Sweden's imperial regalia

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Oskar II on a painting by Oscar Björck . In the portrait he wears the Erik crown as it existed between 1818 and 1909. He also wears medals decorated with diamonds , which in principle do not belong to the imperial regalia, but are nevertheless kept in the treasury of the Stockholm Palace.

Sweden's imperial regalia and other crown jewels are ritual objects that are used in coronations and ceremonies as external signs of royal dignity in Sweden . Since Gustav V took office in 1905, these objects have not been used in their original form, as this king and his successors waived a coronation. The imperial regalia have been exhibited in the treasury of the Stockholm Palace since 1970 (for more information, see the section on storage and maintenance of regalia ).

Historical background

In principle, rulers have always worn outward signs of their dignity. The use of gems had its origins in the Orient , where the Persian rulers wore a tiara . Similar symbols were also used by the Egyptian pharaohs (helmet-like pschent ), the Roman emperors ( laurel wreath ) and the popes (tiara). Over time, these symbols developed into a series of special attributes, each of which denoted a specific area of ​​sovereign duties. The entire unit of rulers was given the name Regalia. As an example can here orb called, which has its origins in the globes had the Roman Empire, the so verdeutlichten their desired world domination. Initially, golden wreaths, known as crowns, were the property of the ruler, but over the years the opinion developed in many countries that the regalia represented the size of the state and are therefore state property. The kings thus took on the role of the administrator and bearer of the symbols.

Coronations in Sweden

In the Middle Ages , Swedish heads of state were coronated in various cathedrals and churches in Sweden. The handover of the imperial insignia has in principle been carried out according to the same ceremony since Erik XIV's coronation . After the Middle Ages, the Swedish kings and queens were predominantly in Uppsala Cathedral crown, with the exception of Christina , in the Nikolai Church of Stockholm was crowned. From Frederick I's accession to the throne to the coronation of Oskar II , the ceremonies took place continuously in Stockholm's Nikolaikirche , only interrupted by Gustav IV Adolf's coronation, which took place in Norrköping . Since Oskar II was the last Swedish king to be crowned, his coronation on May 12, 1873 was the last such ritual in Sweden.

Further modern use of the shelves

As long as the constitution of 1809 was in force, i.e. until January 1, 1975, the regalia were used at the annual opening of the Swedish Diet . After 1907, when Gustav V took office, the king no longer wore the regalia on his body. The crown and scepter lay on elaborately embroidered cushions on a small table next to the throne, where they were guarded by chamberlains during the period of the Reichstag . Oskar II's ermine fur coat lay solemnly draped on the throne and the stairs in front of it. The extent to which the coat can be called an imperial shelf is a question of definition, at least it can be seen next to the other objects in the treasury.

The cushions were initially used for the imperial orb and later also for the scepter. The king wore these on his way to the throne before putting them down to deliver his speech. As prescribed, Oskar II wore the crown, scepter and cloak at the opening of the Reichstag. Shortly before the opening of the Reichstag in January, the regalia were fetched by a master of ceremonies of the court and a chamberlain from the Reichsbank or later the treasury of the palace and returned after the ritual was over.

The regalia were also used in other Swedish ceremonies, such as B. at royal weddings and baptisms . They were still present after the constitution of 1809 was repealed. An example is the 1976 royal wedding, where the royal and queen crowns were posted on either side of the altar . This is exactly what happened in the last royal baptisms.

Overview of Sweden's imperial regalia

The real imperial regalia consist in the traditional hierarchy of crown, scepter, apple, sword and key. This ranking of the most important insignia was established in 1617 at the coronation of Gustav II Adolf . In detail, this corresponds to the following objects that are exhibited in the treasury:

  • the crown of Erik XIV.
  • the scepter of Erik XIV.
  • the orb of Erik XIV.
  • Gustav Wasa's imperial sword
  • the imperial key of Erik XIV.

The crown only became the most important regalie, or the most elegant crown jewel, with Erik XIV. Before that, the sword had this place. When Gustav Wasa was buried in Uppsala Cathedral in 1560 (in a choir in the eastern part of the cathedral, directly east of the high altar), Erik received the sword, which formally changed royal power. The coronation took place a year later with the new insignia, some of which have been changed to this day. The key was not part of royal insignia in other countries, but was first introduced at Erik XIV's coronation.

Other sovereign ritual objects

At certain times other objects were included in the imperial regalia. These were the anointing horn with the holy oil, which was used to anoint the king at coronations (as a reference to King David , who according to the Bible was anointed king), the cloak, the ring (corresponding to the papal fisherman's ring ), the chain of orders (as Sign of the royal knightly order ) and the seal stamp as an original for the markings of the imperial seal (referred to as secretet or riksens stora klämma ). The Reichsbanner is not referred to as the Reichsregalie in the existing sources, but like the traditional regalia it was an important outward sign of the dignity of the king and the empire.

