| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
The Iron Crown is so called from a narrow band of iron within it, said to be beaten out of one of the nails used at the Crucifixion. This very thin band is about three-eighths of an inch broad. According to tradition, the nail was first given to Emperor Constantine by his mother Helena, who discovered the Cross. How it fell into the hands of the Lombard kings is not well explained. The outer circlet of the crown is of six gold and enamel segments of beaten gold, joined together by hinges and set with precious stones that stand out in relief, in the form of crosses and flowers.
Its small size and hinged construction have suggested to some that it was originally an armlet or perhaps a votive crown that was presented to the Cathedral of Monza, where it is preserved as a holy relic. On March 1, 1026, Heribert, the archbishop of Milan, crowned Conrad II at Milan with the iron crown of Lombardy. From the 9th to the 12th century the Italian kings, and several German kings, received the Iron Crown of Lombardy at Pavia.
On the May 23, 1805, Napoleon had himself crowned King of Italy at Milan, with suitable splendor and magnificence. Seated upon a superb throne, he was invested with the usual insignia of royalty by the Cardinal Archbishop of Milan, and ascending the altar, he took the iron crown, and placing it on his head, exclaimed, being part of the ceremony used at the enthronement of the Lombard kings, Dieu me la donne, gare à qui la touche – "God gives it me, beware those who touch it".
On the occasion, Napoleon founded the Order of the Iron Crown, on June 15, 1805. After Napoleon's fall and the annexation of Lombardy to Austria, the order was re-instituted by the Austrian Emperor Francis I, on January 1January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Here a calendar year refers to the order in which the months are displayed, January to December. The first day of the medieval Julian year was usually a day other, 1816. Emperor Ferdinand I decided to have himself crowned King of Lombardy and Venetia in Milan on September 6September 6 is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years). There are 116 days remaining. Events 3761 BC The first day of the Hebrew Calendar. 394 Battle of Frigidus: The Christian Roman Emperor Theodosius I defeats and kills the pagan usurper Eugeniu, 1838Events January 6 Samuel Morse first publicly demonstrates the telegraph. January 8 Alfred Vail demonstrates a telegraph using dots and dashes (this is the forerunner of Morse code) January 12 Joseph Smith, Jr. and Sidney Rigdon flee Ohio for Missouri Marc, using the Iron Crown. After the war between Austria and Italy, when the Austrian had to withdraw from Italy in 1859Events January 2 Erastus Beadle publishes The Dime Book of Practical Etiquette''. February 14 Oregon is admitted as the 33rd U. February 16 George Washington Gale Ferris Jr born February 16, 1859 Galesburg, Knox, IL March 26 French amateur astronomer clai, the Iron Crown was delivered to Victor EmmanuelVictor Emmanuel II (in Italian: Vittorio Emanuele II ( March 14 1820 January 9 1878) was the King of Piedmont, Savoy and Sardinia 1849 1861, and King of Italy 1861 1878. In 1842 he was married to a cousin, Maria Adelaide of Habsburg and had children inclu.
A surprising image of the Iron Crown figures in Chaper 37 "Sunset" of Herman MelvilleHerman Melville ( August 1 1819 September 28 1891) was a U. novelist, essayist, and poet. During his own lifetime his early novels, South Seas adventures, were quite popular, but his audience declined later in his life. By the time of his death he had nea's Moby Dick. The brief chapter is devoted to Captain Ahab's soliloquy. Among his delusions of persecution and of grandeur, he imagines himself crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy, an unexpectedly erudite touch for Ahab, though perhaps not for Melville.