The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1920-04-02
CRUWN FOR SALE.
Emblem Of Hungarian Monarchy
Said to Be on Market.
BY Far the Oldest of Existing Regalia
In Europe, and Is Said on Good
Authority to Date Back
1000 Years.


According to a recent dispatch from
Budapest, the government has offered
to sell for the sum of 100000 Swiss
francs, normally about $4,000, the ia
nous crown of Hungary known as the
crown Of ST. Stephen, 1t Is strange
fate which has picked this. the most
ancient and revered crown in all Eu-
rope, for a possible object Of COM
mercial transaction, and If the offer is
really bona fide one, there are doubt
less good many collectors Of ancient
and curious relics, both In the United
States and Europe. not to mention
many famous museums, who would
gladly pay the price asked, and much
more. for that matter, for the pleasure
OF owning this almost priceless his
toric relic.
To those who know something OF
the history OF this famous crown. 1t
seems almost impossible to believe,
even If the reported dream Of the mon
arehist group now rampant In Hun
gary who would put this crown on the
Job again should not materlalize &C.
cording TO schedule, that the people
would ever permit this crown to go
out of possession OF the state as dur
ing the course of centuries a veritable
legal and sentimental idolatry, IN
equaIed In any other country. has de.
veloped In Hungary for the crown OF
st. Stephen.
With the sole exception Of the SO
called iron crown of Lombardy. thI.
Hungarian crown is by far the Oldest
of all existing regala In Europe. Leg
end traces back its origin to about
the year 1000. II II certain that II ex
listed In the first year Of the thir
teenth century, and section of !,
is probably much older Gan that.
According to the Hungarian concep
ton, an uncrowned king was no king
at all; his DEGREES had no legal force
and resistance to them was constltn
tional And, In fact, during the lasI
800 years there was only one ruler
who defled the ancient Magyar tradI
tons centering around the crown OF
st. Stephen-Joseph II. the enllght-
ened but arbitrary son Of Maria
Theresa.
The career of the crown Of st. Ste
phen has been distinguished by more
romance than any other crown In Eu-
rope.
AS the story goes, in the year 1000
Pope Sylvester II finished the good.
sized task Of converting the fierce
Magyar horsemen to Christianity.
The crown, it is said. sas not orig.
inally intended for Stephen, but was
made on the pope's order for the
Polish prince Bolesvar, and his holi-
ness was just about dispatchlng it TO
him by courier, when one night ar
angel appeared to the pope in dream
and enjolned him to give the crown TO
Stephen. Awakening. the holy father
gave the crown 10 the Abbot Asztrik
with the words:
'Tell the duke of the Hungarians
that while am merely a successor Of
the apostles. he is real apostle him
self.
Thcreupon Asztrik delivered the
crown TO Stephen, who soon afterward
was crowned first king of Hungary at
Alba, Regia. Ever after the rulers OF
Hungary bore the title Apostolic
King" just'as the eplthet Most Chris
tan" was bestowed by the popes on
the kings Of France and the attribute
Most Catholic" on the kings Of Spain.
After the death of Stephen. the
crown was used at the successive cor
onatlon of 20 kings of the Aspad
dynasty. and altogether 1t has been
employed at the coronation of 80 kings
during 500 years, being regarded dur
Ing this entire PERIOD as the source
and depository Of all power in the
realm and the supreme symbol of law
and constitution.
1t Is broad fiat band of gold,
whence springs an arch supporting a
cross, and is, or was, set with IS sap
pllres, so ruhies, l emerald and 1873
pearls Exchange.