The chapel of S. Wenceslas, the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, is the prelude to the camera that preserves the Czech crown jewels. In the right corner of the shrine is located a door with seven locks that leads to a spiral staircase leading into the first floor directly to the altar that contains a treasure of inestimable value: the Czech crown jewels. For the camera of the jewels in the crown can be opened must be brought to the door with seven locks seven persons with their respective keys: The President, Prime Minister, the Archbishop of Prague, the chairmen of the House and the Senate, the metropolitan chapter PREPOST Mayor of Prague.
The crown of St. Wenceslas crown VenceslaoLa is the single most valuable and oldest of the Czech crown jewels. Girded for the first time on Sunday September 2, 1347 Carlos IV to be crowned king of Bohemia.
The crown of S. Wenceslas measures 19 inches high and weighs 2358 grams. It was made of gold of 21 and 22 carats. The crown consists of a ring height of four departing trifoliates as lis. The jewel is topped by a small crucifix with the inscription "Hic est domini spina crown" - "Here remains a thorn in the crown of Christ."
In the crown of S. 96 Wenceslas are inlaid precious stones and twenty pearls that make it a unique example of medieval jewelry. Only in 1999 it was discovered that the red gem of which was supposed to be one of the world's largest ruby ever used in a jewel, is not really a ruby but a tourmaline. In contrast, the six large sapphires from Ceylon and Thailand, are among the ten largest in the world.
A Papal Bull issued by Clement VI in May 1346 in Avignon, banned on pain of excommunication steal or pawn the koruna. Also provided for how to use it and put the royal crown checked under special protection. This gave rise to the legend that he placed it on the head without being king, would die violently.
Reinhard HeydrichUn event happened during the Second World War as if to confirm the veracity of the legend: There are photos documenting how Reinhard Heydrich, the highest representative of the Third Reich in Bohemia and Moravia occupied by Hitler, referred to the Czech crown jewels. It is said that in a fit of pride, Heydrich was placed over his head the crown of S. Wenceslas. In 1942 he died in an attack by Czech anti-fascists.
The privileges that the Czech real crown obtained from Pope Clement VI in 1346 could not be granted at a distance but directly at the seat of the Pope in Avignon and simultaneously with the consecration and blessing of the jewel. So the king Carlos IV ordered a leather case make so the crown would go to France.
The chapel of S. Wenceslas Cathedral in San Vito, in PragaUn trip and was somewhat unusual in that the royal crown should remain in perpetuity on the skull of St. Wenceslas, in the sacristy of the chapel dedicated to that saint in the cathedral of St. Vitus at the Prague Castle.
Interestingly, the Czech crown was not real wealth of the monarch but was part of the treasure of the Cathedral of S. Vito. The king could ceñirla only occasion of his coronation and especially solemn occasions. The same day the head was placed on the return to the treasury of the cathedral chapter to pay the San Vito a kind of rent. It was a very very high: 200 hrivna silver, and weighed about 250 grams hrivna. The coronation cost them dearly in the Czech kings.
Besides the royal crown, the Czech crown jewels include the area and are less ancient scepter. It is estimated that two badges were made at the workshop by mid 16 century.
The sphere is 22 cm tall and is made of 18 carat gold. Has the form of two hemispheres joined by a ring decorated with precious stones and pearls. In the hemispheres are represented scenes from the episodes featuring Genesis and the biblical David. The dial is topped by a crucifix, beautifully decorated.
Also, the scepter is made, like a sphere of 18-karat gold. It measures 67 centimeters long and weighs 1013 grams. The sapphires adorn 4, 5 spinels, 61 beads and ornaments carved and glazed.
In the chamber of the Czech crown jewels are also kept the pillow to the royal crown, the coronation robes and jewelry pouch.
King Charles IVAL emerge in 1918 the Czechoslovak Republic, there was no cinese monarchs and the royal crown jewels of the Czech crown became cultural and historical heritage and a symbol of national independence.
During the Second World War the Czech lands were occupied by Hitler. As he approached the end of the war and the defeat of the Nazis, the representative of the Third Reich, Karl Hermann Frank, ordered to hide the Czech crown jewels in the basement Romanesque Prague Castle. Then he ordered to execute prisoners who had done so that Frank was the only person who knew where the jewels were.
S. VenceslaoCuando in 1945 was defeated Hitler's Germany, the Nazi personero speculated he could be pardoned by revealing the cache of jewels. His speculation was not. The Czechoslovak authorities found the jewels in the right place for Frank, Nazi war criminal but ended up being executed. The Czech crown jewels were displayed in Czechoslovakia released in October 1945.
The Czech crown jewels go out very little of the chamber in the Cathedral of St. Vitus and displayed in public only on rare occasions. Throughout the century 20 were shown nine times.
If the Pope or some important head of state wanted to see during your stay in Prague the Czech crown jewels, its request would be granted. Foreign visitors, however distinguished they are, they show only replicas of the crown jewels.
The caution is a practical reason: that the Czech crown jewels of its beauty is necessary to keep permanently stored in the camera austere gothic St. Vitus Cathedral, where the atmosphere is stable.