The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-29
STYLES In ROYAL CROWNS
QUEEN VICTORIA ORDERS A DE-
CIpaD INNOVATION MADE.

She Prefers a Diadem Entirely Gov
cred aud Round at the Top, so as to
Display the Crown Jewels to Greater
Advantage - Medieval Relic With
Which Napoleon Was Crowned
When He Conquered Italy How
Harry Gillig's Bull Pup Saved a
Throne.
From the Cleveland World.
Queen Victoria has not worn her royal
crown since she opened parliament many
wears ago, and her imperial diadem has
lain in disuse since it was first placed on her
head as Empress OF India.
The early Irish and Saxon soyereigus
49, - met of gold, which was sometimes
studded with jewels. The crown of the
MacMurrough family, aRciently kings of
Lelnster, in Ireland, which is still preserved
in the British museum, consists of a plain
band of gold, rising IL 'front.' to a sort of
peak. 1t dates, without doubt, back TO the
tenth century. One of the Oldest diadems
still preserved is the famous iron crown of
Lombardy. Contrary to popular belief the
only iron in its composition is a solitary
nail, said to have been rescued by the cru
saders from the wood Of the true cross
When Napoleon conquered Italy he caused
himself to be crowned with this medieval
relic, now more appropriately worn by
King Humbert.
Oifa, mighty monarch Of the West Sax
ons, who fourished in the eighth cen
fury, is depicted with q string of Jewels in
lieu of a crown. His SUCCESSORS on the
English throne improved upon this print
tive chaplet and gradually the crown began
to be rooted over. King Canute's crown,
perhaps the very one he wore when bidding
the uDrespousive breakers to retire from
Pevensey sands, is represented in the Cot
ton Ms. 1t bears quaint resemblance to
church steeple, and was probably mod
eled from some such object. When the
body of Edward the Confessor was ex-
humed, during the reign of James H., its
skull was encircled by golden fillet, one
inch in depth, and perfectly plain. King
Edgar, as well as Lothaire and the early
French kings. affected far more elaborate
diadems. EdGar's crown. as given by the
Cotton MS, is highly ornamented with
scroll work, and appears 10 have been
square, or at least rectangular in shape.
Queens of this epoch wore golden coronets
lightly fashioned. and serrated about the
upper edge. The crown Of Harold Infelix
WAS decorated with floral arches and abund-
ance of jewelry. Feurs-de-lis made their
appearance to the French diadems with the
Capets, and were adopted by the English
kings when they began their claim TO the
throne of France. William the Conquerer,
man of war, wore his hemlet far more
frequently than be did his crown. In fact,
the Saxon Chronicle states that he only
donned the state headdress "thrice every
year while in EnRland-to wit At Easter
IN Winchester, at Pentecost In Westminster
and Christmas in Gloucester. A picture OF
this crown is presented in an illuminated
nh hnt Of Inn
now preserved at Rouen. II was Curl
ously shaped, and looked as though
It had been placed around a seonical steel
cap OF morton. William Rufus and Henry
followed the fashion of the Cepet kings,
wearing an open crown. An effigy of Queen
Matilda, consort Of Henry l., existing at
Rochester cathedral, shows that pious
Scotch woman with crown quite as large
as that of her spouse. Its ornaments have
been defaced by time, but it would seem to
have been Of simple design. Richard Coeur
de Lion wore diadem adorned with ire
foils, between which spread fanciful pat
tern of honeysuokles. The effigy of his
queen. Berengaria, at the abbey of pEspar.
gives an accurate idea Of the diadem then
allotted to royal females. Handsomely
shaped. Its peaks and trefoils are surrounded
by oak leaves and delicate tracery. A thick
roll OF gold runs around the base, and by
comparing 1t with the face of the efhgy its
06ptn Llusb Hdf6 U0cu dDOub btlT66 lUCneS.
The crowns of Henry III. and Edward ].
were comparatively plain, but were hight
ened by trefoils and crosses. Edward IL
with his characteristic striving after SPLEEN
dor, chose e more magnificent design. It
represented four large and four small oak
leaves rising in graceful curves from the
jeweled circlet and having eight small
flowers between each leaf. This handsome
emblem was inherited and worn by Edward
III. and Richard IL The first Of the house
of Lancaster, Henry w., caused a new
crown to be made, larger than its prede-
cessor and bearing eight large oak leaves
and eight heurs-de-lis. The costly orna-
ment was broken up and given to his
baronS by Henry V. as security for the
loan required for his expedition into France.
Its particles were subsequently redeemed
by Henry VII.
Henry V. introduced the arched crown
and Edward ". wore two arches sur
mounted by a cross. The Stuarts added
two more arches, typical of the union of
England and Scotland, and this remained
the form of the British crown under the
early Georges, who feared any departure
therefrom might be regarded as Hano-
verian innovation.
Queen Vlctoria's choice of a crown Gre
ated quite a sensation among court
officials She in iormed Lord Melbourne
that she would prefer diadem entirely
covered and round at the top, so as to dis
play the crown jewels to better advantage.
Her majesty's Elizabethan obstinancy was
unknown at this period Of her reign and the
garter knight at arms ventured to state
that such a crown would initiate against
all rule and custom and would, in fact, be
out Of the question.
At this rejoinder her majesty's eyes
flashed fire and she exclaimed: This gen.
tleman may be king-at-arms, but l am
Queen OF England and intend to wear any
kind Of a crown 1 please Lord Mel
bourne remarked: LA refine lie veubt," and
wisely gave up the unequal contest. The
queens crown was exactly as she had
stated, and although Of extreme splendor,
could not be called beautiful Hundreds Of
Jewels blazed around its surface. the most
prominent being the world-renowned
"Kohinoor"
j