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The Talisman of Chalemagne

The Talisman of Charlemagne is believed to have been worn throughout his reign, but that belief has been seriously questioned by scholars. It is also believed to have been passed down for generations, from historical figures such as Charlemagne, Napoleon I, Empress Josephine, Hortense de Beauharnais, Napoleon III, and Empress Eugenie. However, in regards to its connection to Charlemagne, no relic matching the description of this talisman has been found buried with the body according to early exhumation reports in the years 1000 C.E. and 1166 C.E. The talisman has been recorded with other relics of the Cathedral of Aachen where Charlemagne was buried, hence why scholars believe this talisman may be connected to him in some way. Later accounts of this relic describe it as containing the hair of the Virgin Mary and fragments of the True Cross. In August of 1804, the talisman was gifted to Napoleon I by the bishop of the cathedral according to newspapers of the time titled Moniteur, the Gazette de France, and the Journal du Commerce. It is believed that before this exchange, the bishop could have removed the hair of the Virgin Mary, as it is no longer mentioned in manuscripts after this. However, remnants of the true cross remained in it, fastened by silk string native to India during the late eighteenth and late nineteenth centuries. It was then passed down to Empress Josephine during her divorce from Napoleon I, and then given to Hortense de Beauharnais at her mother's passing. She then passed it down to her son, Napoleon III, who would later sell it after facing imprisonment in 1836 C.E.

The main setting of the talisman is comprised of pure gold, suggesting its creation to be set in the Middle Ages. The gold chain itself that is attached to the main portion of the talisman is dated to be created in the nineteenth century, as it is constructed from a more recent alloy. The precious stones themselves are believed to have been replaced during restoration, but it still believed to be dated back to as early as the ninth century according to the chemical makeup of the pearls specifically. The emeralds are believed to have been from Egypt, the sapphires from Ceylon, and the garnets from both Ceylon and India. However, the origin of the amethysts remains unknown to scientists and scholars. The front center gemstone although is believed to originally have contained a large blue sapphire has been replaced with a blue glass cabochon around the eighteenth century.

The Talisman of Charlemagne from three different angles from Enrst Aus'm Weerth (1866). Photos by G. Panczer AdiraMavros (talk) 16:18, 25 April 2023 (UTC)