Ceremonial meaning of the regalia

With the exception of the key, all regalia are old royal dignities and symbols of worldly power. Their different ceremonial functions emerge from the descriptions of coronation ceremonies at different times. According to Erik XIV's description of the coronation, the crown meant royal honor and dignity ( Konungglich ähra och worthighez ), the scepter meant righteousness and the apple a Christian kingdom ( Christeligit Konungarijke ). With the sword the king was supposed to protect the good and fight the bad.

At the ceremony of Charles IX. To top it off, the symbolism of the other objects was described as follows:

  • With the key he closes the gates of the kingdom for all heretics, enemies and unbelievers and opens them for the poor and needy.
  • The ring means a friendship like an engagement between king and people.
  • The chain of orders marked the king as the highest of a community.
  • The seal stamp made clear the regularity of the royal work.

The individual imperial regalia and crown jewels

The numbers in the individual sections refer to a directory of the treasury administration.

Crown

Erik XIV Crown (Treasury No. 1)

The Erik crown in its shape before 1970. The diamonds on the upper tips were temporarily replaced by the original pearls after they were first attached in 1818 to show the original condition of the crown. The crown in this picture is lined with a gold-embroidered and pearl-studded bonnet from 1778. Instead of this bonnet, the crown was lined with red velvet in 1970 , which better corresponds to the original bonnet.

The so-called Erik crown is the crown that was used as a royal crown by the Swedish monarchs. It was used at solemn events such as coronations, royal baptisms, and weddings. According to a receipt from 1561, it was created by the Flemish goldsmith Cornelis ver Weiden in Stockholm, who is also responsible for the design of the imperial orb.

The crown consists of a circlet, above which eight leaf-like decorations are attached. Two bands of the four main leaves run cross-shaped over the head, where they are surmounted by a cross globe at the apex. The original crown was marked with monograms by Erik XIV. After Johann III. was able to depose his older brother as king in 1568, he had the monograms covered with eight cartouches , in each of which two pearls were attached one above the other.

Before his coronation in 1818, Karl XIV. Johann had some decisive changes made. The original cross globe made of gold was replaced by a globe made of blue enamel decorated with stars . The globe was adorned with ribbons of diamonds and the large cross above it was decorated with impressive diamonds (see photo on the right). Furthermore, the eight pearl cartridges were replaced with diamond rosettes and the leaves were placed over them, so that the emeralds and rubies were positioned directly under the small tips between the leaves (see painting at the beginning of the article). The original crown had large pearls on the upper tips of the leaves, which were also replaced by diamonds in 1818.

In 1909 the diamond rosettes were removed and the original pearl cartridges put back. For the exhibition in the treasury, a cartouche has been taken out and placed next to the crown to show the monogram of Erik XIV below. Furthermore, before the opening of the permanent exhibition in 1970, the blue cross globe was removed and the original one put back on. The former is now also next to the crown.

The crown weighs 1,715 g and in its largest form in 1818 it was 23.7 cm high. It is believed that parts of the crown such as precious stones and gold were previously used in other pieces of jewelry.

Maria Eleonora Crown (Treasury No. 2)

The crown was made in Stockholm in 1620 by the German goldsmith Ruprecht Miller for the wedding of King Gustav II Adolf to Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg . From the items of equipment for the wedding of Gunilla Bielke with Johann III. on February 21, 1585 only Gunilla's scepter and imperial orb exist (see below). In 1620 the mentioned pieces were still in the possession of Christine von Holstein-Gottorp , the widow of Karl IX. and mother of Gustav II Adolf. Christine also owned her own queen's crown, which later became the crown prince's crown. Gunillas Krone was already in 1592 in connection with Johann III. Death recorded as "smashed", so she hadn't had her own crown for the past five years.

The crown of Maria Eleonora is made of gold and has enamel decorations in black and blue. Gold and enamel form floral motifs and are abundantly set with diamonds and several large rubies. It is believed that the choice of material had heraldic reasons. Red and white (diamonds and rubies) represent the Brandenburg coat of arms of the queen and black and gold symbolized the noble family Wasa from which Gustav II Adolf came.

Until Christina's coronation in 1650, this crown, just like the Erik crown, had four stirrups that symbolized the Christian cross. Shortly before Christina's coronation, she received four more smaller temples. In addition, the crown circlet was made in 1719 before the coronation by Ulrike Eleonora the Elder. J. expanded. Since Adolf Friedrich decided to use this crown at his coronation, it received eight additional diamond rosettes on the crown circlet and further diamonds on the tips and temples in 1751. Furthermore, a cap embroidered with gold and decorated with diamonds was added. Because of these additions, the Maria Eleonora crown is the heaviest of all Swedish crowns for kings, queens, dukes, princes and princesses. It has a weight of 2506 grams, is 18.4 cm high and has an oval crown ring measuring 21.4 × 17.8 cm in diameter. All other regents of the House of Holstein-Gottorp , i.e. Gustav III. , Gustav IV. Adolf and Karl XIII. wore this crown at their coronation. Even Frederick I was crowned with this crown, but after that he wore the crown fashioned Erik.

