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.
Africa
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.
Central African Republic
see Emperor Bokassa and Central African Empire
Egypt
Ethiopia
The crown jewels of Ethiopia are in Axum.
Ghana
see Ashanti Kingdom
Libya
Morocco
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
Tunisia
Uganda
Asia
Bhutan
Burma
Brunei
Cambodia
China
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.
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.
Korea
Laos
- see Luang Prabang
Malaysia
Mongolia
Nepal
Thailand (Siam)
Vietnam
Europe
Austria (Austro-Hungarian Empire, Holy Roman Empire)
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.
Belgium
Bulgaria
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):
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.
- Baden
- Hanover
- Hessen
- Mecklenburg
- Prussia
- Saxony
- Würtemberg
Greece
Hungary
The crown jewels of Hungary are on display in the Parliament Building in Budapest. See Crown of St. Stephen
Ireland
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.
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Monaco
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Only survived part of Polish Crown Jewels is ceremonial sword - Szczerbiec. It is currently on display in the Wawel Royal Castle Museum, Kraków.
Spain
Sweden
Portugal
Romania
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)
- 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.
Latin America
Brazil
The Imperial Crown is kept at the Imperial Museum (Museu Imperial) in the former palace of Brazilian emperor Pedro II, in Petrópolis, Brazil.