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TheDanish Crown Regalia are the symbols of theDanish monarchy. They consist of three crowns, asceptre (symbolizing supreme authority), aglobus cruciger (an orb surmounted by a cross, symbolizing the earthly realm), the sword of state and anampulla (symbolizing the anointing of monarchs).TheDanishRoyal Regalia are kept in the treasury atRosenborg Castle. The oldest of these isChristian III's sword of state from 1551. They includeChristian IV's diamond; pearl- and gold-embroidered saddles; objects carved from ivory and rock-crystal;lapidary pieces of precious stones, andbrooches in the form of fantastic animals.[1]
During the time of theelective monarchs, the clergy and nobility placed the crown on a monarch's head at the coronation ceremony.After the introduction of absolutism in 1660, the crowning of the monarch was replaced byanointment, for which the monarch arrived in church wearing the crown and was consecrated to their calling by being anointed with oil. For the anointing ofChristian V, a new crown was made along with theThrone Chair of Denmark ofnarwhal teeth (supposedly the mythicalunicorn's horn) and three silver lions, the latter created byFerdinand Küblich (1664–1687). This was inspired by the biblical description ofKing Solomon's throne, which was said to be composed of unicorn's horn and gold and guarded by twelve golden lions.[2]
With the 1849 Constitution, anointing was discontinued and since then the regalia have only been used on the occasion of a deceased monarch'slying in state, known inDanish ascastrum doloris ("camp of woe"), where the crown is placed on the coffin, the other regalia laid at the casket's foot, and the casket surrounded by the three lions. The lions were formerly also displayed inParliament during the annual opening session, but this tradition was discontinued almost 100 years ago. They were also displayed before the throne in the throne room ofChristiansborg Palace when Danish monarchs granted audiences on particularly formal occasions.[3]
Thecrown jewels refer to four sets (parures) of jewellery owned by the state for an incumbent queen and, until the point of her abdication, worn by theMargrethe II as Queen of Denmark.[4]
The royal regalia, which symbolised themonarch's authority to rule, includes thecrown of Christian IV, an example of Renaissance guild work, the better knowncrown of Christian V and a smaller crown for the king's consort. The Royal Collection has other important items and jewels, as well as precious prayer-books, and items belonging to theOrder of the Elephant and theOrder of the Dannebrog (such as the large diamond and pearl star of the Order of the Elephant worn on the coronation mantle).
The termold regalia is used to describe the crown regalia used prior to the introduction of absolute monarchy in 1660.
The crown was fashioned byDirich Fyring (1580-1603) atOdense assisted by theNuremberg goldsmithCorvinianus Saur during the years 1595-1596 for the coronation ofChristian IV. It is made of gold, enamel, table cut gemstones and pearls and weighs 2895 g.[5][6][7]
The circlet is ornamented with six sets of table cut diamonds between two large round pearls with enameledputti on either side. Between each of these sets are star-like ornaments of triangular and square table cut diamonds. On the upper rim of the circlet are six large and six smallarabesque-like points. At the center of each of the larger points is an enameled allegorical figure of one of the king's ruling functions and virtues. The three points above the king's forehead and behind each of his ears bears a "pelican in her piety." The point on the right of the king's forehead bears a representation ofFortitude riding a lion, while that on the left bears the image ofJustice as a woman holding a sword and a pair of scales. The point above the back of the king's neck bears the traditional image ofCharity as a mother suckling her child. On the inside these points are decorated with the coats of arms of various regions of the realm. The six smaller points each bears a star-like design in triangular and square table diamonds with a large pear shaped pearl at its top.
Originally an open crown, in 1648 it was closed with arches and amonde and cross, but Christian V later removed these again, using the diamonds and gold from them in the making of his own crown. It was used for the last time at the 1648 coronation ofFrederick III.
Thesword of state ofChristian III was made in 1551 byJohann Siebe. It is made of gilded silver and decorated with enamel and table cut gemstones. Prior to the introduction of absolute monarchy, the sword was the first of the regalia presented to the king.[8]
The sword was used foraccolades and has a blue enamel grip decorated with diamonds.