Luise-Ulrike-Krone (Treasury No. 3)

Andreas Almgren made this crown in 1751 in rococo style based on drawings by Jean Eric Rehn for Queen Luise Ulrike , who was crowned with King Adolf Friedrich in the same year. It is about half the size of the royal crown and was pinned with needles in the headscarf or in the queen's hairstyle. This crown is an excellent example of Rococo art from the mid-18th century. The production of this crown was necessary because the former queen's crown Maria Eleonoras, as described, was used by the Holstein-Gottorp family as a royal crown for coronations and other ceremonies. From this time on, the Luise Ulrike crown was used by all queens, including the Bernadotte family , although the Erik crown was used again later.

The Luise Ulrike crown consists of a base in silver that is richly set with diamonds, but originally did not have any other gemstones. The cap is pink and covered with sequins . The 44 largest diamonds came from Luise Ulrike's own possession and, at her request, became state property when they were used for this crown. Just three months after the coronation, these diamonds were replaced by rock crystals . The diamonds were used to raise money for the attempt to overthrow the court party in 1756, which wanted to break the power of the Reichstag during the period of freedom .

The queen also needed the money to bribe members of the Reichstag , which increased her chances that the proposals she had put forward would be confirmed by parliament. This kind of influence was also popular with foreign ambassadors. Mainly members of the hat party were bribed, but later also of the hat party, who were often persuaded to switch to the court party. After the failed coup attempt, the diamonds were discovered at an antique dealer in Hamburg , confiscated and reinstated in the crown in Sweden. The assembly of the diamonds must have taken place at the latest in 1778 before the baptism of Crown Prince Gustav Adolf , as their presence at that time is documented.

The largest diamond of the crown is on the forehead, more precisely on the lower edge of the foremost bow. This diamond was originally on the engagement ring that was used when Karl X. Gustav and Hedwig Eleonora von Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf were engaged. The same ring was used for the engagements of Charles XI. with Ulrike Eleonore of Denmark and Ulrike Eleonore the Elder J. with Frederick I used.

The crown is 12.6 cm high and weighs 527.5 g.

Crown Prince Crown or Karl Gustavs Hereditary Prince Crown (Treasury No. 16)

Stylized representation of an earl's crown, which roughly corresponds to the appearance of the crown prince's crown. A picture of the Swedish Crown Prince's crown is linked under individual references.

As indicated in the section Maria-Eleonora-Krone, the crown prince's crown was composed of parts of the earlier queen's crown by Christine von Holstein-Gottorp. The redesign took place in 1650 before Christine the Elder's coronation . J. as the new head of state. The crown was needed to give Karl Gustav, as the queen's cousin and possible heir to the throne, a proper look. The name Crown Prince Crown is actually incorrect, as Karl Gustav was not a direct descendant of a king, but it has established itself for this crown over the course of history.

Most of the work on the crown was carried out by the goldsmith Jürgen Dargeman , e.g. B. the gold ornaments, some of which are enameled, on the base of the golden crown come from him. The crown prince crown is an open crown, without a bow and a globe over the cap, which is richly decorated with pearl cartridges, single pearls, sapphires and enamel ornaments. Instead of brackets, the crown has 8 pointed triangles made of gold on the crown ring and in the spaces in between there were the same number of tips that were about half the size of the original crown. Two of these central tips were made in 1771 by order of Gustav III. replaced with enamelled black sheaves of wheat , which symbolize the noble family Wasa . At the highest point of all triangles and points there is a larger pearl. Karl Gustav wore the crown over an hereditary prince's hat with a wide hem made of ermine fur , which was later replaced by a cap. The hereditary prince's hat is now on display in the royal armaments chamber under Stockholm Castle.

The heraldic design of the crown corresponds to a Central European count's crown (see rank crown ), as Karl Gustaf belonged to the Palatinate-Zweibrücken family of counts through his father Johann Kasimir . In this respect it is also similar to the Austrian archducal crown, which was worn by lower members of the imperial family in the Holy Roman Empire .

