Astate coach, also known as agala coach, is a highly decorative ceremonialcoach used in Europe by a monarch or head of state onstate occasions. A four-wheeled vehicle for four passengers, it may be drawn at a walk by six or more horses withpostilions, or be driven by two or more horses. The term is also used to indicate a formal town coach used by nobility and the wealthy for formal occasions, drawn by a pair of matching horses.[1]: 154 [2]: 101, 102
Astate chariot, also called agala chariot ordress chariot, is an elaborately decorated four-wheeled vehicle for two passengers for ceremonial occasions; often the front panel is replaced by a glass panel or windscreen.[1]: 44, 154 [2]: 85 The wordchariot was used in England, andcoupé in France.[3]: 95
The first state coach was built in the mid-1500s byWalter Rippon for theState Opening of Parliament,[4]: 72 [5]: 20 and most had been built by 1840.[2]: 102 State coaches are still used for royal weddings and other state ceremonial events.[4]
State coaches were built by the bestcoachbuilders with excellent craftsmanship and the finest finishes. Most state coaches have large glass windows so that their passengers can be seen by spectators. The interiors are trimmed in silks and the exteriors decorated with elaborate paintings, figures,coats of arms,gilt-work, andhammercloths. Thecoachman andfootmen wear statelivery and the horses are harnessed with ornate state harness.[4]: 255–6
The coachmen, footmen, and postilions on state coaches wore ornate livery to match the grandeur of the coaches themselves. ... dressed in appropriately ornate livery coats, richly embellished with gold cords and strappings, worn with silk knee breeches, silk stockings, buckled shoes, and acocked hat.
— Thomas Ryder,Fashion on Wheels[3]: 94
Many state coaches were constructed to be convertible. They can be driven by acoachman from a driver's seat in the front, usually covered by an elaboratehammercloth, or the seat can be removed and the carriage is guided bypostilion riders and outriders. A carriage arranged for postilion may have "à la Daumont" appended to its name. "Daumont" is a corruption of the Frenchd'Aumont from the 8thDuke of Aumont who preferred this manner of travel.[2]: 121 [1]: 62
Early state coaches in England were drawn by cream-colored horses ofHanoverian blood. In the early 1920s they were replaced byblack horses. Now,teams of grey horses are used for the Sovereign, andbay horses are used for other passengers.[4]: 97, 255–6
Another type of state coach is the cardinal's coach, which was painted red and used by cardinals.[1]: 48 [2]: 97
| Image | Name | Built[a] | State[b] | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Bridal Coach | 1560-1561 | Germany | Veste Coburg Coburg | Golden bridal coach ofDorothea of Denmark reused for the 1599 wedding of her daughterMargaret withDuke John Casimir |
 | Bridal Coach | 1586 | Germany | Veste Coburg Coburg | Golden bridal coach built for the 1586 wedding ofAnna of Saxony withDuke John Casimir |
 | Golden Coach for the Imperial Embassy to Pope Urban VIII | 1638 | Czech Republic | Český Krumlov Castle Český Krumlov | Built in Rome forJohan Anton I von Eggenberg, Imperial ambassador to the Holy See |
_(50300676418).jpg) | State Coach of Maria Francisca of Savoy, Queen of Portugal | 1666 | Portugal | National Coach Museum Lisbon | Brought from France byMaria Francisca of Savoy on the occasion of her wedding toPeter II of Portugal |
 | Swedish Coronation Coach | 1696-1699, 1751 | Sweden | Livrustkammaren Stockholm | Built in Paris forCharles XI, refurbished in 1751 |
 | Speaker's State Coach | 1698 | United Kingdom | Palace of Westminster London | Built forWilliam III |
.jpg) | State Coach of Maria Anna of Austria, Queen of Portugal | 1708 | Portugal | National Coach Museum Lisbon | Given by theHoly Roman Emperor to his sisterMaria Anna of Austria on the occasion of her marriage toJohn V of Portugal |
.jpg) | State Coach of the Oceans | 1716 | Portugal | National Coach Museum Lisbon | Built in Rome for thePortuguese ambassador to theHoly See |
.jpg) | State Coach of the Coronation of Lisbon | 1716 | Portugal | National Coach Museum Lisbon | Built in Rome for thePortuguese ambassador to theHoly See |
 | State Coach of the Ambassador | 1716 | Portugal | National Coach Museum Lisbon | Built in Rome for thePortuguese ambassador to theHoly See |
.jpg) | State Coach of King John V | 1720 (c.) | Portugal | National Coach Museum Lisbon | Built in Portugal forJohn V of Portugal |
.jpg) | Imperial Coach | 1735 | Austria | Imperial Carriage Museum Vienna | Built forCharles VI |
 | Coronation coach of Emperor Charles VII | 1742 | Germany | Marstallmuseum Nymphenburg Munich | Built forCharles VII |
 | Lord Mayor of London's State Coach | 1757 | United Kingdom | Museum of London London | Built by Joseph Berry[5]: 145 |
