The imperial insignia were the jewels worn by the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire and the kings of the Germanic peoples during the Middle Ages. Among the imperial insignia are: the Imperial Crown, the Imperial Orb, the Imperial Scepter, the Imperial Sword, the Ceremonial Sword, the Imperial Bible, the Imperial Cross and the Holy Spear.
Imperial insignia, also known as imperial royalties, were of great importance in royal investiture. They were made of gold, silver and inlaid with precious stones, which gave them a majestic appearance, worthy of royalty.
Initially, the imperial insignia were conceived to be used by the emperor on duty during his travels through the Holy Roman Empire. However, in mid-1423 Emperor Sigismund decided that the imperial insignia should be kept in the German city of Nuremberg.
All the imperial insignia were preserved there until the end of the 18th century, and were used only during the coronations of the new emperors.
The above, with the exception of Saint Stephen's Purse, the Imperial Bible and Charlemagne's Saber, which were kept in the German city of Aachen, the coronation place of the German kings par excellence.
The imperial insignia have had multiple changes in their location, given the occurrence of considerable political revolts in Europe.
Finally, today they are protected in the Treasury Chamber of the Hofburg Imperial Palace, the largest palace in the city of Vienna, Austria.
Imperial regalia or insignia are the only almost completely preserved crown jewels from the Middle Ages. However, their exact origins are unknown, more specifically, there is no precise information on where and when they were manufactured.
Imperial crown
The Imperial Crown is the most important of the Imperial Insignia. During the coronation rite it was given to the new monarch, along with the Scepter and the Imperial Orb, and its use was exclusive to this ceremony.
Imperial Orb
The Imperial Orb is a jewel that emulates a globe with a cross on top.
It symbolizes the dominion of Christ over the world, and is a Christian emblem of authority, which strengthened the union between the Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire.
Imperial Scepter
In the same symbolic line, the Imperial Scepter represented royal or imperial authority; that is, the supremacy of the ruler over the people under his command.
The ceremonial sword and the imperial sword were also handed over. Both elements embodied the monarchical state, as well as the power, strength and self-defense capacity of the country.
The imperial insignia were given to the new emperors of the Holy Roman Empire from the hands of the Pope of Rome, as a symbol that their power was granted to them by divine design.
Later, when the empire was separated from the Catholic Church, the sword was presented to the emperors with the point upwards, symbolizing the earthly power of men.
References
- Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. (2017) Holy Roman Empire. London England. Recovered from: britannica.com
- Imperial Treasury Museum (2012). Wiener Schatzkammer. Vienna, Austria. Recovered from: wiener-schatzkammer.at
- Kampmann, U. (2015). The Coronation Regalia of the Holy Roman Empire. Vienna, Austria. Recovered from: coinsweekly.com
- Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (2017). Imperial Crown (Holy Roman Empire). Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (2017). Imperial Regalia. Recovered from: Recovered from: en.wikipedia.org.