The Karl Gustavs Hereditary Prince Crown was in turn the template for all other Swedish prince and princess crowns as well as for a number of ducal and duchess crowns, all of which were marked by eight triangular points. The ducal crowns, on the other hand, have eight enameled sheaves of wheat between the large points instead of the small points. Two of these crowns were first used in 1772 before Gustav III. Coronation made and then the decision was made to carry out all other Swedish ducal crowns in the same way. Before that, the Swedish ducal crowns usually had eight leaves above the crown ring, corresponding to the count's crowns from France , Spain , Italy and other European countries. These old ducal crowns can be found, for example, above the coat of arms of the Swedish landscapes in the work Suecia antiqua et hodierna .

The crown is 14.5 cm high and weighs 1,344 g.

Other crowns (duke, duchess and royal child crowns)

In addition to the crowns described so far, the treasury holds four prince or ducal crowns and three princess crowns (including a duchess crown) that have been made in the course of history. In addition to the selected material, the early crowns have a high artistic value, but the quality standard declined over time and the last such crown for Duke Wilhelm is more comparable to a pastiche .

The distinction between princess and duchess crowns was based on whether the person in question was the wife of a king's son, which made her a duchess, or whether she was a daughter or sister of the reigning king. This regulation did not apply until 1980. The two original princess crowns were nevertheless later used by duchesses. One of the three crowns was created in 1778 for Hedwig von Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf before her marriage to the later Karl XIII. who at that time was still Duke of Södermanland . All three crowns are very similar, so the different meanings cannot be recognized by their appearance.

The royal treasury keeps the following prince and princess crowns:

  • Duke's crown for Prince Karl (Treasury No. 17), made in 1771 for Duke Karl of Södermanland (later Karl XIII.) Before Gustav III's coronation. in the following year.
  • Duke's crown for Friedrich Adolf (Treasury No. 18), also made in 1771 for Duke Friedrich Adolf of Östergötland (* 1750, † 1803).
  • Duke's crown for Prince Oskar (Treasury No. 19), made in 1844 for Duke Oskar von Östergötland (later Oskar II ) before Oskar I's coronation.
  • Duke's crown for Prince Wilhelm (Treasury No. 19 1/2), made in 1902 for Duke Wilhelm of Södermanland . The crown made by the goldsmith's workshop CG Hallbergs Guldsmeds AB based on drawings by the architect and artist Agi Lindegren was the last such crown in Sweden. It was needed because Wilhelm came of age that year and was to take part in the ceremonial opening of the Reichstag with a crown and cloak next to the throne.
  • Princess crown for Sofie Albertine (Treasury No. 20), made in 1771 for Gustav III. Sister.
  • Princess crown for Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotta (Treasury No. 21), made in 1778 for her wedding to Duke Karl (see above).
  • Princess Crown for Eugénie (Treasury No. 22), made in Stockholm in 1860 for Oskar I's daughter Eugénie (* 1830, † 1889) by Edvard Emanuel Petterson with the crown of Princess Hedwig as a template. It is made of gold with engraved decoration and enamel work in black and white. The 11.3 cm high and 733 g heavy crown is set with pearls, diamonds and other colored gemstones. It has a slightly oval diameter of 12.9 × 13 cm.

Luise Ulrike funeral crown (treasury no.4)

This simple crown was made for Queen Luise Ulrike's funeral in 1782 . The crown is made of gold-plated silver with a black velvet hood in the middle. The 12.2 cm high crown was also used as a coffin decoration at the funerals of the following regents, most recently in 1973 for Gustav VI. Adolf .

Other funeral crowns and Gustav Wasa's helmet crown

Further funeral crowns can be found today in Uppsala Cathedral (among others in the graves of Gustav Wasa and Johann III) and in Strängnäs Cathedral (Charles IX). The latter crown was removed from the grave and included in the exhibition in the cathedral; In 2018 they, the grave crown of his wife Christine von Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf and an orb were stolen.

The Stockholm Armaments Chamber keeps Gustav Wasa's helmet crown, which is mounted on his armor helmet. This crowned helmet is exhibited today among other (uncrowned) helmets and visors . It is very rare as an object, as helmet crowns are almost only found in heraldry these days . The four-leaf crown cast into the helmet was originally gold-plated and indicated that the armor belonged to the king. Along with Gustav Wasa's two imperial swords, this crown is one of the oldest imperial insignia, even if some historians do not include it in this category. According to current knowledge, the crown was made around 1540 by the gunsmith Kunz Lochner in Nuremberg . At the same time, one of the swords mentioned came to Sweden, which came from the same area in Germany (see section swords).

scepter

  • Erik XIV's scepter (Treasury No. 5) was made in 1561 by Hans Heidenrik. It originally had a sapphire on top that sat on two rows of pearls. The sapphire was loose for a long time and disappeared in 1778 in connection with Gustav IV Adolf's baptism. Since it could no longer be found, it was replaced by a blue globe with a cross in 1780.
  • The scepter of Gunilla Bielke (Treasury No. 7) was created in 1585 by Antonius Groth the Elder.
  • The scepter of Maria Eleonora (treasury no. 6) was required because the aforementioned queen scepter from Gunilla Bielke was still in the possession of Christine von Holstein-Gottorp , the mother of Gustav II Adolf.

