King Edward's Chair

The coronation chair or the throne of King Edward, known also under the name of St. Edward 's Chair, is the throne on which takes the respective British monarch during the coronation place. He was in 1296 by King Edward I in order to give the coronation stone of Scotland - to enter a place he stole the Scots, who had in turn kept him in Scone Abbey - the Stone of Scone. The chair was named after Edward the Confessor and stood in his shrine at St Edward 's Chapel in Westminster Abbey.

History

Since 1308 all anointed leaders of England were crowned ( to 1603 ) and Great Britain ( after the union of the crown) on this throne. Exceptions were Mary I ( who was crowned on a throne donated by the pope ) and Mary II (which was crowned on a copy of the chair ). The last time the chair at the coronation of Elizabeth II was used in 1953.

Equipped with a high back and armrest chair in the Gothic style was carved in 1297 by a carpenter, Master Walter, from oak. He received for his work, the relatively high sum of 100 shillings. Four lions form the chair legs; they are a relatively new restoration, which was carried out in 1727. They replaced the time -like lions, who came from the 16th century. Under the seat there is a cavity, the Stone of Scone which included until 1996; he was returned to Scotland, under the premise to place it there at the next coronation again.

The throne was once well- illustrated and richly painted - it is believed that he once bore the image of Edward the Confessor on the back. Today, however, it appears in the old and ordinary wood, in which many visitors, pilgrims and choir boys have left their initials and other graffiti in the 18th and 19th centuries. 1914, the throne was damaged in a bomb attack, which should be assumed by the suffragettes.

In its 800 -year history, he was just three times from Westminster Abbey. The first time when Oliver Cromwell Lord Protector of England was introduced as the second time during the Second World War, when he was brought to the Cathedral of Gloucester for evacuation. When, on Christmas Day 1950 four Scottish students the Stone of Scone stole, he was removed for the last time so far from Westminster Abbey.

Nowadays it is highly secured and leaves its place ( near the tomb of Henry V ) only when it comes in the nave of Westminster Abbey to a coronation.

• British Monarchy
• Throne