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If you are considered the most influential person in your community, how would you assert your prominence? This has been a challenge for rulers throughout history. One of the traditional ways to declare your position was by wearing a distinct item closely tied to your authority. What could be more striking than a crown made of precious metals and dazzling gemstones?
Since ancient times, crowns, diadems, and other valuable headpieces have been symbols of kings, emperors, and spiritual leaders. Here are ten historical crowns and their significance.
10. Macedonian Crowns
For many years, the kingdom of Macedon was regarded with disdain by the city-states of ancient Greece. The Macedonians spoke a unique dialect, still had kings, and were often considered barbaric. However, Philip II of Macedon had different plans—he sought to dominate the Greeks who had dismissed him. By employing his military brilliance and commanding a disciplined army, he positioned himself as the leader of the Greek world. If Philip II is not widely remembered, it is likely due to the even more extraordinary legacy of his son, Alexander the Great.
In 336 BC, King Philip was assassinated by one of his own bodyguards. Perhaps the Macedonian reputation for barbarity played a part. He was buried in a tomb at Vergina alongside other Macedonian kings. When his tomb was unearthed in the 1970s, Philip's remains were found inside a box made of pure gold, weighing 24.2 pounds (11 kilograms). Alongside the remains was a diadem designed in the shape of a wreath of oak leaves.
In ancient Greece, wreaths made from olive, laurel, or oak were awarded to individuals for their victories in athletic games, literary accomplishments, and military achievements. However, for the ruler of Macedon, the fragile and fleeting nature of plants was insufficient. Philip II's crown was made of gold and weighed 1.5 pounds (700 grams). The leaves were affixed in such a manner that they would quiver with movement, causing them to shimmer and glimmer in the sunlight.
9. The Crown of Thorns
Not all crowns need to be made of gold to hold value. The Gospel of Matthew recounts that when Jesus was led to his crucifixion, his captors mocked and tormented him. 'They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. 'Hail, king of the Jews!' they said.' The crown of thorns was not intended to honor Jesus but to humiliate him.
However, the Crown of Thorns became a symbol of Jesus' suffering for the sins of humanity and one of Christianity's most sacred relics. Various religious institutions claimed pieces of the crown, believing them to possess immense spiritual power. For the kings of France, a single thorn was not enough—they sought the entire crown.
A claimed Crown of Thorns was once owned by the Emperors of Constantinople. In 1238, this crown was pawned for 13,000 gold pieces to aid the besieged city. When Baldwin II was deposed from the throne of Constantinople, he found himself wandering Europe seeking support to reclaim it. In need of money, he sold the Crown of Thorns to King Louis of France. The crown was set into a polished crystal ring and became one of the most treasured possessions of the French monarchy.
8. The Crowns of Silla
The Kingdom of Silla existed on the Korean peninsula from the 1st century BC to the 10th century AD. While much of their history was known, it wasn’t until the 1920s that the royal regalia of Silla's kings began to be discovered. The name of the Gold Crown Tomb gives some hint of the treasures hidden within.
Thought to date from the 6th century AD, the identity of the king buried in the Gold Crown Tomb remains unknown. However, we do know that he possessed a magnificent crown. Standing nearly 1.7 feet (0.5 meters) tall, it features three large gold branches extending from a central headband and a pair of antlers at the rear. These are adorned with images of fish scales, hearts, birds, and dragons. Small jade drops and golden leaves hang from it.
Since the discovery of this crown, many others have been unearthed. Most share a similar shape and decoration. These crowns are unique in ancient Korea, with some scholars suggesting that they may exhibit Iranian and Scythian influences.
7. Crown of Princess Blanche
Crowns were not exclusively for kings. Members of the royal family often wore smaller crowns to signify their elite status. The oldest English-owned crown was owned by Princess Blanche, the daughter of Henry IV. Today, it is housed in a treasury in Munich.
This crown originally belonged to one of the queens of Richard II of England. When Richard was overthrown by Henry IV, all of his jewels became the property of the new king. Henry, who was considered a usurper by some, sought to solidify his legitimacy by marrying his children to powerful allies. His daughter Blanche was wed to Louis, the son of the King of Germany, and as part of her dowry, the crown was sent to Europe with her.
The crown itself offers some insight into the splendor of the Medieval English monarchy. It stands tall, adorned with fleur-de-lis crafted from gold and encrusted with sapphires, rubies, emeralds, diamonds, and pearls. Colored enamel further enhances the vibrant display of colors.
6. Papal Tiaras
The pope serves as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church on Earth. While today this is largely a symbolic role, for many centuries, the popes were not just religious leaders but also influential political figures, governing vast regions of Italy. To embody both spiritual authority and political power, the popes required headgear that made a striking statement.
Papal tiaras began as simple white cloth caps in the 8th century. Over time, they were adorned with an ornate circlet at the base, possibly symbolizing the power the popes wielded over their territories. One crown was insufficient. Pope Boniface VIII, at the close of the 13th century, added another crown atop the first to signify his superiority over earthly kings and their singular crowns. By the following decades, a third crown was added, completing the triple crown of the popes.
Many papal tiaras were crafted from precious metals and encrusted with valuable gems. One, created in 1846, featured over 10,000 diamonds, along with thousands of emeralds, sapphires, and rubies. Not all were so extravagant. After Napoleon's forces expelled the pope from Rome in 1798, a replacement tiara was made from papier-mâché, adorned with gems donated by local women. In 1804, Napoleon offered a new tiara, but he intentionally made it too small and heavy to be comfortably worn.
