The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-06-21
WHEN KINGS
ARE CROWNED.
Richard I Was Stripped at His
Own Coronation-Other
CeremOnials.

At all coronations, old and new, there are
to be found queer customs and quaint Cb-
seryances which. in view of the approach
ing coronation of King Edward VII, are
particularly interesting.
How few of us have been aware that the
''chairing' of the victor in a competition,
or the successful candidate at an election.
Is but survival Of the ancient coronation
ceremony of the warlike tribes of Germany.
who, when they, chose a King, hOisted him
on a large snield. and carried him in nj
umphal procession.
1t Is worthy Of note, too, in this Honnec-
ton, that, to show their Independence, the
Germans of that day used 10 play pr.tc-
tical jokes on their sovereign, and endeavor
to upset him by shaking the :hield.
To-day Germans have given up such hu-
One OF the first genuine royal corcna-
tons In England was in A. D, Is5, when
Prince Egbert:. the son of Ola, King OF
father. OF what form The ceremony con-
sisted no details are given, and even of the
on her marpase With EfheiWnr IN s
the information Forthcoming is decidedly
meager. As matter of fact. not until the
Shroniclers consider coronsttons worth not
ing at any length.
AT William the Norman's crowning the
question: VIII ye have this Prince 10 be
your Kins?" was answered by the people
with such loud shouts that the .lorrnan
garrison IN the city, thinking the English
Immediately began setting houses on fire.
without making any further Investigation
while William, who heard the lumuit
sat trembling at the foot of the altar, rhe
people forgot all about the coronatf 1n md
rushed out of the church; the Erg!ish
has Fastening to stop the fire. the NOrmans
There was. perhaps, more excitement, at
less cost. about the old coronations than
Is l 70 be found In more modern ones. and the
uVely rihing to that fearful disaster at
me coronation OF the present Gar OF all
the RusSiaS.
The Czar. on being crowned. was anoint-
ed practically just as he stood. Rich
ard had to undergo much less pleasant
stripped the monarch TO his trousers and
shirt" even the latter being left open on
account of the anCinting.
ON this occasion the ceremony was
marred by a sanguinary riot. Richard had
issued an ediet prohibiting any Jew from
entering the church during the coronation.
trance, was struck IN the face. Things
then assumed serious aspect, a tumult
arose, and eventually Richard was COM
pelled to issue a proclamation before tran
quillity was restored.
When. in 1895. Henry III married 'the
bore bore 800 and threeseore % cups Of % gold GhaDd aDd
silver 'afore her al the coronation sol
emn-wise,' and after the ceremony tie
everie one in great pIentie.'' and ':nothing
was wanted that could be wished''
At the coronation OF Edward l there
were let go at libertie (catch them that
catch might $50 great horses" by Alexan-
der. King Of Scots, and others who did
homage.
Richard II. on being crowned. caused
certain water conduits to run with wine
''for the space OF three hours together"
and in the upper end Of Chepe'' Ger
divers kinds OF wine all day long. neither
was anie forbidden were he never so poor"
This delightful state of things however
probably reached climax when Henry "
was crowned.
In Cheapside and other thoroughfares