Crown (heraldry)
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Template:Heraldic achievement A crown is often an emblem of a sovereign state, usually a monarchy (see The Crown), but also used by some republics.
A specific type of crown is employed in heraldry under strict rules. Indeed, some monarchies never had a physical crown, just a heraldic representation, as in the constitutional kingdom of Belgium.
Crowns are also often used as symbols of religious status or veneration, by divinities (or their representation such as a statue) or by their representatives, e.g. the Black Crown of the Karmapa Lama, sometimes used a model for wider use by devotees.
A crown can be a charge in a coat of arms, or set atop the shield to signify the status of its owner, as with the coat of arms of Norway.
Physical and heraldic crowns
Sometimes, the crown commonly depicted and used in heraldry differs significantly from any specific physical crown that may be used by a monarchy.
| File:Den norske kongekronen.jpg Photograph of the physical crown of Norway |
File:Crown of the King of Norway (fictional).svg Representation of the physical crown of Norway |
File:Corona Norvegica.svg The heraldic crown for the King of Norway (1905 pattern) |
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As a display of rank
If the bearer of a coat of arms has the title of baron or higher (or hereditary knight in some countries), he or she may display a coronet of rank above the shield, usually below the helm in British heraldry, and often above the crest (if any) in Continental heraldry.
In this case, the appearance of the crown or coronet follows a strict set of rules. A royal coat of arms may display a royal crown, such as that of Norway. A princely coat of arms may display a princely crown, and so on.
A mural crown is commonly displayed on coats of arms of towns and some republics. Other republics may use a so-called people's crown or omit the use of a crown altogether. The heraldic forms of crowns are often inspired by the physical appearance of the respective country's actual royal or princely crowns.
Ships and other units of some navies have a naval crown, composed of the sails and sterns of ships, above the shield of their coats of arms. Squadrons of some air forces have an astral crown, composed of wings and stars. There is also the Eastern crown, made up of spikes, and when each spike is topped with a star, it becomes a celestial crown.[1]
Whereas most county councils in England use mural crowns, there is a special type of crown that was used by Scottish county councils. It was composed of spikes, was normally shown vert (green) and had golden wheat sheaves between the spikes.[2] Today, most of the Scottish unitary authorities still use this "wheat sheaf crown", but it is now the usual gold.
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Commonwealth usage
In formal English, the word crown is reserved for the crown of a monarch and the Queen consort, whereas the word coronet is used for all other crowns used by members of the British royal family and peers of the realm.
In the British peerage, the design of a coronet shows the rank of its owner, as in German, French and various other heraldic traditions. The coronet of a duke has eight strawberry leaves, that of a marquess has four strawberry leaves and four silver balls (known as "pearls", but not actually pearls), that of an earl has eight strawberry leaves and eight "pearls" raised on stalks, that of a viscount has sixteen "pearls", and that of a peerage baron or (in Scotland) lord of parliament has six "pearls". Between the 1930s and 2004, feudal barons in the baronage of Scotland were granted a chapeau or cap of maintenance as a rank insignia.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". This is placed between the shield and helmet in the same manner as a peer's coronet. Since a person entitled to heraldic headgear customarily displays it above the shield and below the helm and crest, this can provide a useful clue as to the owner of a given coat of arms.
Members of the British royal family have coronets on their coats of arms, and they may wear physical versions at coronations. They are according to regulations made by King Charles II in 1661, shortly after his return from exile in France (getting a taste for its lavish court style; Louis XIV started monumental work at Versailles that year) and Restoration, and they vary depending upon the holder's relationship to the monarch. Occasionally, additional royal warrants vary the designs for individuals.
In Canadian heraldry, special coronets are used to designate descent from United Empire Loyalists. A military coronet signifies ancestors who served in Loyalist regiments during the American Revolution, while a civil coronet is used by all others. The loyalist coronets are used only in heraldry, never worn. A new royal crown, derived from the shape of the Tudor crown but with distinctly Canadian elements, was unveiled at a ceremony in Ottawa to mark the Coronation of Charles III.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
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Continental usages
Precisely because there are many traditions and more variation within some of these, there is a plethora of continental coronet types. Indeed, there are also some coronets for positions that do not exist, or do not entitle use of a coronet, in the Commonwealth tradition.
Such a case in French heraldry of the Ancien Régime, where coronets of rank did not come into use before the 16th century, is the vidame, whose coronet (illustrated) is a metal circle mounted with three visible crosses. (No physical headgear of this type is known.)
Helmets are often substitutes for coronets, and some coronets are worn only on a helmet.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Finland
During the Swedish reign, Swedish coronets were used. Crowns were used in the coats of arms of the historical provinces of Finland. For Finland Proper, Satakunta, Tavastia and Karelia, it was a ducal coronet; for others, a comital coronet. In 1917 with independence, the coat of arms of Finland was introduced with a grand ducal crown, but it was soon removed, in 1920. Today, some cities use coronets, e.g. Pori has a mural crown and Vaasa a Crown of Nobility.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
As a charge
In heraldry, a charge is an image occupying the field of a coat of arms. Many coats of arms incorporate crowns as charges. One notable example of this lies in the Three Crowns of the arms of Sweden.
