Austrian Crown Jewels

The Austrian Crown Jewels (German: Insignien des Kaisertums Österreich) are the regalia and vestments worn by the Holy Roman Emperor, and later by the Emperor of Austria, during the coronation ceremony and other state functions.

The estates in parliament swore obedience to their new ruler, and he in turn guaranteed their rights and upheld their privileges.

The inscription inside the arch reads: RVDOLPHVS II ROM(ANORVM) IMP(ERATOR) AVGVSTUS HVNG(ARIAE) ET BOH(EMIAE) REX CONSTRVXIT MDCII (tr.

"Rudolf II, Roman emperor, King of Hungary and Bohemia, made this in 1602").

When emperor Ferdinand I was to be crowned King of Lombardy and Venetia in Milan on 6 September 1838, the question arose as to the choice of appropriate insignia and coronation vestments.

It was built by Pierre-Paul Prud'hon, Henri-Victor Roguier, Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot and Pierre-Philippe Thomire in Paris in 1811.

The cradle is silver-gilt, and decorated with gold, mother-of-pearl, copper plates covered with velvet, silk and tulle with gold and silver embroidery, and signed on two of the feet: Odiot et Thomire and Thomire et Odiot.

Another notable item listed in the Household Treasure is the Crown of István Bocskay.

It is made out of gold, studded with precious stones and pearls, and laid in with silk.

As crowns were not in use in the Ottoman Empire, it was modeled after the Byzantine kamelaukion (closed bonnet-like headdress), similar to those used in the Orthodox church.

The crown has two main parts: a broad circlet with a wreath of fleurs-de-lis and a closed, spherical helmet rising from it.

From 1508, after his election, the German King no longer called for the coronation by the Pope either, but considered himself Roman emperor directly.

The Ecclesiastical Treasury (Geistliche Schatzkammer) contains various pieces such as crosses, altars, reliquaries, icons, holy statues, and other items that were used for prayer by the court and the Habsburgs.

The collection is vast, so only a limited number of items are on permanent exhibition, the rest are shown in cycles.

The Imperial Crown , Orb, and Sceptre of Austria
Imperial Crown
Emperor Francis I wearing the Imperial Mantle and regalia
Cradle of the King of Rome
Crown of Stephen Bocskai , Imperial Treasury, Hofburg Palace, Vienna
Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire, Imperial Treasury, Vienna
Neck Chain of a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece
The Ainkhürn (horn of a unicorn)
Hofburg Palace, location of the Schatzkammer