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Polish crown jewels

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Replicas of Bolesław Chrobry's crown jewels.

The only surviving original piece of the Polish Crown Jewels from the time of the Piast dynasty is the ceremonial sword - Szczerbiec. It is currently on display along with other preserved royal items in the Wawel Royal Castle Museum, Kraków.

Several royal crowns were made, including several during the 16th Century, a "Hungarian Crown", a "Swedish Crown" used by the Vasa kings, and others that were subsequently lost or destroyed. The crown jewels used by the Saxon kings and some reminders of the Polish monarchs (like a cup of Queen Jadwiga so-called roztruchan, or magnificent karacena armour of King Jan III Sobieski appropriated by Frederick Augustus I, Elector of Saxony[1][2][3]) are today displayed in the Grünes Gewölbe and the Rüstkammer in Dresden, Germany.

Components

According to an inventory of the State Treasury at the Wawel in performed in 1633 by the Kanclerz Ossoliński, the Crown Regalia (Jewels) of the Rzeczpospolita (kept in 5 chests) consists of:

Sigismund III on catafalque displayed in the Guard Chamber at the Royal Castle in Warsaw (fragment). Painted by Christian Melich, ca. 1632. The King was depicted with the "Muscovy Crown" on his head and the "Swedish Crown" put on a pillow next to him.
"Swedish Crown", detail of a portrait of Władysław IV of Poland in coronation robes.
Portrait of King Sigismund III Vasa in coronation robes (detail), Pieter Claesz. Soutman, ca. 1626. The King is wearing the "Muscovy Crown".
Coronation robe of Władysław IV of Poland (detail) with Polish and Swedish Coats of arms.
Silver regalia of King Augustus III of Poland and Queen Maria Josepha.

Also a private treasury of the Vasas (kept at the Royal Castle in Warsaw) consisted of:

All of the Crown Regalia were robbed by the Germans (except for the "Muscovy Crown") in 1795 after the Third Partition of the Rzeczpospolita and destroyed on the order of Frederick William III of Prussia in March 1809 (except for the Szczerbiec)[5][10].

In 1925 Polish Government purchased the silver regalia of King Augustus III and Queen Maria Josepha in Vienna for $ 35,000 (175 000 zł). It consisted of 2 crowns, 2 sceptres and 2 orbs made in about 1733. (The original Crown Regalia were hidden - see War of the Polish Succession)[11]. The jewels were exhibited in Warsaw till 1939 and in 1940 they were stolen by the Germans[11]. Later they were found by the Soviet troops in Germany and sent to the USSR where they remained until 1960, when they were returned the communist Poland (PRL)[11]. Today are deposited in the National Museum in Warsaw[12][11].

References

  1. ^ Karacena Jana III Sobieskiego
  2. ^ Racjonał, psałterz i roztruchan
  3. ^ Lileyko Jerzy, Vademecum Zamku Warszawskiego, Warszawa, 1980. ISBN 8322318189
  4. ^ a b Rożek Michał, Polskie koronacje i korony, Kraków 1987. ISBN 8303019147
  5. ^ a b c POLAND'S CROWNS
  6. ^ Polskie insygnia koronacyjne
  7. ^ Korona Moskiewska
  8. ^ Gifts to the czars
  9. ^ Treasures of The Kremlin
  10. ^ Crown Treasury and Armoury
  11. ^ a b c d Insygnia Augusta III Wettina i Marii Józefy
  12. ^ Estreicher Karol (1945?), The Mystery of the Polish Crown Jewels. London: Alliance Press Limited

See also

External links


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