Evening star., 1923-06-27
BY THE MARaUIsE DE FoNTENoy.

Only those who have had an op-
portunity of examining the world
famed Guelph Este treasure will be
able to appreciate the revolutionary
results of the great war on receipt
of the news that 1t is now about
to be placed upon the market Of
Vienna. or incalcuIable value. and
owing its origin to Henry the Lion,
the CRUSADER Duke of Brunswick,
comprising all sorts OF jewels and
treasures OF ecclesiastical and secular
character which he brought back to
Germany from Constantinople. then
the capital of the Byzantine Empire,
and from the Holy Land. 1t has been
added to by each Duke of Brunswick
during the 500 years which have
elapsed since then. including all sorts
of loot from cathedrals, churches.
converts in Italy and Sicily, acquired
during the twelfth, thirteenth and
fourteenth centuries of fighting be-
tween the Guelph D'Estes and the
Ghibellines, who may be said to have
kept all southern Germany and Italy
d
and warfare for 800 years. millions
of lives being sacrificed.
One of the features of the treasure
is known by the name of the Dome
Relic" and is a shrine that formerly
contained the relic of some saint or
precious stones. is marvelously
fashioned of gold. masterpiece of
the fourteenth century goldsmith's s
art, in the shape of Byzantine BASIL
lea, with many cupolas. 1t Is re-
garded by experts as absolutely
unique. Then there is the world
famed Guelph "Onyx" in the form OF
a gold-mounted onyx cup. about six
inches in length and three inches in
breadth. In 1880. when Charles the
o-called Diamond Duke was de-
throned and expelled by his subjects.
he managed to carry away with him I'm,
as his principal treasure and as his
most highly priced possession the
celebrated "Onyx Cup" He had it
with him in Paris throughout the
second empire, and absolutely re-
fused to surrender 1t to his younger
brother William. who had succeeded
him on the throne. When he died at
Geneva in 1873. it was sought in vain
among his hoard of bonds and Jew
elry. most of which he bequeathed
| to the city of Geneva, stipulating as
a uuid quo the erection OF monument
l
an oft-repeated examination of his
belongings, it was noted that n shred
of flannel obtruded from the base of
a very common looking metallic or
nament. On investigation this was
found to be split lengthwise. Sepa-
rating the split. the missing onyx
cup came to view intact and unin-
1ured, whereupon it was at once
Claimed by his brother and successor,
the late Duke William of Brunswick,
as an inalienable heirloom.
X 4 T. X
The sovereign Dukes of Brunswick
have undergone many vicissitudes
since the days of the Crusader Duke.
Henry the Lion, eight centuries ago.
They have played notable role In
the history of Europe, and there has
been no great or small war during
all those many hundred years in
which they have not played very
active role Their capital has fire.
quentIy been taken by the enemy.
They have been driven from their do
minions, and have suffered the pains
of dethronement and exile. In some
respects they may be said to have
been dogged by an evil fate. So
numerous are the tragedies and
dramas that figure In their annals
that the. superstitious have been in
clined to ascribe them to their plum
der of churches. cathedrals and of
| ecclesiastical property. But through
out 1t all this, wonderful wealth
treasure, sometimes known as the
| Este treasure. has been kept un-
harmed and unmofested, absolutely
intact. Indeed, its preservation un-
harmed has bordered on the miracu-
| lous.
| when the late Duke William of
Brunswick of the senior line died in
1884, Bismarck, who was then chan
cellor of the German Empire, de-
clfned to permit the former Crown
| Prince of Hanover. who had become
next legitimate heir alike to the
throne Of Brunswick and to the enor-
nous wealth of the house Of Bruns-
wick. to ascend the throne, owing to his
refusal to renounce his rights to the
| kingdom of Hanover, which had been
seized by Prussia and annexed over
night in 1855. Bismarck established
q regency at Brunswick, first In the
person of the late Prince Albert of
Prussia and on his death In the per-
SON of the late Duke John OF Meek
llenburg- -Sohwerin. president of the
Imperial Geographical Society Of Ger-
4 ~ oy Rut RiRmar0k oould not rA.