Best of Russia --- Royal Regalia

State Sword and Shield early 17th century . The collection of state regalia (royal objects) in the Armoury Chamber of Kremlin is the national pride of Russia. It consists of crowns, scepters, thrones, the state sword and shield, chains and crosses which played a leading part in court ceremonial from the thirteenth to nineteenth century.

These sacred relics, symbols of state power, were passed down from generation to generation, affirming the continuity and unshakeability of supreme autocracy. They reflect the whole history of the Russian state and were witnesses of the most significant political events.

All these items are of great artistic, historical and material value. They were used almost without changes at all the coronations right up to that of the coronation of Nicholas II.

"The purpose of the coronation is to establish bonds between the tsar's authority and that of the Church. It is a meshing of church and state and names the tsar Father, Head and Ruler of all Russian people by the will of God."

Crown and Orb from Tsar Micheal Romanov late 16th century.

The special importance of coronations dictated the need for the symbols of power to be fashioned with the utmost richness. Many of them have no equal in world collections in terms of their beauty, fine execution and the rare precious stones that adorn them.

The 18th century celebrations after the coronation began to reflect an increasing influence of other royal houses in Europe, most notably that of Prussia. From the eighteenth century, the practice of showering the tsar with gold and silver coins was discontinued. During the entry procession to the Archangel and Annunciation Cathedrals, gold and silver medals were thrown into the crowd. In addition, courtiers were awarded medals specially minted for the coronation.

Throne of Ivan the Terrible.

Across the country the people celebrated the crowning of a new ruler in various ways. There were swains and carousels, jugglers and acrobats, and many different kinds of refreshments. Wheeled tables and platforms were set up on the squares of the city and roast sheep and oxen, stuffed birds, and pyramids of kalach, a traditional Russian loaf. Fountains of wine poured forth, and barrels of beer and wine were driven about the town. Commemorative gifts were also distributed among the people.

The Coronation of Empreror Alexander III and Empress Maria Fyodorovna, G. Becker, Oil on canvas. 1888.

For several weeks after the coronation ceremony concluded, the rulers held audiences in the royal palace where they received congratulations and hosted banquets. Balls, masquerades, and theatrical presentations followed one after the other. For a short time, lavish illumination and fabulous fireworks turned the ancient capital into a fairytale city.

The Coronation of Nicholas ll and Alexandra, 1896

The Coronation of Nicholas ll and Alexandra took place in Moscow in 1896. The whole old-world pomp of the Russian Court was displayed there. It was a glorious pageant for the whole country, apart from the importance it had in the eyes of those who saw in the religious rites the real consecration of their sovereign.

Everything was done to foster this feeling in the people who came to Moscow for the celebrations from every part of the vast Russian Empire.

The Emperor granted amnesties to prisoners, and bounties to all classes of his subjects: fines were remitted, and facilities given for payment of taxes.

Emperor Nicholas II on the Red Porch after his Coronation, A. Edelfelt. Watercolour and gouache.1896.

Nicholas II on the Red Porch after his Coronation, A. Edelfelt. Watercolour and gouache. 1896.

Crown of Tsar Momomach late 13th century.

Even though the Russian capital had been moved to St. Petersburg, the tsars always returned to Moscow for the coronation in the Kremlin's Dormition Cathedral. As the coronation festivities approached, the whole court set off from St. Petersburg to Moscow. According to custom, the royal family stopped in elaborate village palaces to prepare for their royal entry into the ancient capital. This entry into Moscow was greeted with a gun salute, the ringing of bells from the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in the Kremlin, and the sound of trumpets and kettledrums. The arrival of the royal family was marked by a grand procession (conducted according to a strictly defined order) including representatives of all the peoples in the mighty Russian Empire. For coronation ceremonies, triumphal gates were erected "with unparalleled decoration." They were funded by the Church, Moscow merchants, the municipal government, and other benefactors. Subjects bearing gifts greeted the tsar at the gates, and choirs sang solemn hymns. Priests with crosses and other holy artifacts came from the churches of Moscow to greet the royal family.

Throne of Tsarina Elizabeth, daugter of Peter the Great, 1742.

Regalia that were used during these occasions included crowns, scepters, orbs, swords, shields, seals, mantles, and banners. The ceremonial use of these objects was key to the conferring of the royal power, and provided a lasting tradition that was understood by all. The objects were ornate often encrusted with diamonds, rubies, sapphires, pearls, and other precious gems. These special royal objects inspired awe and respect, and represented the wealth and power of the person possessing them. Before the coronation, the regalia were brought from the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg to the Moscow Armory, which, from the beginning of the eighteenth century, served as a state treasury. On the eve of the coronation, the regalia, along with other ancient ceremonial articles, were carried to the Dormition Cathedral.

The laying on of the regalia was accompanied by the recital of a prayer. Here, too, Peter the Great made changes. Peter the Great, who so fervently desired the growth and prosperity of the Russian state, attempted to lend the coronation ceremony an identifiable state character. The life giving cross was no longer placed on the tsar; and the barmy, or ceremonial collar, also disappeared, to be replaced by the new coronation mantle.

Likewise, the ancient crown of the Russian tsars, the Cap of Monomach, was replaced with a Western European style crown, made of two separate hemispheres separated by an arc. At first, new crowns were usually made for each coronation. In 1762, however, the famed St. Petersburg jeweler, Ieremiia Poze, created a magnificent diamond crown for Catherine the Great. This masterpiece of jeweler's art was used in all subsequent coronations including that of the last member of the Romanov dynasty, Nicholas II.

Site Produced by

--- Contact --- Disclaimer --- Last updated in April 2003.