Additionally, many animal charges (frequently lions and eagles) and sometimes human heads also appear crowned. Animal charges gorged (collared) of an open coronet also occur, though more often as supporters than as charges.
Gallery
Albania
| File:Variant of the Skanderbeg Helmet.svg Lord of Albania (The Skanderbeg Helmet) |
Andorra
| File:Crown of Andorra (Heraldic).svg Co-Princes |
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Bulgaria
Croatia
| File:Crown of Zvonimir (Croatia).svg Crown of Zvonimir |
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France
| File:Mural Crown of a French Capital.svg Capital | File:Mural Crown of a French City.svg Department Template:Efn | File:Mural Crown of a French Commune.svg CommuneTemplate:Efn |
Ancien Régime
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Napoleonic Empire
July Monarchy
| File:Crown of Orléans.svg King of the French |
Georgia
| File:Iberia-Georgia Royal Crown.svg Georgian Royal Crown, also known as the "Iberian Crown" |
German-speaking countries
Holy Roman Empire
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Liechtenstein
| File:Princely Hat.svg Prince of Liechtenstein |
Austria
| File:Mural crown (Bundesadler).svg Mural crown of the coat of arms of Austria | File:Mural crown (Lower Austria).svg Mural crown of the State of Lower Austria |
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Austrian Empire
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Germany
| File:People's Crown (Germany).svg Volkskrone (People's Crown) | File:Mural crown of the coat of arms of the Berlin boroughs.svg Mural crown of the arms of the Berlin boroughs |
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German Empire
Hanover
| File:Heraldic crown of the king of Hanover.svg.png Crown of the King of Hanover |
Greece
| File:Crown of the Kingdom of Greece.svg Crown of the King of the Hellenes | File:Royal Crown of Denmark.svg The Crown as it appears on the Royal Coat of Arms of Greece |
Hungary
| File:Crown of Saint Stephen.svg Holy Crown of Hungary |
Italy
| File:Crown of Italian Province.svg Province | File:Mural Crown of Italian City.svg City | File:Mural Crown of Italian Comune (New Variant).svg Municipality |
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Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946)
Kingdom of Naples, Kingdom of Sicily, Two Sicilies
Grand Duchy of Tuscany
| File:Restitution of the physical crown of Cosimo I de' Medici.svg Medici Grand Dukes of Tuscany | File:T08 Grossherzog.svg Habsburg-Lorraine Grand Dukes of Tuscany |
Other Italian states before 1861
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Low Countries
Netherlands
| File:Rangkroon keizer.svg Holy Roman Emperor | File:Rangkroon Koning.svg King | File:Rangkroon Koning.svg Prince (Members of the Royal House, children of the Monarch) |
File:Rangkroon Kleinkinderen van Koning.svg Prince (Members of the Royal House, grandchildren of the Monarch) |
| File:Rangkroon Prins.svg Prince (nobility, for titles granted after 1815) |
File:Rangkroon Hertog.svg Duke | File:Rangkroon Markies.svg Marquess | File:Rangkroon Graaf.svg Count |
| File:Rangkroon Burggraaf.svg Viscount | File:Rangkroon Baron.svg Baron | File:Rangkroon Ridder.svg Hereditary Knight | File:Rangkroon Ridder.svg Jonkheer |
Belgium
The older crowns are often still seen in the heraldry of older families.
| File:Royal Crown of Belgium (Heraldic).svg King | File:Princely Crown of Belgium (Heraldic).svg Prince of the Royal house | File:Crown of a Prince (Netherlands and Belgium).svg Prince (nobility, for titles granted after 1815) |
File:Princely Hat.svg Prince (nobility, for titles granted during the Ancien Régime) |
| File:Rangkronen-Fig. 04.png Duke | File:Rangkronen-Fig. 15.png Marquess | File:Crown of a Count of France (variant).svg Count | File:Old Crown of a Count (France & Belgium).svg Count (older) |
| File:Crown of a Count of the Low Countries (Ancien Regime).svg Count (oldest) | File:Rangkronen-Fig. 25.png Viscount | File:Crown of a Baron (Low Countries, Holy Roman Empire, Russia).svg Baron | File:Old Crown of a Baron of the Low Countries.svg Baron (older) |
| File:Rangkronen-Fig. 34.png Hereditary Knight (Chevalier/Erfridder) |
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Luxembourg
| File:Crown of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.svg Grand Duke |
Monaco
| File:Crown of Monaco (Heraldic).svg Prince |
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Montenegro
| File:Crown of Montenegro (emperor).svg Monarchy 1860-1918 | File:Crown of Montenegro (Kingdom).svg Republic 2006-Present |
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Poland and Lithuania
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Portugal
Kingdom of Portugal (until 1910)
Romania
| File:Romanian Mural Crown - Capital.svg Capital | File:Romanian Mural Crown - City.svg City |