Sweden and Norway were the only countries in which the queen had the right to carry a scepter and the imperial orb only occurs in other queens in exceptional cases.

Reichsäpfel

The imperial orb of Erik XIV. (Treasury No. 9)

Cornelis ver Weiden made the imperial orb for Erik XIV in Stockholm in 1561. The apple is made of gold and is set with pearls. A world map engraved and enamelled on the apple was probably made in Antwerp in 1568 by the Swiss goldsmith Frantz Beijer. According to the Swedish yearbook När Var Hur , Erik XIV's orb is the only one that is decorated with a realistic map image. Due to a mishap, the map for the northern hemisphere is inverted, but the place names have been inserted as if they were correctly placed. As a result, for example, the lettering "India" can be found in the contours of the Mediterranean .

At the coronation of Charles XI. In 1675 the imperial orb was damaged. The porter, Chancellor Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie , sat on a horse that shied away during the coronation ceremony. De la Gardie fell, his wig slipping and the imperial orb receiving a bump and severe damage to the enamel. The repair of the dent and damage to the enamel did not take place until 1751 before Adolf Friedrich's coronation . On this occasion the original cruciform globe was exchanged for the cruciform globe of the imperial orb of Maria Eleonora.

The apple is slightly oval with a height of 16.5 cm, a side diameter of 11.8 cm and a weight of 676 g.

The imperial orb of Maria Eleonoras (treasury no.8)

This apple is made of gold and decorated with blue and yellow enamel decorations, as well as diamonds and rubies. It was made in Stockholm in 1620 by the goldsmith Ruprecht Miller, who was also responsible for the queen's crown. As described in the previous section, the corresponding cruciform globe was exchanged in 1751. Maria Eleonora's orb is 15.3 cm high and weighs 410 g.

Gunilla Bielke's orb (Treasury No. 10)

Frantz Beijer created Gunilla Bielke's imperial orb in Stockholm in 1585. It is made of gold and set with pearls. As noted earlier, an imperial orb was originally intended for the actual sovereign and an unusual item for the spouse, but an exception was made in Sweden.

Gunilla's apple is 17.9 cm high, has a side diameter of 13.1 cm and weighs 491.5 g.

Imperial key

Erik XIV's Imperial Key (Treasury No. 12)

Erik's imperial key

This imperial key was created by Peter Holtswijller in Stockholm in 1561. It is made of gold-plated silver and is 43 cm long and weighs 676 g.

The Imperial Key from Ulrike Eleonore (Treasury No. 11)

It is believed that Ulrike Eleonore's imperial key was made by the German goldsmith Nicolaus (von) Bleichert in Stockholm. The artist created it out of gilded silver (one source mentions completely out of gold), making an exact copy of Erik XIV's key. On the handle is the inscription “VEDGRS [Ulrika Eleonora Dei Gratia Regina Sueciae] d. May 3rd A: 1720 ". As the ruling monarch, Ulrike Eleonore had Erik XIV's imperial key under her regalia. After she stepped down from the throne in favor of her husband Friedrich , she wanted to continue to own an imperial key, after which a personal copy was made for her. Ulrike Eleonore's key is 43 cm long and weighs 689 g.

Swords

Sweden's imperial regalia include two imperial swords from Gustav Wasas , which are exhibited in the treasury. These are (probably together with the described helmet crown) the oldest Swedish regalia still in existence today. In addition, two other representative swords are kept in the treasury. The Swedish king also owns a splendid sword ( Carl XIV: s värja ), which originally came to Sweden through Karl XIV. Johann . This is not shown in the treasury as it belongs to the king personally.

The four swords on display are:

  • Imperial sword from 1541 (treasury no.13)
  • the older imperial sword (treasury no.14)
  • King sword of Gustav III. (Treasury No. 23)
  • Crown Prince Sword (Treasury No. 24).

One of these swords was previously used when a person was knighted , thereby making the person into the nobility and / or becoming a member of an order of knights .

Gustav Wasa's Imperial Sword, ordered in 1541 (Treasury No. 13)

This sword has a length of 132 cm and was purchased in 1541 from a German merchant in Augsburg who was in contact with the Swedish court. The blade is partially gold-plated and various motifs are etched into it . Among these are the Swedish coat of arms and scenes from the reports of the patriarchs Joseph and Moses in the 1st and 5th book of Moses of the Old Testament . It is assumed that Gustav Wasa wanted to compare himself with the biblical ancestors, because like Joseph he saw himself as an upstart and because he believed, just like Moses, to have led a people out of foreign tutelage.

