Iron Crown of Lombardy

The Iron Crown is the crown of the Lombards.

The crown was the beginning or in the second half of the 9th century. It consists of a six-part, green enameled and trimmed with 22 gems gold hoops. Inside is an iron hoop, which was supposedly made ​​of a nail from the cross of Christ and is eponymous for the crown. According to legend, Emperor Constantine the Great first had these nail, which he had received from his mother Helena, who discovered the cross.

Today the crown is in the Cathedral at Monza in northern Italy. In the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) she is depicted as a crest.

After the Iron Crown of Merit two of the 19th century are named: the Order of the Iron Crown and the Order of the Crown of Italy.

Rulers who were crowned with the Iron Crown King of Italy (selection)

• Conrad III. ( 1128 )
• Lothar III. ( 1128 )
• Henry VI. ( 1186 )
• Henry VII ( 1311 )
• Louis IV ( 1327 )
• Charles IV ( 1355 )
• Sigismund (1431)
• Friedrich III. ( 1452 )
• Charles V (1530)
• Napoleon I (1805 )
• Ferdinand I of Austria (1838, the last carrier )