless diamond was put on display at the World Exhibition in London, and 6 million visitors were able to see it. And in 1937 it was inlaid in the center of the cross of the royal crown.

In 1947, India, a former colony of the British Empire, became independent. And the leaders of this country presented property claims to Great Britain. In particular, they demanded that the Kohinoor diamond, which was considered a national treasure, be returned to them. Then this issue was not resolved, but in 1953 it was back on the agenda. Once again, British society strongly rejected all claims. The British made it clear to the Indians that they were not going to return the gem.

Currently, the coronation of kings occurs only in the UK. The current reigning Queen of Great Britain, Elizabeth II, is the only monarch to be crowned in accordance with all the rules. In all other countries of Europe, coronation has been replaced by inauguration, or enthronement, without chrismation and the laying on of a crown.

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place on June 2, 1953. Three weeks before the ceremony, Elizabeth, in order to feel confident in her new royal attire, began to wear the Imperial State Crown all the time. She did not take it off even during breakfast.

For less solemn events, Elizabeth also has spare crowns, a diadem, but they are not so majestic. The spare crown is set with 2,783 diamonds and contains 273 pearls, 16 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 5 rubies.

They say that without a crown in Elizabeth II there is nothing royal. And if someone happened to meet her on the streets of London or in the underground in a traditional particular dress, then he would not recognize her as the Queen of Great Britain.

A century and a half in the Crown Chamber of the Cathedral of St. Vita, the coronation regalia of the Czech Republic are stored under seven locks. Due to wars and the struggle for the throne, their location changed, but then they returned to Prague again for the coronation. The last ceremony took place in 1836, when King Ferdinand V and his wife Maria Anna were enthroned.

The coronation regalia of the Czech Republic are: St. Wenceslas crown, mantle, baton and orb. They are stored in a stone safe, closed with seven locks, hidden in a cabinet behind a metal door. Next to the cabinet that hides the safe is a table and seven chairs, which are intended for "keykeepers", which are: the president of the country, the head of the Senate, the prime minister, the archbishop, the chairman of the chamber of deputies, the metropolitan of the Cathedral of St. Vita and the mayor of Prague. An equally important attribute of the coronation is the cross, it is not hidden in a safe, but also belongs to the shrines of the cathedral.

Only in rare cases, the regalia are put on public display. There is a belief that the Czechs live in peace and prosper as long as the crown is kept in its place. Another interesting fact is that treasures can be retrieved using seven keys. If you try to open the safe otherwise, the security system is triggered.

Symbols of Czech royalty

Crown of Saint Wenceslas (Svatováclavská koruna). It is made of gold and adorned with precious stones. In the center of the crown is a sapphire cross depicting a crucifix. Weight 2.5 kg, diameter and height with a cross 19 cm. In 1347, the Roman Emperor Charles IV presented a valuable gift to the main patron of the Czech Republic, St. Wenceslas, so the crown got its name. The emperor bequeathed to wear it to all subsequent owners of the throne. There is a legend that anyone who dares to illegally try on the crown will be cursed and will die in the near future, which, there is real evidence. Eyewitnesses say that it radiates an indescribable, mystical radiance. Unfortunately, if you look closer at the crown, there are traces of polishing on the gold, and the gems decorating it are cracked.

Royal mantle (Korunovační plášť). This is a luxurious cloak with a long train, sleeveless, made of silk fabric, 2x3 m in size, framed with white ermine.

Royal power (Královské jablko). It is a golden ball. Weight 0.780 kg, diameter 22 cm. The hemispheres are united by a strip studded with sapphires and pearls. The upper part of the ball depicts the plot of David's Anointing for kingship and the battle with Goliath. On the bottom is an image where the Lord shows Adam and Eve paradise and warns about the tree of knowledge. At the top of the ball is a cross with the inscription: "Lord, with Your help, the king rejoices and rejoices."

Royal scepter (Královské žezlo). It is made of high grade gold. Length 67 cm, weight 1.013 kg. The scepter has several parts connected by rings of pearls. The first is made in the form of a blossoming flower, consisting of spirals, between which sapphires dominate. The second is an engraved decoration with a vine and flower motif. The lower part is covered with multi-colored enamel.

Reliquary of Saint Maura. It resembles a wooden chest, which is decorated on the outside with gilded sculptures, precious stones, filigree and enamel. Figures of saints are carved all over the surface. It was made by order of the monastery in Floren (modern Belgium), to store the relics of St. Maura, hence the name. After the French Revolution, the church was closed, but in 1838 the casket was bought by Duke Alfred de Beaufort. Having restored, he took the reliquary to his estate. During World War II, when leaving the country, the Beaufort family hid the casket under the floor of the chapel, where it was discovered in 1985. After restoration, the casket was first put on public display in 2011.