 | Gold State Coach | 1762 | United Kingdom | Royal Mews London | Built forGeorge III[2]: 100 |
 | The Crown Prince's State Coach | 1763-68 | Sweden | Livrustkammaren Stockholm | Built for crown princeGustav |
 | The Queen's Brussels State Coach | 1780 (c.) | Sweden | Livrustkammaren Stockholm | Built by Simons in Brussels for QueenSophia Magdalena of Sweden |
 | Coronation coach of King Maximilian I Joseph | 1806 | Germany | Marstallmuseum Nymphenburg Munich | Built forMaximilian I Joseph |
.jpg) | 'Egiziana' State Coach | 1819 | Italy | Quirinal Palace Rome | Built in Turin after designs by Giacomo Pregliasco forCharles Felix of Sardinia |
 | State Coach for the Baptism of the Duke of Bordeaux | 1821 | France | Galerie des Carrosses Versailles | Built for the Baptism of theDuke of Bordeaux, redecorated 1852-53 for the wedding ofNapoleon III |
.jpg) | 'The Crown' State Coach | 1824 | Portugal | National Coach Museum Lisbon | Built in London forJohn VI |
 | Coronation Coach of Charles X | 1825 | France | Galerie des Carrosses Versailles | Completed for thecoronation of Charles X of France |
 | 'Gran Gala Berlin' State Coach of Pope Leo XII | 1826 | Vatican City | Carriage Pavilion at theVatican Museums Vatican City | Built forPope Leo XII, altered forPope Gregory XVI[6] |
.jpg) | Glass Coach | 1826 | Netherlands | Royal Stables The Hague | Built by Simons in Brussels forWilliam I |
 | State Coach of the Royal Crown | 1829-33 | Spain | Royal Collections Gallery Madrid | Built in Madrid by Julián González forFerdinand VII |
.jpg) | Scottish State Coach | 1830 | United Kingdom | Royal Mews London | Built forPrince Adolphus |
_02.jpg) | Golden Coupé | 1840 | Denmark | Royal Mews and Carriage Museum, Christiansborg Palace Copenhagen | Built forChristian VIII |
 | Coronation Coach of Pedro II of Brazil | 1841 | Brazil | Imperial Museum of Brazil Petrópolis | Built in London for the coronation of EmperorPedro II of Brazil |
.jpg) | Irish State Coach | 1851 | United Kingdom | Royal Mews London | Built byThomas Hutton, and later purchased byQueen Victoria. Replicated byBarkers in 1911 when it was destroyed by fire at their shop[5]: 123 |
.jpeg) | Napoleon III State Coach | 1852 | Belgium | Art & History Museum exhibited atAutoworld Brussels | Built by Ehrler in Paris forNapoleon III Used at the Baptism ofLouis-Napoléon, Prince Imperial |
 | State Coach 'Louise-Marie' | 1855 (c.) | Belgium | Art & History Museum exhibited at thePalace of Laeken Brussels | Built by Jones Frères in Brussels for KingLeopold I of Belgium |
_01.jpg) | Coronation Coach of Alexander II | 1856 | Russia | Tsarskoye Selo State Museum Saint Petersburg | Built by Christian Tatzki in St. Petersburg for the coronation ofAlexander II of Russia |
.jpg) | Emperor Maximilian's State Coach | 1864 | Mexico | Chapultepec Castle Mexico City | Built by Cesare Scala in Milan forMaximilian I of Mexico |
 | Emperor Franz Joseph's State Coach | 1865 | Austria | Imperial Carriage Museum Vienna | Built by Carl Marius for EmperorFranz Joseph I of Austria |
 | Queen Alexandra's State Coach | 1865 | United Kingdom | Royal Mews London | Built as a town coach, later converted to a state coach forQueen Alexandra |
.jpg) | New dress coach of Ludwig II | 1870 | Germany | Marstallmuseum Nymphenburg Munich | Built forLudwig II of Bavaria[3]: 93–4 |
.jpg) | Glass Coach | 1881 | United Kingdom | Royal Mews London | Purchased by the Crown for thecoronation of George V and Mary in 1911 |
 | Cotillion Coach | 1888 | Denmark | Royal Mews and Carriage Museum, Christiansborg Palace Copenhagen | Miniature coach forChristian IX |
.jpg) | Gran Carroza de Gala | 1890 (c.) | Chile | Museo del Carmen de Maipú [es] Santiago | Barouche built by Paris coachbuilderMillion-Guiet for Chile presidentJosé Manuel Balmaceda[7][8] |
 | State Coach of the French Republic | 1896 | France | National Car and Tourism Museum, Compiègne | Built for theFrench President on the occasion of the State visit of CzarNicholas II |
.jpg) | Golden Coach | 1898 | Netherlands | Royal Stables The Hague | Built bySpyker as a gift from the people ofAmsterdam toQueen Wilhelmina |
 | 'Cream Calèche' | 1898 | Netherlands | Royal Stables The Hague | Built by Hermans & Co in The Hague forQueen Emma as a gift to her daughterQueen Wilhelmina |
.jpg) | State Landau | 1902 | United Kingdom | Royal Mews London | Built byHooper forEdward VII; drawn by 6 grey horses with three postilion riders[5]: 122 |
.jpg) | Australian State Coach | 1988 | United Kingdom | Royal Mews London | Built forElizabeth II |
 | Diamond Jubilee State Coach | 2010 | United Kingdom | Royal Mews London | Built forElizabeth II |
![18th century Berlin from France [9]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aBerlinda_da_Casa_Real_-_Museu_Nacional_dos_Coches_-_Lisboa_-_Portugal_(51032221001).jpg)
