Crown of Bolesław I the Brave

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Crown of Bolesław I the Brave
Corona Privilegiata
Replica of the crown from 2003
Heraldic depictions
Details
CountryPoland
Made1320 (original), 2003 (replica)
Destroyed1811 (original)
Weight1.28 kg (2.8 lb) (replica)
Arches2
MaterialGold, silver (replica)
Other elementsRubies, garnets, emeralds, sapphires and pearls
Detailed drawing by Krzysztof Józef Werner of a part of the crown before 1794. The drawing was used for the reconstruction in 2001-2003

The Crown of Bolesław I the Brave (

Ladislaus the Short in 1320 and symbolised the regalia bestowed upon Bolesław I the Brave by Emperor Otto III over three centuries earlier. Following the Partitions of Poland, the crown along with other insignia was stolen from the royal treasury at Wawel Castle in Kraków
and melted down.

According to historical accounts, the crown was two-arched, made of gold and featured 474 uncut gemstones on a fleur-de-lis setting.[1] Its near-exact replica from 2003 comprises salvaged gold from the original. In its present state, the crown is 26 centimetres (10 in) tall, 18.5 centimetres (7.3 in) in inner diameter and weighs 1.28 kilograms (2.8 lb).[2]

History

The exact origins of the Polish crown are unknown. According to legend, the story dates back to the

Ladislaus the Short and survived until the 18th century.[3]

The crown along with the

St. John's Cathedral, Warsaw, the crown was transported from Kraków to Warsaw for the last time. It returned to Wawel Castle where it remained until its theft.[3]

The seizure of Kraków by the

Prussian army in 1794 had dramatic consequences. The crown treasury was plundered and the royal insignia robbed and later melted down on the order of King Frederick William II of Prussia, who experienced financial hardship during the Napoleonic Wars. Out of the gold, a number of coins were minted in 1811 in Königsberg.[4]

Reconstruction

Based on historical drawings, paintings, descriptions and using a number of Prussian coins believed to have been minted from the gold of the crown in 1811, a team led by Adam Orzechowski of Nowy Sącz produced a recreation in 2001-2003.[5]

The replica crown is made out of 21 oz . gold, 21 oz . silver, 11 synthetic

royal purple silk velvet, likely similar to the dimensions of the original crown.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ Gloger, Zygmunt (1896). "Ksie̜ga rzeczy polskich: Opracował G".
  2. ^ a b "Jak Powstawały Repliki" (in Polish). Historia Repliki Polskich Insygniów Koronacyjnych. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Zarys Historii Regaliów Królestwa Polskiego" (in Polish). Historia Repliki Polskich Insygniów Koronacyjnych. Archived from the original on 5 May 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
  4. ^ "KRADZIEŻ I ZNISZCZENIE…".
  5. ^ "Idea Odtworzenia Regaliów" (in Polish). Historia Repliki Polskich Insygniów Koronacyjnych. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 4 August 2010.

Further reading

External links

Media related to Crown of Bolesław I the Brave at Wikimedia Commons


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