Prussian Crown Jewels
Encyclopedia
The Prussian Crown Jewels is a set of crown
s, orb and scepters used to crown
Kings of Prussia
of the Hohenzollern dynasty
. After the King of Prussia became German Kaiser
on the establishment of the German Empire
on January 18, 1871, they were no longer used as the position of King of Prussia while still remaining was a title of little importance compared to the new role as German Kaiser. There was no crown for the German Empire.
In contrast with the lavish, heavily bejewelled
crowns of other monarch
ies (e.g. British, Russian), the Prussian crown jewels were sometimes described as "rather plain".
The regalia
includes the
In the absence of further state regalia for the German Empire
(1871-1918), the older royal Prussian Crown Jewels were sometimes also regarded as German Crown Jewels
:
Prussia became a part of the German Empire
in 1871 and its king became the German emperor. The German Empire became a Federal Republic
in 1918 and, at the same time, Prussia became a subject of that federal republic.
Most of the Prussian regalia are on public display in the Charlottenburg Palace
in Berlin
. The Crown of Wilhelm II, in his role as King of Prussia, is in the Schloss Hohenzollern
in Germany.
Crown (headgear)
A crown is the traditional symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, immortality, righteousness, victory, triumph, resurrection, honour and glory of life after death. In art, the crown may be shown being offered to...
s, orb and scepters used to crown
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
Kings of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
of the Hohenzollern dynasty
House of Hohenzollern
The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...
. After the King of Prussia became German Kaiser
Kaiser
Kaiser is the German title meaning "Emperor", with Kaiserin being the female equivalent, "Empress". Like the Russian Czar it is directly derived from the Latin Emperors' title of Caesar, which in turn is derived from the personal name of a branch of the gens Julia, to which Gaius Julius Caesar,...
on the establishment of the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
on January 18, 1871, they were no longer used as the position of King of Prussia while still remaining was a title of little importance compared to the new role as German Kaiser. There was no crown for the German Empire.
In contrast with the lavish, heavily bejewelled
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
crowns of other monarch
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
ies (e.g. British, Russian), the Prussian crown jewels were sometimes described as "rather plain".
The regalia
Regalia
Regalia is Latin plurale tantum for the privileges and the insignia characteristic of a Sovereign.The word stems from the Latin substantivation of the adjective regalis, 'regal', itself from Rex, 'king'...
includes the
- the Crown of Wilhelm IICrown of Wilhelm IIThe Crown of William II, also known as the Hohenzollern Crown, is the 1888 crown made for William II, German Emperor in his role as King of Prussia. A Crown of the German Empire was never made. It was only used for heraldic purposes.-Design:...
(1889), or Hohenzollern crown, is the only piece dating from the imperial period, but being very similar to older crowns.
In the absence of further state regalia for the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
(1871-1918), the older royal Prussian Crown Jewels were sometimes also regarded as German Crown Jewels
German Crown Jewels
The German Crown Jewels encompass both the Imperial Regalia of the German Kingdom within the Holy Roman Empire and the Prussian Crown Jewels, which the Prussians kings continued to use after becoming German Emperors in 1871...
:
- the royal Crown of Frederick ICrown of Frederick IThe Crown of Frederick I was made by the Court Jewellers for King Frederick I of Prussia in 1701, who was crowned in Königsberg. The crown was also used for the coronation of Frederick William I and his son, Frederick II . He was a very frugal monarch, and although the crown was present at his...
(1701); - the royal Crown of Queen Sophie Charlotte (1701);
- Royal SceptreSceptreA sceptre is a symbolic ornamental rod or wand borne in the hand by a ruling monarch as an item of royal or imperial insignia.-Antiquity:...
of Prussia (1701); - Royal Orb of Prussia (1701);
Prussia became a part of the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
in 1871 and its king became the German emperor. The German Empire became a Federal Republic
Federal republic
A federal republic is a federation of states with a republican form of government. A federation is the central government. The states in a federation also maintain the federation...
in 1918 and, at the same time, Prussia became a subject of that federal republic.
Most of the Prussian regalia are on public display in the Charlottenburg Palace
Charlottenburg Palace
Charlottenburg Palace is the largest palace in Berlin, Germany, and the only royal residency in the city dating back to the time of the Hohenzollern family. It is located in the Charlottenburg district of the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf burough.The palace was built at the end of the 17th century...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. The Crown of Wilhelm II, in his role as King of Prussia, is in the Schloss Hohenzollern
Burg Hohenzollern
Hohenzollern Castle is a castle about south of Stuttgart, Germany. It is considered the ancestral seat of the Hohenzollern family, which emerged in the Middle Ages and eventually became German Emperors....
in Germany.