This crown is the official crown that was used for theanointments of Danish absolute monarchs until the end of absolutism in 1849. The first Danish absolute monarchFrederick III wanted his son and heir-apparent, the laterChristian V, to be in possession of the visible symbols of power at the moment he himself died and his son inherited the title. Therefore, he secretly commissioned several crown regalia, including a crown, to surround the anointing of the absolute monarchs with as much glory as possible.
The crown was first used for the coronation ofChristian V and the last time for the coronation ofChristian VIII in 1840. Today the crown is used as a symbol of the monarchy and the state. Its only ceremonial use is when it is placed on the Castrum doloris of a deceased monarch.
The crown is the visible sign of royal power and was made by the royal goldsmithPaul Kurtz in Copenhagen in the years 1670–1671. As the crown of the first absolute monarch it was made as a closed crown to look different than the open crowns of the elected kings, possibly inspired by the imperialcrown of Charlemagne.[9]
The circlet of the crown is divided in four by two largesapphires, a flat one that can be traced back toFrederick I at the forehead of the wearer (presumably a gift to his father,Christian I, fromGaleazzo Maria Sforza, theDuke of Milan in 1474) and a thicker one at the back of the head and by aspinel at one side and agarnet at the other. The four curved segments of the circlet between these stones is decorated withvolutes made oftable cut diamonds.
On the upper edge of the circlet are eightacanthus leaves, four larger and four smaller ones. These acanthus leaves are decorated with diamond-studded ribs. The front acanthus leaf is decorated with a large table cut diamond with Christian V'sroyal cypher visible behind it. Attached to the backs of each of these acanthus leaves by screws are narrow diamond-studded half arches that meet at the top of the crown to support a sky blue-enameled sphere (monde) decorated with diamonds and with a diamond-studded cross on top. On the top of this cross is acabochonruby. The crown weighs 2080 g.[10]
The queen consortCharlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel was not crowned and did not wear a crown because she belonged to theReformed church and was thus not a member of theChurch of Denmark or because it was thought unnecessary to crown the queen since she had the right to wear any regalia through her marriage with the king.[11]
However all the following queens consort of the absolute monarchs were crowned.Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, the consort of kingFrederick IV, was crowned with a queen's crown made for her, which was also used by Frederick IV to crown her successorAnna Sophie Reventlow. However,Sophia Magdalen of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, the consort of kingChristian VI, did not want to use the crown worn by her predecessor and had a new crown made by royal jewelerFrederik Fabritius (1683–1755) in 1731. This crown is made like that of Christian V but only taller and more slender. It is decorated with table cut diamonds that are assumed to come from the 1648 crown ofQueen Sophie Amalie.[12]
The sceptre was made by an unknown Copenhagen goldsmith for the coronation ofFrederick III in 1648. It is made of gold and ends in an elongated enameled knob at the bottom decorated with diamond-studded ribs and an enameled lily at the top with a royal crown above it.
The globus cruciger is a golden globe decorated with a band of enamel and diamonds. On top of this is a half-circle of enamel and diamonds. It is topped by a diamond-studded cross. The cross represents Christ's dominion over the orb of the world.[13] It was made inHamburg for the coronation ofFrederick III in 1648.
Thesword of state symbolizes the protecting, punishing and judging authority of the king. The sword was originally a wedding present fromChristian IV to the 1643 wedding ofFrederick III. It was used for the anointing of all absolute monarchs and probably also for the coronation ofFrederick III.
Its cross-guard and grip is decorated with gemstones. The scabbard has a diamond-studdedChape, is covered in red velvet and is decorated with the coats of arms of different parts of the realm. Above each coat of arms is a small diamond-studded crown.
Theampulla, used to contain theanointing oil, is a goldcylinder and its lid enameled with a variety of flowers and studded with table cut diamonds made by an unknown Copenhagen goldsmith for the coronation ofFrederick III in 1648.[14]