Crowns have always fascinated us.
They’re essentially jewelry, but they carry the weight of history, dynasties, epic deeds, and even fantastical legends!
Numerous crowns still sit in museums, allowing us a glimpse into the stories of murder, curses, and conquest.
Here are 10 legendary crowns and the strange stories attached to them!
1. The Iron Crown of Lombardy
This crown is kept inside Monza Cathedral in Italy, and it’s one of the oldest Christian relics we know of!
According to legend, the crown’s inner band was forged from an actual nail that was used in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ!
Originally, it was handed to Emperor Constantine by his mother, Helena.
Historians aren’t sure who commissioned it. Most agree that it was made between the 4th and 5th centuries.
It was used to crown medieval Kings of Italy and Holy Roman Emperors for centuries, including Charlemagne!
Centuries later, Napoleon Bonaparte got a hold of it and placed it on his own head, declaring, “God gives it to me, woe to him who touches it!”
2. The Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire
This legendary octagonal crown dates back to the 10th century. Currently, it’s kept in the Imperial Treasury in Vienna.
This crown was never meant for just one person; it represented the divine authority of the Roman Emperor, no matter who that was at the moment.
Even after the Holy Roman Empire officially dissolved, its symbolism endured.
In the Imperial Crypt in Vienna, a sculpted replica of this crown rests on top of a skeleton. It’s a memento mori!
This baroque saying fits the symbolism of the crown perfectly, reminding us all that all the emperors who wore it were mortal people at the end of the day.
3. The Crown of Saint Wenceslas
This crown was made in 1347 for Charles IV of Bohemia. It was dedicated to Saint Wenceslas, Bohemia’s patron saint.
Charles IV even decreed that the crown should permanently rest on the saint’s skull rather than be worn every day.
Legend says that the ruler cursed anyone who would wear the crown outside of the coronation to die within a year!
And fascinatingly, the curse came true!
During the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, Reinhard Heydrich secretly placed the crown on his head. Soon after, he was executed.
This eerie coincidence is just that, a coincidence, but it made the crown even more legendary.
4. The Crown of Princess Blanche
This gothic gold crown was made sometime around 1370 to 1380. It’s covered in diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, and it’s believed to have been part of Princess Blanche’s dowry.
However, this prestigious royal jewelry couldn’t stay in England due to finances.
It was pawned to various leaders across Europe to cover enormous debts.
The legendary crown changed hands for centuries, so its true origin was mainly forgotten.
Eventually, it was rediscovered and placed in a museum. Historians agree that it’s the oldest surviving royal crown of England!
5. Monomakh’s Cap
This golden skullcap is dated to the 13th or 14th century, but the fur trim was added later, in the 16th century.
As for the legends attached to it, they depend on who’s telling the story.
One popular legend claims it was a gift from Byzantine Emperor Constantine Monomachus to the prince of Kiev.
People believe that this established the imperial legitimacy of Rus, making it a natural extension of the Byzantine Empire.
Another theory claims that it arrived from Uzbeg, khan of the Golden Horde. This version connects it to the Mongols rather than the Romans.
Either way, it was used in Russian coronations for centuries.
6. The Holy Crown of Hungary
This gorgeous crown is one of two surviving Byzantine crowns left in the world! Typically, it’s traced back to the 11th century.
It stayed in active use for hundreds of years, and it was used for the last time to crown Charles I of Austria.
Many old, legendary crowns ended up pawned or melted, so for this crown to have been used for such a long time is truly extraordinary!
Without interruption, it was used for nearly a thousand years!
7. The Crowns of Silla
The artisans of the Silla Kingdom (Korea) produced some of the most legendary metalwork of the era.
Its collection of gold and bronze crowns was crafted between the 5th and 7th centuries. They ended up buried in the royal tombs for over a thousand years!
They were uncovered by chance in 1921.
Their tree-shaped design is unique, and the jade ornaments make them shimmer with every turn.
Today, they’re recognized as masterpieces of ancient craftsmen and a rare cultural heritage.
Moreover, the Silla Kingdom remains largely a mystery, which adds to the importance of these crowns.
8. The Ptolemaic Gold Diadem
After Alexander the Great died, Egypt fell under the control of the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty. This gold diadem is believed to have belonged to a noblewoman connected to the ruling family.
It was crafted somewhere between 220 and 100 BC in the city of Alexandria, which by itself makes it legendary.
Its centerpiece is a Herakles knot, which was meant to repel evil and bring good fortune to its wearer.
The crown is often admired as a blend of Greek classical design and Egyptian luxury.
9. The Diadem of Princess Sit-Hathor Yunet
This crown belonged to a princess of Egypt’s 12th Dynasty.
Grave robbers had already broken into her tomb centuries before modern archaeology got involved. They took everything they deemed worthy, but somehow, they missed the crown.
In the 20th century, archaeologists uncovered hidden boxes filled with jewelry that had been sitting there for thousands of years.
Among the jewelry was this legendary crown.
10. St. Edward’s Crown
England’s most sacred crown is legendary because it was destroyed!
The original crown was tied to Edward the Confessor, an English king and saint from the 11th century.
It was seen as a holy relic for centuries and kept in Westminster Abbey.
Then, in 1649, after Charles I was executed, the new Commonwealth ordered the entire royal regalia to be destroyed.
So, the original crown was melted and sold off.
When the monarchy returned in 1660, a new one was commissioned for Charles II. It was even designed to look similar to the original.
A little Aquarius, devoted to writing and embroidery. Through my writing, I hope to empower readers to align with their true selves and navigate life’s mysteries with confidence.