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The
Crown jewels are known as “Honours of Scotland”, they include
the Crown, the Sword of State and the Sceptre and they are the oldest
royal jewels in Christianity.
The
Crown of Scotland is made of gold and it is ornamented with pearls and
gemstones like diamonds, amethysts and garnets.
The sceptre is made of golden silver and it is topped with a sphere
of rock crystal. The Sword of
State, the Scabbard and the Belt are ornamented with Pope Julius II’s
arms and with Christian symbology elements such as dolphins, acorns and
oak tree leaves.
History
The
first Scottish kings were crowned in an open air ceremony in which the
king would probably be seated on The Stone of
Destiny, which symbolized
the union of the king, the earth and the people. The Stone of Destiny was
and still is a valuable symbol for Scotland and its people.
Edward
I of England took possession of The Stone in 1296 and with that a
tradition of almost four centuries was over. The Stone of Destiny was kept
at Westminster Abbey in London for 700 years until its historical return
to Scotland in 1996.
Robert
I is crowned with “A Golden Coronet”
In
1306 Robert I “The Bruce” is crowned with a golden coronet. This type
of crown was new because Edward I of England had taken away the old
emblems. According to legend,
the Golden Coronet carried by Robert
The Bruce was later used to make the present crown.
James
IV receives the Sword of State
The
Sceptre and the Sword were sent to Scotland during the Reign of James IV
(1488-1513). Both were presents from the Pope. The Sceptre was donated in
1494 and the Sword, the Scabbard and the Belt were given to James IV in
1507. James IV was the first Scottish King who was crowned with an
Imperial Crown.
King
James V and his craft men
James
V (1513-1542) made some alterations to the emblems. He renewed the guard
of the Sword, the Sceptre was enlarged and the Crown was renewed using
more gold and gemstones. Also a new purple cap decorated with stoat was
made.
Mary,
Queen of Scots’ Coronation
The
first time the new emblems were used was in Mary’s coronation as Queen
of Scotland in 1543. Her son James was also heir to the English Throne and
in 1603 he became King of England and Scotland.
The last coronation in Scotland
After
the Union of the Crowns, there were only two more coronations in Scotland,
that of Charles I
During
that time, the civil war was devastating the country and the emblems were
in danger of falling into the hands of the invader, the English Army.
The
Emblems are saved from Cromwell
After
Charles II’s coronation, the emblems were taken to Dunnottar Castle but
the English besieged the place and claimed them. Two brave women could
take them secretly out of the castle
The
Emblems are recovered
8
years later, after Cromwell’s death in 1660, the emblems were dug up and
taken to Edinburgh Castle.
The
Union of the Parliaments
The
Emblems main function was to represent the Monarch at Parliament. In 1707
that function was carried out for the last time when the Sceptre touched
the Acts of Union as a symbol that the Monarch approved the Union of
Scotland and England to form one single country. The emblems were taken to
the castle and were placed in the Crown Room.
The
rediscovery of the Emblems
The
emblems were hidden during 111 years, until in 1818 writer Sir Walter
Scott obtained a royal authorization to open the Crown Room. The emblems
were exactly as they were placed in 1707.
Soon,
the Honours of Scotland were displayed to the public permanently in that
room, where they can still be admired.
Copyright Monica Loreto
