TheSteel Crown of Romania is thecoronation crown and principal symbol of the deposedRomanian monarchy. The crown was forged at theArmy Arsenal (Arsenalul Armatei) inBucharest from the steel of a cannon captured by theRomanian Army from theOttomans during itsWar of Independence.
Carol I, the first king ofRomania, chose steel, and not gold, to symbolize the bravery of the Romanian soldiers. He received it during the ceremonies of his coronation and of the proclamation ofRomania as akingdom in 1881. It is the same Crown used in 1922 at thecoronation ofKing Ferdinand I andQueen Maria as sovereigns of Romania, which took place inAlba-Iulia. The Crown was used also during the coronation[1] andanointing as King ofMichael I by theOrthodoxPatriarch of Romania,Nicodim Munteanu, in thePatriarchal Cathedral ofBucharest, on the very day of his second accession, 6 September 1940.[2]
Thecoat of arms of Romania was augmented on 11 July 2016 to add a representation of the Steel Crown.[3]
A copy of the crown was placed on the coffin of the last king of Romania,Michael I, duringhis funeral in December 2017.[4]
