Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-12-15
The Iron Crown of Lombardv.

A recent letter from Milan to the Boston
Transcript, says:
In one of the chapels of Monza Cathedral,
near Milan, is preserved the Iron Crown of
Lombardy. Provided with permit from the
Bishop, presented myself at the chapter-house,
| and two vergers were at once dispatched to
make arrangements for the proper exhibition
Of the sacred diadem.
On entering the cathedral found the crown
chapel decorated with crimson hangings, the
candles lighted, and incense burning A scat
folding had also been erected before the alter,
for the convenience of the priest who was to
take the crown from its resting place, just back
of the bronze alter-piece. He soon arrived,
with five huge keys hanging at his girdle, with
which he proceeded to turn as many locks.
Finally, after throwing open two or thee doors
and drawing back u silk curtain amid great
waving Of incense and constant genufections, l
saw the Iron Crown in it's case of crystal, sup
ported in the hands of two bronze cherubim.
At my request, the priest took it from its
resting place, and I had leisure to examine it
carefully. I found it to consist of six links of
pure gold, perhaps two inches, or more, in
width, and very thin. In fact it resembled
very much highly ornamented dog collar. Its
outer surface was beautifully enamelled with
green leaves on q white ground. 1t was also
set, at regular intervals, with emerads, garnets,
and sapphires. Running round the inner cir
conference and riveted to the colds links is the
iron band which gives the crown its name.
Tradition declares it to be one of the nails en-
ployed at our Savior's cruciixion, hammered
out into a thin fllet. Indeed, the Italians call
the crown II Sacro Chiodo, or the holy nail.
To the sanctity of this bit Of iron is due all the
decoration and ceremony have alluded to.
The early history Of the Iron Crown is in
volved in obscurity. The traditions of Mona
relate that it was presented by Pope George to
Theodolinda, Queen If the Lombards. Others
sayit was madein Constantinople for the mother
Of Constantine. At all events, Henry the VII,
or Henry of Luxembourg, was the first sover-
eign Of Germany who was crowed with it, and
Charles v the last. Having adorned the brows
of FIVE and forty sovereigns, it was, on the death
of Charles ", consigned to the treasury of
Mona Cathedral, and preserved more as
sacred relic than part of the insignia of royalty
Napoleon was the first to disturb it. Always
DESTROYS to strengthen his power by any pres
tige the past might give it, he caused himself
to be crowned King of Italy with the sacred
crown of the Lom bards. Dsdaining to receive
it from the hands of the bishop, he placed it
himself upon his own head, at the same time
pronouncing those memorable words, g Dieu me
IA done, care a qui la touche." To commemorate
the coronation, Napoleon instituted the Order of
the Iron Crown, now conferred by the Emperor
of Austria. Since Napoleon l., Ferdinand l.,
who abdicated the Austrian throne in 1913, is
the only sovereign at whose coronation the Iron
Crown has been used. His present apostolic
majesty, Francis Joseph, feels hardly secure
enough in his Lombardo Venetian possession to
place upon Ills head their ancient pledge of in
dependent sovereignty. He visited Milan after
the disturbance of 1848, but as yet has only
been crowned in his lawfully inherited capital
of Vienna.
After the crowd which had gathered round
the chapel had fully satisfied their curiosity, the
FIVE locks, the two doors, and the one curtain
performed their proper functions, and the Iron
Crown was restored to its sacred seclusion, only
to be disturbed by some equally curious travel
Ter, or by recurrence Of the annual fete of the
sacred nail.