In 1964, Pope Paul VI removed his papal tiara and placed it on the altar at the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council, symbolizing his renouncement of worldly power to focus on spiritual matters. Since then, no pope has worn a tiara.
5. Imperial Crown of Russia & the Monomakh’s Cap
In the 16th century, many European monarchs viewed Russia as a somewhat backward nation. However, over time, their perception shifted, and Russia became the object of envy. While much of Europe saw the power of their monarchs and their wealth diminish, the Russian crown retained its absolute authority and considerable riches. In 1762, Empress Catherine the Great decided it was time for a new crown—and it had to be magnificent.
Catherine's task was made easier by the fact that the Russian monarchy controlled all the gems mined within the empire. With such a vast selection of sparkling stones at her disposal, her jewelers had no shortage of materials. The resulting crown was adorned with 4,936 diamonds, totaling 2,858 carats. At its peak sat a massive, gleaming red spinel, while large pearls decorated the crown's wings.
The Imperial Crown is not the only headpiece presented to Russian Tsars during their coronations. They were first given the Monomakh's Cap, a symbol of their absolute rule. This crown consists of a golden cap inlaid with rubies and emeralds, encircled by a ring of fur—helpful for keeping the tsar warm during the frigid Russian winters.
4. Imperial State Crown
When Charles III was crowned, St. Edward's Crown was placed upon his head. This is the only occasion on which a British monarch wears this particular crown. It is quickly exchanged for the more renowned Imperial State Crown, which the king will don at state functions.
The British Imperial State Crown is a symbol of the former grandeur of the empire. It is adorned with a blend of historic and newly added jewels to signify power. Among the ancient stones is a sapphire believed to have belonged to Edward the Confessor in the 11th century. Another sapphire was a prized possession of the Stuart monarchs. A prominent red spinel, known as the Black Prince's Ruby, bears a hole through which a feather could once be inserted for decoration.
In 1909, the crown was modified to accommodate the 317-carat Cullinan II. The Cullinan diamond, the largest gem-quality diamond ever unearthed, was cut into nine smaller stones. Queen Elizabeth II affectionately referred to these as 'granny's chips,' as they originally belonged to her grandmother, Queen Mary.
3. The Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire
Although most historical accounts state that the Western Roman Empire fell in the 5th century, it experienced a revival. On Christmas Day in 800, Pope Leo III crowned King Charlemagne, bestowing upon him the title Emperor of the Romans. His successors continued to hold this title, which became associated with the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, a confederation of states, mostly in modern-day Germany, that persisted until 1806.
The Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire was created for Otto I in 962, though it has undergone later modifications. Its design is notably ancient, with an octagonal shape reminiscent of Byzantine crowns rather than the typical round crowns seen today. The crown is made from eight gold plates, four of which feature religious imagery, while the remaining larger plates are studded with gems. Because it predates the technique of faceting gems, the stones are polished into dome-like shapes.
Legend has it that the crown was once far grander than it is today. A gem called the Waise, or Orphan, once rested at its front. A 1250s writer described it as follows: 'The Orphan is a jewel in the crown of the Roman emperor. Because the like of it has never been seen elsewhere, it is called the 'Orphan.' It has the color of wine, of delicate red wine, and it is as if the dazzling white of snow penetrates the bright wine red, and yet it remains dormant in this redness. The gem shines powerfully, and it is said that it once even shone at night, but not in our time, but it is said to preserve the honour of the empire.' The reason for the Orphan’s removal from the crown and its current whereabouts remain a mystery.
2. The Iron Crown of Lombardy
Medieval theology held that kings derived their earthly power from the will of God, and as such, their crowns symbolized their divine right to rule. Some crowns took this notion of holiness a step further by incorporating sacred relics into their design.
The Iron Crown of Lombardy is one of Europe's oldest surviving pieces of royal regalia, and it is believed to have a direct connection to Jesus. According to legend, Emperor Constantine's mother, St. Helena, commissioned its creation. Helena is renowned for traveling to the Holy Land, where she returned with the True Cross, the cross on which Jesus died. It is said that she had one of the nails from the cross turned into a helmet to protect her son. Some stories suggest that the Iron Crown itself is this helmet, with the holy nail embedded within.
Inside the Iron Crown, there is a band of dark metal that holds together the six gold panels comprising the crown. However, for all those who wore the crown, it seems unlikely that the legend is true. The crown was likely made in the 8th century. Contrary to its name, the band inside the crown is not made of iron; scientific analysis reveals that it is actually silver.
1. The Holy Crown of Hungary
The Holy Crown of Hungary, also known as the Crown of St. Stephen, was a symbol of the Hungarian state for centuries. According to legend, before King Stephen passed away in 1038, he raised the crown and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary, thus consecrating it and linking it to royal authority. Over time, the crown itself came to be regarded as a living entity, with the kings of Hungary seen as ruling on its behalf rather than as sovereigns in their own right.
Crafted from gold and adorned with intricate enamel depictions of Christ, angels, saints, and kings, the crown also features a cross perched atop a representation of Jesus. This cross is tilted in a curious way, which is believed to have occurred when the chest it was stored in was hastily closed, damaging the crown during the 17th century; it was never repaired thereafter.
At the close of World War II, the crown was entrusted to American forces in Austria, packed in a black leather satchel to shield it from Soviet capture. It was then taken to the United States and securely housed at Fort Knox. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter made the decision to return the crown to Hungary in a gesture meant to inspire the Hungarian people to continue their pursuit of freedom.