Cross of Zawisza (Závišův kříž). Consisting of fine gold, a large, double-sided cross reaches a height of 70 cm. The front part is studded with sapphires and pearls, and a fragment of the crucifixion of Christ is depicted in the center. The reverse side of multi-colored enamel is decorated with the faces of saints. No one knows how he appeared. There is a version that in 1270 the daughter of the Hungarian king Anna, having fled to the Czech Republic, to the court of her daughter Kunguta, secretly took out the cross. So, he inherited Kungute, having received the name in honor of her second husband, the knight Zawisha, who donated a gift to the Vyshebrodsky monastery from his wife. In 1938, the cross was moved to Prague and hidden in the Cathedral of St. Vita.

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In our time, all the crown jewels and many other jewels of the British crown are exhibited in.

Crowns of England (Great Britain)

(St. Edward's Crown, 1661) is the golden crown used for most coronation ceremonies. Decorated with 444 precious stones. The crown of St. Edward is very heavy (2.23 kg) and uncomfortable, so Elizabeth II uses its lightweight version in ceremonial occasions.

Imperial crown(Imperial State Crown, 1937) - created for King George VI as an exact copy of the 1838 Crown of Queen Victoria, which had worn out by that time. The crown is decorated with a huge number of precious stones - 2868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 5 rubies. Among these stones are many famous ones: for example, the ruby ​​of the Black Prince and the Cullinan II diamond. The crown is used after the end of the coronation, when the monarch leaves Westminster Abbey, and during the annual opening ceremony of the sessions of Parliament.

(Crown of Queen Elizabeth, 1937) - the only platinum crown in the entire collection. It was created for the wife of King George VI, Elizabeth, who, to distinguish herself from her namesake daughter, bore the title of the Queen Mother. The crown is set with a 105-carat Kohinoor diamond, as well as many smaller diamonds.

(Imperial Crown of India, 1911) and (Crown of Queen Mary, 1911) - were created on the occasion of a visit to India by George V and his wife Queen Mary. The need for their creation arose because the law forbade the use of royal regalia outside of Britain. Both crowns were used only once. They are not part of the Royal Jewels, but are stored with them in the Tower. At the time of its creation, the Crown of Queen Mary was decorated with such famous diamonds as Kohinoor, Cullinan III and Cullinan IV, but already in 1914 they were replaced with crystal imitations. Today, the crown is adorned with 2,200 diamonds.

sceptres

(Sovereign's Sceptre with the Cross, 1661) is used during the coronation (the monarch holds it in his right hand). In 1910, the Cullinan I diamond, the largest cut diamond in the world, was set into the scepter.

(Sovereign's Sceptre with the Dove, 1661) - a scepter decorated with a figure of a dove, which in Christianity symbolizes the Holy Spirit. During the coronation ceremony, the monarch holds this scepter in his left hand. At the moment of laying on the head of the Crown of St. Edward, the monarch holds both scepters.

(Queen Consort's Sceptre with Cross, 1685)

(Queen Consort's Ivory Rod with Dove, 1685) - the only crown jewel made of ivory;

Queen Mary's scepter with dove(Mary II's Sceptre with Dove, 1689).

Powers

(Sovereign's Orb, 1661) - a hollow golden ball decorated with a cross and precious stones. Used in the coronation ceremony. The monarch holds it in his left hand during a procession from.

(Small Orb, 1689) was created for the coronation of William III's wife Mary II.

Coronation swords

(Sword of State, 1698) - the largest sword in the collection (weighs over 23 kg). It is carried before the monarch during the coronation and during the opening of parliament. The hilt of the sword is gilded and adorned with diamonds in the form of roses and thistles - the symbols of England and Scotland.

(Jewelled Sword of Offering, 1820) was created for the coronation of King George IV. This is the only sword that the Archbishop of Canterbury gives directly to the monarch during the coronation (symbolizes that the royal power is in the service of the church). The precious sacrificial sword is made of Damascus steel and luxuriously decorated with precious stones. During the solemn procession, it is carried instead of the Great Sovereign Sword, which is too heavy for this.

The Sword of Spiritual Justice, the Sword of Temporal Justice, and the Sword of Mercy are also carried before the monarch during the coronation.

Coronation ring

Coronation ring (Sovereign's Ring, 1831) - a large sapphire with the cross of St. George, rubies, and diamonds. Symbolizes the "marriage" of the monarch with the country. The coronation ring was created for the coronation of William IV and has since been used for the coronation of all subsequent monarchs (before each monarch received a new ring). There is also Queen Victoria's Coronation Ring, whose fingers turned out to be too narrow for the Coronation Ring of William IV, so a smaller copy was created. The ring of Queen Adelaide, wife of William IV, also belongs to the British crown jewels.

