West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-10-14
NUMBER s.
HISTORIC ITALIAN TOWN IS
IN the BATTLE-SWEPT ZONE
Monsa is Noted as the Home of the
Famous "Iron Crown of Lombar-
dY"-Was Presented to German
Princess as Reward for Convert
ing Her Consort

Not SO very far from the battle
swept frontier that takes It's way
through the Tyrolese Alps lies the
Italian town OF Monza. wherein one of
the most precious OF Italy's innumer-
able historic relics is preserved, the
famous Iron Crown OF Lombardy, ac-
cording To "a war primer Just issued by
the National Geographic society at
Washington. This iron crown came
to the Lombards and to it's fame\
through the gift of Pope Gregory the
Great, who presented 1t to u German
princess as n reward for converting
her consort TO Christianity.
'Theodolinda was the daughter OF n
Bavarian king. Reasons OF policy
brought about an arrangement OF her
marriage TO Autharis, king of the Lom-
bards. Theodolinda was u princess OF
unusual charm and beauty and, the
story runs, Autharis, who had secretly
Joined his embassy for tho ncgotia-
ton of his marriage, met tho princess
as simple Lombard courtier, and
tho affection that grew up between
them caused tho princess to oppose
her marriage with the unknown king
with all the power OF her persuas-
ion.
"Monza, the northern city, dates It's
first important associations from the
coming of Theodolinda The German
queen won the devotion of her sub
Jccts. and upon the death OF Autharis
they agreed to recognize as their king
any prince whom she might choose
for her second husband. Agiluf, Duke
of Turin, was Theodolinda's choice.
and he 1t was. whom she converted
to Christianity. whereby the Lombard
iron crown started upon It's centuries
career OF wonderful associations with
queens. kings and emperors.
Pope Gregory's gift was fllet of
iron. which, according to pious tradi-
ton, was beaten out OF one OF the
nails which fastened Jesus to the
Cross. This relic was brought to
Rome by the Empress Helena, and
was guarded as a relic of marvellous
powers.
'The iron fillet was used to crown
the German emperors, Kings of Italy.
IL was used at the coronatlons OF
Charles ", of Napoleon, and of EN-
peror Ferdinand. 1t was this crown,
too, that was used as the symbol for
a united Italy, and, with the Lom-
bard iron circlet set In gold crown
OF Byzantium workmanship, the King
of Italy took his coronation oath and
announced the arrival OF united TIA
lian people among the nations of Eu-
rope.
THE church, I'm whose treasury the
Lombard crown is preserved together
er with other relics of the great Lom-
bard queen, was founded by Theodo-
linda. In this Basilica OF San Gio-
yanni at Monza are the queens fan
and comb OF gold, and the golden
hen and seven golden chicks. which
represent Lombardy and her seven
provinces.
"Monza lies eight miles northeast
of the great commercial and industrial
city OF Milan, with which II is con-
nected by both steam and electric
roads. II is built upon the Lambro,
a tributary of the Po, and its $4,000
citizens have caught the hustling
spirit of the metropolis just to the
south. Monza has fourlshing in
dustry, with cotton goods and felt
hats as It's staple products It's great
est memory is OF it's beautiful Ba-
yarian queen, and it's most precious
possession is the iron circlet which
Pope Gregory gave TO her"