Bedford inquirer and chronicle. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1854-1857, 1855-12-14
The Iron Grown Of Lombardy.

y recent iet'eF from adlian 10 the Boston
Transcript says
Inone of the chapels of Monza Cathe-
oral. near Milan, is preserved the Iron
Crown Of Lombardy. Provided with
permit from the Bishop, presented myself
at the ehapter-house, aud two vergers we're
at once dispatched to make arrangements
for the proper exhibition Of the sacred dia-
dem.
On entering the cathedral l found the
crown chapel decorated with crimson hang
ings, the candles lighted aud inseuse burn
ing. A scafolding had also been erected
before the altar. for the convenience of the
priest who was to take the crown from its
resting pl ace. just back of the bronze altar
piece. lie soon arrived, with five huge
keys hanging at his girdle. with which he
proceeded to turn as many locks. Finally,
alter thlcwing open Two or three doors and
drawing back curtain amid great waving
of insense and constant genufaction, | saw
the Iron Crown in It's case of crystal sup
ported in the Lards of TWO brouze cheru-
bims.
AT my request, the priest took it from
It's resting place, and had leisure to exam
me 1t carefully. / found it to consist Of
SIX links OF pure gold, perhaps two inches
or more IN width, and very thin. In fact
1t resen6lel very much highly ornamen-
led dog collar. It's outer surface was beau
iifully enamelied with green leaves on a
white ground. l. was also set at regular
intervals, with erneralds, garaets ana sap
phires. Ruuning round tie inner circun,-
ference and iiviicd to the gold links is the
'Fon band which gives thc crown its name.
Tradition declares j, to be one Of the nails
employed at our Savour's cruci6xioa. ham
inered out inio a thin fIlet. Indeed. the
Italians cali tie crown II sacro Chiodo, or
he holy nail. TO tie -sanctity Of this BIZ
Of iion is due all TIE decoration and ceren,o-
ny Lase alluded to.
Tie early history Of the Iron Crown Is
invoked in o5seurity The traditions al |
Mor2a s~s---.iL { r,sr-szi
George of Tkeodolinda. Queen of the Lom-
bards. Others say it was made in Con-
stautinople for the mother OF Constauiine.--I
At all events, Henry VII, or Henry of
Luxembourg, was the FIRST sovereign of Ger |
many who was crowned with it, and Charles /
Y thelast. Having adorned the brows of |
FIVE and forty sovoreigrs, it was, on the
death OF Charles V. consigned to the treas
ury of Nonza Cathedral, and preserved
more as sacred relic than part of the iu-
sigma of royalty. Napoleon was the frst
10 disturb it. Always desirous to strengths |
en- Ills power by any prestige the past might
give il, be caused himself to be crowned |
King Of Italy with the sacred crown of the
Lombards! DiSdaining to receive it from
the hands of tle bishop, lie placed it
himseG nron his own head, at the same |
time pronouncing those memorable words,
ssDicu ne Ia donne gare qui la foucis"
To commemorate the coronation Napoleon
instituted the 0rGer cf the Iron Crown, |
now conferred BY the Emperor of Austria /
Since Napoleon /, Ferdinand |, who abdi- |
Gated the Austrian throne in 1913, is the |
cnly sovereign at whose coronation the |
Iron Grown has been used. bis present
apostolic majesty. Francis Joseph, feels
hardly secure enough in his Lombardo
Venetian possession to place upon his head
their ancient pledge Of independent sov-
reiguty. lie visited Milan after the distur-
Dances of ls4S, hut as yet has only been
crowned in his lawfully inherited capital
of Fienus.
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 lhc Iron Crown was restored
to its sacred seclusion, oLly 10 be disturbed
BY some equally curious traveller, or by re-
eurreuce ofthe annual fete of the sacred
nail.