Gustav Wasa's older imperial sword (Treasury No. 14)

The blade of the second imperial sword is older than the blade of the sword described above. It is probably the sword that Erik XIV was presented with at his coronation. Its stiff blade with humps and blood groove (actually a groove to make the weapon lighter) identified it as a typical knight's sword. It also has a fully serviceable push tip. There are also numerous etchings on this partially gold-plated blade, which were incorporated in the famous episcopal workshops in Passau, Bavaria . The motifs of the etchings come from Roman history: C. Mucius Scaevola in front of the Etruscan king Porsenna as well as Emperor Trajan and the widow (Trajan's nobility), they are reproductions of Albrecht Dürer's paintings in the Nuremberg town hall .

In connection with the coronation of Erik XIV, the sword received its present hilt in Stockholm. This is adorned with gold and silver inlays . Further additions, such as covering the handle, were added in the 18th century. The 132.5 cm long sword includes two scabbards, the first with fittings from 1581 and the second made by the court swordsmith Johan Tiberg in 1808.

Anointing horn

The anointing horn of Charles IX. (Treasury No. 15)

The Swedish anointing horn

The Swedish-born goldsmith Peter Kiämpe created this anointing horn in 1606 for the coronation of Charles IX. in the following year.

The horn kept the oil that the Archbishop of the Church of Sweden anointed the kings and queens with during the coronation ceremony before they were crowned. In this way, the new ruler received rule by God's grace . Similar anointing horns are also found in the regalia of Great Britain and Norway .

After Queen Christina's coronation, the anointing horn officially lost its status as part of the imperial regalia, although it was still used at coronations.

The 15.5 cm high and 12 cm wide anointing horn has a weight of 255.5 g and is characterized by a high level of detail. It is similar in its shape to a Krummhorn and has a base with which it is z. B. can be placed on an altar . The horn and base are made of solid gold and have enamelled ornaments and other decorations. In addition, there are several gemstones, including 10 diamonds and 14 rubies on the item. The rubies come from Karelia , which was part of the Swedish Empire at that time. They are therefore called "Karelian garnets ".

At the top is a lid with small sculptures, which is connected to the upper part of the base with a gold chain. At the other end is a sculpture of the Roman goddess of justice Justitia , who is shown as usual with scales and sword in her hands. The tiny scale consists of 12 parts and can be described as a masterpiece of goldsmithing.

Other items in the treasury related to the royal family

Jewelery for coronations and other official occasions

The treasury exhibits listed below used to be counted among the regalia.

  • Prachtrapier (Treasury No. 25)
  • Great Cross of the North Star Order (Treasury No. 26: 3)
  • Great Cross of the Order of the Sword (Treasury No. 26: 4)
  • Great Cross of the Royal Order of the Seraphines (Treasury No. 26: 5)
  • Adolf Friedrich's breast star (treasury no.26: 7)
  • Breast star for the Order of the Seraphine (Treasury No. 26: 8)
  • Sword for the Great Cross of the Order of the Swords (Treasury No. 26: 9)
  • the order of Charles XIII. (Treasury No. 26:10)
  • Great Cross of the Vasa Order (Treasury No. 26:12)
  • Hat decoration with fastening arrangement (Treasury No. 26:13)
  • the ermine coat of Oskar II.

The cases of the regalia

The cases of the regalia do not belong to the exhibits of the treasury. The Erik crown, for example, has a leather case with a velvet lining that was made in 1826. The container for Erik's scepter, on the other hand, was built in 1772 and is lined with light blue velvet. The Maria Eleonora crown was stored in the oldest preserved case; it was manufactured in 1606.

Storage and maintenance of the shelves

The task of keeping and looking after the imperial regalia and other crown jewels has been taken over by a special office, Kammarkollegiet (financial and administrative service agency , actually "College of the Chamber"). Already in 1594 a corresponding instruction was sent to the predecessor of the office (at that time Räntekammaren or Kammaren , " Rentenkammer ", "(treasure) chamber") and it has been repeated in every regulation for this agency. The imperial regalia are noted in a special register in the office and, according to the old rules , should be kept locked four times .

For each lock, the same number of key officers ( nyckelbevarare ), who are appointed by the Kammarkollegiet, take responsibility. The four key officials are traditionally the four office directors of the same office, the so-called chamber councilors (the designation ”Nyckelbevarare” can only be found in the last instructions, previously only the directors had this task). According to the key regulations, all four key officials must therefore be present when a display case with the imperial insignia is opened, since the four different keys must be used together to release the locks. In the past, these key regulations related to several boxes that were housed in the vault of the Swedish Reichsbank and that contained the imperial insignia. (This building is now part of the converted Swedish Reichstag building .) Before the shelves were used, they were examined by two jewelers and after they were returned, the jewelery experts checked that no part had been lost.

