Iron Crown

Iron Crown
The Iron Crown, preserved in
the Cathedral of Monza, Italy
Heraldic depictions
Details
CountryKingdom of the Lombards[1]
Kingdom of Italy (Frankish)
Holy Roman Empire
Kingdom of Italy (Napoleonic)
Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia
Kingdom of Italy
Madec. 4th–5th and 9th century[1]
OwnerCathedral of Monza
Weightca. 605 grams
ArchesNone (Circlet)
MaterialGold
CapNone
Notable stonesgarnets, sapphires and glass
Other elementsNail purportedly used at the Crucifixion of Jesus

The Iron Crown (in Italian, Latin, and Lombard: Corona Ferrea; German: Eiserne Krone) is a reliquary votive crown, traditionally considered one of the oldest royal insignia of Christendom. It was made in the Middle Ages, consisting of a circlet of gold and jewels fitted around a central silver band, which tradition held to be made of iron beaten out of a nail of the True Cross. In the later Middle Ages, the crown came to be seen as a heritage from the Kingdom of the Lombards and was used as regalia for the coronation of some Holy Roman Emperors as kings of Italy. It is kept in the Duomo of Monza.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference museo_monza was invoked but never defined (see the help page).