Crown jewels

Crown jewels are those that belong to the sovereign and pass to the next sovereign to symbolize the right to rule. They usually include one or more crowns, scepters, orbs, swords, and/or rings. Please see also under regalia.

Benin

Dahomey Kingdom

Burundi

The traditional emblem of the Mwami (king) was the Karyenda drum. These holy drums were kept at special drum-sanctuaries throughout the country and were brought out for special ceremonies only. One such place is in Gitega.

Central African Republic

see Emperor Bokassa and Central African Empire

Ethiopia

The crown jewels of Ethiopia are in Axum.

Ghana

see Ashanti Kingdom

Rwanda

Close to the old capital of Butare lies the nearby Nyabisindu, formerly known as Nyanza, the traditional seat of Rwanda’s monarchy. The Royal Palace at Nyanza, a domed construction made with traditional materials, has been restored to its 19th century state and is now maintained as a museum. Further historical artefacts are kept at the National Museum in Butare.

Virtual Rwanda | Nyanza Royal Palace

Rwanda Tourism | Kigali & Butare

South Africa

see Zulu Kingdom

Tanzania

• Zanzibar

Uganda

• see Buganda Kingdom
• see Toro Kingdom
• see Ankole Kingdom
• see Bunyoro Kingdom

Burma

• Pagan

India

The Imperial Crown of India is kept at the Tower of London.

see Princely States

see Moghul Empire

Indonesia

• see Jogjakarta Sultanate

• see Surakarta Sultanate

Iran (Persia)

Iran has a big collection of royal treasures dating from the Safavid dynasty, to Nader Shah, the Qajar dynasty, especially by Fath Ali Shah and Nasser-al-Din Shah, and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The Imperial Jewels are on display at the Central Bank in Tehran, Iran.

Imperial Jewels of Iran

Japan

• The Japanese imperial regalia (Jp: 三種の神器; "Sanshu no Jingi", or "Three Sacred Treasures") consist of the holy sword, holy jewel, and the holy mirror. They are kept at various Shinto shrines in Central Japan.

Laos

• see Luang Prabang

Vietnam

• Annam

Austria (Austro-Hungarian Empire, Holy Roman Empire)

Imperial Crown of Austria

The Austrian Crown Jewels are all kept at the Imperial Treasury (in German: Schatzkammer) located in the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. They are a collection of imperial regalia and jewels dating from 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 Insignia of the Austrian Hereditary Homage
• The Empire of Austria
• The Habsburg-Lorraine Household Treasure
• The Holy Roman Empire
• The Burgundian Inheritance and the Order of the Golden Fleece
• The Ecclesiastical Treasury

The most outstanding objects are the insignia of the hereditary Empire of Austria. They consist of the Imperial Crown, the Imperial Orb and the mantle of the Austrian Empire, and the Coronation Robes of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia. The Imperial Crown, Orb, Cross, and Holy Lance of the Holy Roman Empire are also highlights.

Czech Kingdom (Bohemia)

The jewels (korunovační klenoty in Czech), and the Crown of Saint Wenceslas of Bohemia (Svatováclavská koruna) are kept in Prague Castle (Pražský hrad) and are displayed to public only occasionally.

The crown is named and dedicated after the King Wenceslas I (Christian King and Patron Saint) of the Premyslids dynasty of Bohemia. The crown has an unusual design, with vertical 'fleurs-de-lis' standing at the front, back and sides. Made from gold and precious stones, its weight is 2.475 kg.

It was made for King Charles I in 1346. Since 1867 it is definitely stored in St. Vitus Cathedral of Prague Castle. The jewels have always played an important role as a symbol of Bohemian statehood.

Links (all text in Czech language):

• History of jewels
• Pictures and details (requires QuickTime)

Denmark

The crown jewels of Denmark are on display at Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen.

France

What is left of the crown jewels of France are on display in the Louvre in Paris. See French Crown Jewels

Germany

• Bavaria

In 1806, Napoleon I Bonaparte conquered the Holy Roman Empire. He restructered the many german states and the Duchy of Bavaria was promoted to a 'Kingdom'. The ruling Wittelsbach Duke became Maximilian I became King of Bavaria. With his new status, the King ordered new regalia to be made. It can be seen today in the Treasury of The Residenz Palace in Munich.

The Bavarian Coronation Set consists of the Crown of Bavaria, the Crown of the Queen (originally made for Maximilian's Queen, Caroline Frederika of Baden, the State Sword, the Royal Orb, and the Royal Sceptre.

Residenz in Munich

• Baden

• Hanover

• Hessen

• Mecklenburg

• Prussia

• Saxony

• Würtemberg

Hungary

File:Saint Stephen Crown.jpg

St. Stephen Crown of Hungary

The crown jewels of Hungary are on display in the Parliament Building in Budapest. See Crown of St. Stephen

Ireland

• Irish Crown Jewels

Italy

• Lombardy

the Iron Crown of the Kingdom of Lombardy is kept at the Cathedral of Monza. The coronation robe is kept in the Schatzkammer in Vienna, Austria.

Poland

Hilt of Szczerbiec

Only survived part of Polish Crown Jewels is ceremonial sword - Szczerbiec. It is currently on display in the Wawel Royal Castle Museum, Kraków.

Russia

The coronation regalia, such as the Great Imperial Crown, the Imperial Orb of Catherine II the Great, the Imperial Sceptre with the Orlov diamond, the Shah diamond, and others are kept at the Kremlin Armory Museum in Moscow.

Jewels of the Romanovs: Treasures of the Russian Imperial Court

United Kingdom

(See Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom)

File:Insight may03 focus beaton large.jpg

Some of the English and British crown jewels being held by Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom They include the Imperial State Crown, the Sceptre with the Cross, and the Sovereign's Orb.

• England

The crown jewels of England are kept in the Tower of London.

External link to Crown Jewels webpage)

• Scotland

The "Honours of Scotland", are on display in Edinburgh Castle.

• Wales

The "Honours of the Principality of Wales".

Vatican

• The Papal Tiara is kept in the Vatican City, Italy.

Brazil

Brazilian Imperial Crown

The Imperial Crown is kept at the Imperial Museum (Museu Imperial) in the former palace of Brazilian emperor Pedro II, in Petrópolis, Brazil.

Museu Imperial