According to the applicable instructions, the permission of the college is also required if the shelves are to be used for another sovereign ceremony, for example, or if photos are planned to be taken in the treasury. The instruction also states that the regalia should be kept in a location approved by the government (in older versions, the royal majesty). Since 1970 this square has been the treasury of Stockholm Castle. The government must approve the temporary placement of the regalia in other locations.

Storage locations of the shelves at different times

Gustav II Adolf receives delegates from Holland in the audience hall of Tre Kronor Castle, parts of the regalia are visible on the table by the throne.

Until the fire of 1697, the regalia were stored in the treasury vault of Tre Kronor Castle . The exact location of this vault is not known, but it is believed that it was in the northern part near the magnificent audience hall. The regalia were occasionally brought to this copper-vaulted hall in the northeast tower for receptions or ceremonies. Parts of the regalia (crown, scepter, orb) can be seen on a painting in which Gustav II Adolf welcomes Dutch ambassadors.

After the fire, the regalia were in the Wrangel Palace , which was converted into the temporary residence of the royal family. Almost half a century was still being built on the new Stockholm Palace. From 1723 the regalia were temporarily transferred to a chamber in the rooms of the Chamber College. After the failed coup d'état by Queen Luise Ulrike in 1756 (see section Luise-Ulrike-Krone), the chamber became the definitive repository. The chambers used were in different buildings, as the chamber council moved several times. Among other things, the chamber was located in the knight's house for six years from 1802 .

From 1907 to 1970 the Regalien found a new domicile in the Swedish Reichsbank.

The new treasury

South portal of Stockholm Castle, the entrance to the treasury

In 1970 the regalia came to their current exhibition location, the treasury in Stockholm Palace. There are shelf rooms specially set up for this purpose in the basement of the southern wing of the building under the Reichssaal. The high security requirements were guaranteed by modern display cases. The then palace architect Sven Ivar Lind and the first general manager Stig Fogelmarck are responsible for these cabinets and the rest of the exhibition . The treasury can be visited for an entrance fee, making the imperial regalia accessible to the public for the first time.

Disputes about administrative and determination law

Already in the Middle Ages the opinion developed that the regalia, and above all the crown, belong to the kingdom or state and only symbolize the king's power . Under Erik XIV this was the general view of all the institutions of the Swedish Empire, mainly due to the fact that the Erik crown was made from state funds. This principle then had to be defended against royal claims several times. Various monarchs demanded unlimited power over the regalia.

In the following events, the authorities of the empire fended off a change of principle by the royal family:

  • Duke Karl (later Karl IX.) Defended the property rights of the state against his nephew Sigismund , who, in addition to his Swedish royal title, was also the ruler of Poland . Sigismund wanted to export the regalia to Poland.
  • Maria Eleonora's request to use the regalia in 1632 to return the remains of Gustav II Adolf to Sweden was rejected by Axel Oxenstierna .
  • Queen Christina wanted to take the regalia with her to Italy after her abdication , which she was denied.
  • In 1723 the Chamber College had a dispute with Friedrich I and Ulrike Eleonora , in which the College clarified the property rights of the state. Due to ongoing mutual distrust, the regalia were relocated from the royal rooms (at that time the Wrangelsche Palais). After the failed coup in 1756, the college was confirmed.

literature

  • Bertil Hanström (Ed.): Lilla Uppslagsboken. Volume 5: Imc - Krå. 2. omarbetade och utvidgade upplagan. Norden, Malmo 1976.
  • Sven T. Kjellberg, S. Artur Svensson (ed.): Slott och herresieten i Sverige. Ett konst- och Kulturhistoriskt samlingsverk. De kungliga sloted. Volume 1: Boo von Malmborg: Kungliga slottet i Stockholm, Drottningholm, Ulriksdal och Sofiero. Allhems, Malmö 1971.
  • Ulla Landergren (Red.): Skattkammaren. Rikets regalier och dyrbarheter. Kungliga Husgerådskammaren - Skattkammaren, Stockholm 1987, ISBN 91-85726-24-9 .
  • Minneshafts with fixed program. Hans Majestät Konung Gustaf V: s åttioårsdag 19 16/6 38. Åhlén & Åkerlund, Stockholm 1938.
  • När Var Hur. 1952, ISSN  0347-3333 .

