Hungarian royal crown
Take a close look at the crown that once rested on heads of the Hungarian kings. One of the oldest coronation gems in the world now n Bratislava.
All the gems used were custom-cut abroad according to the shape and proportions of the original gems. The crown is made of silver and gold-plated in the final step, with a total weight of more than 2 kilograms. Under the auspices of master jeweler Augustín Hôrka from the Mikuš Diamonds family jewelry workshop, the best worked on it.
You can see the crown from Friday to Sunday August 16 to 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Old Town Hall for a special admission fee of 4 Euros for adults, 2 Euros for children, students and senior citizens.
As part of the special entrance fee, you will have the opportunity to continue the tour on the given floor and thus naturally connect to the theme of coronations in the Old Town Hall exhibition (Court Hall, Council Chamber, Chapel of St. Ladislaus, Tower Room, City Administration, Coronations, Nobility, Story of the Old Town Hall , Crafts and Guilds, Trade, Industry, Associations, Danube).
Expressed in the language of numbers
The work on the replica required more than 1,000 hours of jewelry making, 362 hand-set natural pearls and 98 gemstones, of which up to 85 pieces are of natural origin – almandines, amethysts, roses, malachite and chrysoprase.
Sacra Corona Regni Hungariae
The original crown is known as St. Stephen’s crown, because it is attributed to the legend that the first head on which it was placed during the coronation was the head of the first Hungarian king St. Stefan. It was the inaugural crown, the most important royal insignia, which was guarded under the supervision of the crown guards and the public had the opportunity to see it in principle only during the coronation on the head of the new monarch.
The Museum of the City of Bratislava is bringing the crown back
During the Bratislava Coronation Days, you have a unique opportunity to view a replica of the Hungarian crown in the historic courtroom of the Old Town Hall. The entrance fee will be reduced to 4 Euros, for children, students and senior citizens 2 Euros, family tickets 9 and 5 Euros, school groups 1 Euro per person. Entry is free for SEN, children under 6 years old, pedagogical supervision for 10 pupils.
Production of a replica in a family jewelry workshop
In addition to the crown, the crown jewels of the Hungarian kings also include a sword, cloak, scepter and apple. They belong to one of the oldest preserved insignias in the world.
Medallions on the holy crown
Take a closer look at the elaborate renderings:
Pantokrator
On the upper part of the crossed arches, the so-called of the Latin crown is Pantokrator (=All-powerful, Omnipotent), lord and creator of heaven and earth, who separated light from darkness. To his right is the Sun with eight rays and to his left the Moon with nine dots, probably symbolizing stars or planets. On the sides of the throne are stylized trees (cypress or cedar) – trees of life.
Apostles
On the upper part of the crown, along the arms of the arches, there are eight apostles with the Latin inscriptions SCS, meaning sanctus = holy.
Jesus Christ
In the center of the front hoop, Jesus Christ is depicted with the Greek monograms IC (Jesus) – XC (Christos).
Archangels
On the hoop, there are two archangels turned towards the figure of Christ: Saint Michael, the leader of the heavenly representatives, the conqueror of Lucifer, a fighter and protector against the forces of evil, and on the other side, Saint Gabriel, the angel of annunciation and grace.
Saints
On the hoop, next to Archangel Michael, there is another warrior – St. George, a Roman soldier who died as a martyr during the time of Emperor Diocletian and is known mainly from the legend of the fight with the dragon. On the other side next to Archangel Gabriel is Saint Demeter.
Monarchs
They form the back three characters. Michal is in the center, holding a sword in his left hand, a labarum in his right, and a crown with jewels and pendants on his head. The second is probably Constantine VII. Porphyrogenetus, the crown was the Byzantine emperor in the years 912-959. Finally, on the back of the hoop is probably King Geiza I.
Source: Marta Rajková – Theories of the origin of the crown of Hungarian royalty and Mikuš Diamonds