| File:Romanian Mural Crown - Town.svg Town | File:Romanian Mural Crown - Village.svg village |
Kingdom of Romania
| File:Steel Crown of Romania.svg King (The Steel Crown of Romania) |
Russia
Nordic countries
Denmark
Iceland
| File:Heraldic Crown of Iceland.png King |
Finland
| File:Royal Crown of Finland.svg Physical crown design of the King |
File:Heraldic grand princely crown (Finland).svg Generic Grand ducal crown used in late 19th to early 20th c. |
File:Suuriruhtinaan kruunu.svg Grand ducal crown used in the state coat of arms in 1917–1920. |
| File:Herttuan kruunu.svg Ducal coronet |
File:Kreivikunnankruunu.svg Comital coronet |
File:Muurikruunu.svg Mural crown |
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Norway
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Sweden
Serbia
| File:Serbian medieval crown.svg Emperor (medieval) | File:Crown of Petar I.svg King (after 1903) |
Spain
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Ukraine
| File:Crown of Rus'-Ukraine (heraldic).svg Crown of Ruthenia |
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Non-European usages
Bahrain
| File:Royal Crown of Bahrain (Heraldic).svg King |
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Bhutan
| File:Raven Crown.svg 'Raven Crown' of the Kingdom of Bhutan |
Brazil
Empire of Brazil
Brunei
| File:Crown of Brunei Darusalam.png Crown of Brunei Darussalam |
Cambodia
| File:Royal Crown of Cambodia (heraldry).svg Crown of the Kingdom of Cambodia |
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Central African Empire
| File:Imperial Crown of Bokassa I.svg Emperor |
Chile
| File:Chilean Mural Crown (Commune).svg Municipal Mural Crown | File:Heraldic Royal Crown of Easter Island.svg Royal Crown of Easter Island |
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China
| File:明代皇帝十二旒冕.svg Mianguan (Ming dynasty) | File:Imperial Crown of Qing Dynasty.svg Chaoguan (Qing dynasty) |
Egypt
Ethiopia
| File:Imperial Crown of Ethiopia.svg Emperor |
Fiji
| File:Fiji crown.svg Crown of Fiji |
Haiti
| File:Crown of Haiti (1849-1859) - Second Empire of Haiti.jpg Emperor (2nd Empire) |
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Hawaii
| File:Royal Crown of Hawaii.svg Crown of Hawaii |
Iran
| File:Kiani Crown of Imperial Iran (heraldry).svg Crown of the Shah of Persia | File:Pahlavi Crown of Imperial Iran (heraldry).svg Crown of the Shah of Iran |
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Iraq
| File:Heraldic Crown of Iraq.png Crown of Iraq |
Jordan
| File:Royal Crown of Jordan.svg Crown of Jordan |
Libya
| File:Heraldic Crown of Libya.png Crown of Libya |
Kyrgyzstan
| File:Kyzyl Tebetei.svg Crown of Kara-Kygyz Khanate |
Malaysia
| File:Heraldic Crown of Johor.png sultan of Johor | File:Heraldic Crown of Kelantan.png sultan of Kelantan | File:Heraldic Crown of Terengganu.png sultan of Terengganu |
Mexico
| File:Crown of Mexico (I).svg Emperor (1st Empire) | File:Crown of Mexico (II).svg Emperor (2nd Empire) | File:Prince Crown 1.svg Prince (1st Empire and 2nd Empire) |
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Aztec Empire
| File:Moctezuma Headdress (Penacho).png Moctezuma's Headdress | File:Headdress of the Aztec Monarchs.png Headdress of the Aztec Monarchs |
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Morocco
| File:Crown of Morocco 1.svg Heraldic Crown of Morocco |
Nepal
| File:Crown of Nepal.png Crown of Nepal |
Oman
| File:Crown of Oman.svg Crown of Oman |
Rwanda
| File:Crown of the King (Mwami) of Rwanda.svg Crown of the Kingdom of Rwanda |
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Saudi Arabia
| File:Heraldic Crown of Saudi Arabia.png Crown of Saudi Arabia |
Siam and Thailand
| File:Great Crown of Victory (heraldry).svg Great Crown of Victory of the King of Siam and Thailand | File:Phra Kiao Colored.svg Phra Kiao (princely coronet, also the emblem of king Chulalongkorn) | File:Royal Crown of the Crown of Siam.png coronet of the Crown prince of Siam/Thailand |
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Tahiti
| File:Crown of Tahiti.svg Crown of Tahiti |
Tonga
| File:Royal Crown of Tonga.svg Crown of Tonga |
Other examples
| File:Congo crown.svg Twig crown of the Republic of the Congo[5] | File:Coronet of the College of Arms Foundation (United States).svg College of Arms Foundation of the United States |
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Ecclesiastical Hats
Anglican Communion
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Catholic Church
See also
Notes
References
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ Cox, Noel The Coronets of Members of the Royal Family and of the Peerage. Template:Webarchive Originally published in (1999) 22 The Double Tressure, the Journal of The Heraldry Society of Scotland 8-13. Acceded 8 April 2017
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