Web links

Commons : Crowns of Swedish kings and queens  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f När Var Hur 1953 , p. 152.
  2. ^ Imperial regalia on the website of the Swedish royal family
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j När Var Hur 1953 , Stockholm 1952, p. 154.
  4. ↑ a b c d e f När Var Hur 1953 , p. 157.
  5. ↑ När Var Hur 1953 , p. 152 and p. 156.
  6. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab Skattkammaren: Rikets regalier och dyrbarheter , 1987.
  7. ↑ Information according to Skattkammaren: Rikets regalier och dyrbarheter , 1987. Information on, for example, manufacturer and year of manufacture can also be found in Slott och herresäter i Sverige. De kungliga slotten I. 1971, pp. 98-101 and pp. 102-103 and in När Var Hur 1953 , Stockholm 1952, pp. 152-153.
  8. ↑ a b c När Var Hur 1953 , p. 153.
  9. ↑ a b Value from När Var Hur 1953, Fig. II between p. 152 and 153.
  10. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Information from Skattkammaren: Rikets regalier och dyrbarheter 1987. Information on manufacturer and year of manufacture can also be found in Slott och herresäter i Sverige. De kungliga slotten I 1971, pp. 98-101 and p. 102-103, and in När Var Hur 1953 , p. 154.
  11. ↑ Skattkammaren: Rikets regalier och dyrbarheter , 1987; and from När Var Hur 1953 , pp. 154–155.
  12. ↑ a b c d e f g h i När Var Hur 1953 , p. 155.
  13. ↑ När Var Hur 1953 , p. 155 and p. 156.
  14. ↑ a b c d e f Information from Skattkammaren: Rikets regalier och dyrbarheter 1987. Information on the manufacturer and year can also be found in Slott och herresäter i Sverige. De kungliga slotten I 1971, pp. 98-101 and pp. 102-103 and in När Var Hur 1953 , p. 155.
  15. ↑ a b Krona med revolutionsideal ( Memento of the original from August 28, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on royalcourt.se (Swedish) with illustration @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.royalcourt.se
  16. ↑ När Var Hur 1953 , pp. 155–156.
  17. ↑ a b c Information from the caption on panel IV between pp. 152 and 153 in När Var Hur 1953 .
  18. ↑ a b Information from Skattkammaren: Rikets regalier och dyrbarheter 1987; and När Var Hur 1953 , p. 156.
  19. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n När Var Hur 1953 , p. 156.
  20. ↑ Image of the crown ( Memento of the original from September 13, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on the pages of the treasury @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.royalcourt.se
  21. ↑ Illustration of the hat ( Memento of the original dated February 3, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , right, 2nd picture from the top @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / lrk.lsh.se
  22. ↑ Compare pictures Category: Archducal_coronet and Category: Archducal hats on Wikimedia Commons.
  23. ↑ Compare pictures in the article rank crown .
  24. ↑ See pictures in Category: Suecia antiqua et hodierna at Wikimedia Commons , among other things, this applies to the Duchies of Finland ( Varsinais-Suomi , Finland proper), Satakunta (called Ducatus Finlandiae Septentrionalis Duchy of Northern Finland) and Scania , but in a slightly different form.
  25. ↑ a b c Lilla Uppslagsboken 1973, Volume 5, Column 1141.
  26. ↑ Crown jewels stolen: Filmreifer Coup in Schweden orf.at, August 1, 2018, accessed August 1, 2018.
  27. ↑ a b helmet crown ( memento of the original from August 20, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. on the pages of the armaments chamber @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / lrk.lsh.se
  28. ↑ När Var Hur 1953 p. 158
  29. ↑ a b c Information from Skattkammaren: Rikets regalier och dyrbarheter , 1987. The information on the manufacturer and year of manufacture can also be found in other documents
  30. ↑ Information from the text on Table III between pp. 152 and 153 in När Var Hur 1953 .
  31. ^ According to Table III between pp. 152 and 153 in När Var Hur 1953 .
  32. ↑ a b Information from the caption on p. 157 in När Var Hur 1953 , where an open case with the Erik's crown is shown.
  33. ↑ När Var Hur 1953 , p. 157 and according to Table III between p. 152 and 153 in the same book.
  34. ↑ Ordinance (1994: 634) with instructions for the Office Kammarkollegiet 6 §, 1st point.
  35. ↑ a b c d e f g h Information from Skattkammaren: Rikets regalier och dyrbarheter , 1987. Information about the production and the year of production are also in Slott och herresäter i Sverige. De kungliga slotten I 1971, pp. 98-101 and pp. 102-103 and can be found in När Var Hur 1953 , p. 157
  36. ↑ a b c d e f g Website of the Kammarkollegiet Office on imperial insignia and crown jewels (as of December 2008). ( Memento of the original of July 14, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.kammarkollegiet.se
  37. ↑ Riksregalier . In: Theodor Westrin, Ruben Gustafsson Berg (eds.): Nordisk familjebok konversationslexikon och realencyklopedi . 2nd Edition. tape 23 : Retzius – Ryssland . Nordisk familjeboks förlag, Stockholm 1916, Sp. 382 (Swedish, runeberg.org ).
  38. ↑ När Var Hur 1953 , pp. 156–157.