Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-09-04
FAMOUS CROWNS.


The oldest of the crowns of Europe
is the Iron Crown of Lombardy, now re-
stored to its resting place Of centuries
in the Cathedral OF Monza, the sunny
little town which, from the Alpine
slopes, looks down upon imperial Milan,
whittier many time its treasure was
borne to be placed on the brows of a
German kaiser at his second corona.
ton. His first was at Achen, by the
tomb of Charlemange, where he re.
ceived the silver crown of Germany /;
his second at Milan, his third at Rome,
where the Pope conferred ON him the
golden crown of the empire. But the
iron crown was the most venerable OF
all. For 1900 years the iron crown
has held the foremost place among the
diadems of Europe, for il was formed
by the skillful hands of Roman gold.
smiths in the sixth century, and sent
by Pope Gregory the Great TO the
Gothic Queen Theodolinda, when she
had freed Lombardy from the Arian
heresy. Theiorm is simple, as one might
expect IRON its ancient date 1t is a
fiat ring or diadem of gold, adorned
with enamelled flowers and precious
stones not cut into facets, as in modern
jewelry, but emeralds, sapphires, and
rubies in their rough uncut form as
they came from the mine. But inside
this circle of gold and Jewels is o thin
band of iron, from which the crown
takes its name, and this iron, tradition
asserts, is one of the nails Of the true
cross hammered out into ring, Long
and angry have been the battles
fought by antiquarians on this point.
Those who deny its authenticity, head
ed by Muratori, certainly being weigh
ty arguments to the support of their
view; but the tradition has survived
all their learned follesi gallant cham
pions have fought pen in hand IN its
defense, and still in the language OF
the people the crown OF Monza is call
ed IL Sdreo ehiodo, "the holy nail" 1t
graced the imperial front OF Charlie
mango and long succession OF Ger
man Emperors, ending with Charles
V. But the last sovereign who wore
II was Napoleon |. In May 1903, he
assembled at Milan the dignitarles Of
the empire, the representatives OF his
royal and imperial allies, and splen-
did circle OF Marshals and Generals,
and in their presence he placed 1t on
his head, repeating the proud motto OF
the iron crown; "God has given 1t to
me; woe TO him who touches 1t y In
1859 the Austrians, retreating from
Lombardy, took the iron crown with
them to MAINTAIN, and subsequently TO
Vienna. There 1t remained until, by
the treaty which eeded Venetia to
Italy, in 1866, 1t was restored to Its
old home IN the sacrlsty oil the cathe-
dral at Monza, and there II rests TO-
day, amid the other treasures OF Theo-
linda-her Jeweled comb, her golden
hen and seven chickens (thc symbol
OF Lombardy and and It's seven prov.
inces,) and the crown OF her husband
Agilulph. Next in age to the iron
crown, but far exceeding It in value
and beauty or workmanship, are the
crowns of the old Gothic Kings of
Spain, discovered seventeen years ago
near Toledo. They were found in some
excavations which were made in an
ancient cemetery at Fuente di Guerra
Ear, two leagues from that city. They
are eight in number, and their intrin-
sic value is estimated at 1000 pounds
sterling. The largest, splendid circle
of gold one foot in diameter, bears the