Ampoule and spoon

(Ampulla, 1661) - an eagle-shaped vessel with outstretched wings used during the coronation ceremony to anoint the monarch. The body of the eagle is hollow, the head is unscrewed, and oil (consecrated oil) is poured inside. After pronouncing the oath, the monarch strips down to his underwear. The Archbishop of Canterbury drips from the Ampulla on coronation spoon(The Coronation Spoon, XII or XIII century) and smears them on the hands, chest and head of the monarch, which symbolizes the descent of divine grace on him. After that, the remaining regalia are handed over to the monarch - embroidered with gold imperial mantle(Imperial Mantle, 1821) weighing over 13 kg, Golden bracelets(Armills, 1661), symbolizing honesty and wisdom, and spurs(Spurs, 1820), symbolizing military prowess.

The coronation spoon is the oldest element of royal regalia. It is believed that it was used at the coronation of King John in 1199, or even earlier, at the coronation of his father and older brother (Henry II and Richard I the Lionheart, respectively). The handle is the oldest part and, according to some sources, was made about sixty years earlier than the part with a recess. Once the handle was covered with enamel, but over the years it has worn off and only traces of patterns remain. In its widest part, the handle is decorated with four pearls. The spoon itself is made of silver and covered with gilding. It is believed that it was the work of Byzantine masters. The part with a recess (it is divided in the middle by a partition, since the archbishop dips two fingers into it) is also covered with a very elegant pattern.

An inventory of the royal regalia compiled in 1649 mentions a "silver gilded spoon". It was valued at only sixteen shillings and sold, and the new owner, when Charles II returned to the throne, presented it to the monarch.

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The largest diamonds in the crown jewels

The British Crown Jewels include two of the world's largest diamonds. We are talking about "Cullinan I" (530.2 carats) and "Cullinan II" (317.4 carats), which adorn the King's Scepter with a cross and the Imperial Crown, respectively. Both diamonds were obtained from the dismemberment of the largest diamond in history, called Cullinan, also known as the "Star of Africa".

The history of the diamond is quite remarkable. It was discovered at the beginning of the 20th century in the Transvaal Republic (a British colony in South Africa). The Transvaal government presented the diamond to King Edward VII on his 66th birthday, and in order to avoid the risk of theft during transportation, the valuable cargo was sent in the strictest confidence to London by regular mail, and an imitation was transported on a special ship with pomp and security. The weight of the uncut mineral was 3106 carats (621 grams). Many refused to believe that diamonds could be that big.

There were cracks in the Cullinan, so one giant diamond could not be made from it. It was decided to split the diamond along these existing cracks. So 9 large fragments appeared, which after cutting turned into 9 large diamonds and 96 small ones. All large diamonds retained the old name, only numbering was added (Cullinan I, Cullinan II, Cullinan III, and so on).

Diamond Kohinoor(or Kohinoor), which in Persian means "Mountain of Light", is far from being as large as Cullinan I, but not inferior to him in glory. It is believed that the diamond is already 5 thousand years old and that it brings misfortune to its owners. Indeed, the history of the diamond is replete with bloody pages: it was the property of many Indian, Afghan and Iranian rulers until it was captured in 1848 by British troops. Initially, Kohinoor had a slight yellowish tint and weighed 186 carats, but after additional cutting, it lost 40% of its mass, becoming a pure diamond. Today he adorns the Crown of Queen Elizabeth. To clarify, India regularly claims its rights to the diamond, claiming that it illegally fell into the hands of the British colonialists.

Ruby of the Black Prince- a 170-carat jewel the size of a chicken egg. The ruby ​​is currently set in the Imperial Crown (above the Cullinan II diamond). First mentioned in the middle of the XIV century, in the property of Abu Said, the Moorish prince of Granada. The prince was killed during peace negotiations on the orders of the King of Castile, Don Pedro the Cruel. However, the ruby ​​remained in the king's possession for only a few years. His half-brother rebelled against him, and Don Pedro was forced to resort to the military assistance of Edward the Black Prince (1312–1377; son of the ruling King Edward III of England), to whom he gave the jewel as payment for the military assistance provided. Thus, the ruby ​​came to England and got its modern name. It is known that in the future, the ruby ​​of the Black Prince adorned the battle knightly helmets of Henry V and Richard III at the battle of Agincourt (1415) and on Bosworth Field (1485), respectively, and in the middle of the 16th century it was inserted into the royal crown.