Cross (crown)
Encyclopedia
A cross is the decoration located at the highest level of a crown
on top of the monde
. Its usage traditionally symbolised the Christian
nature of the monarchy of that country, though not all crowns even in monarchies associated with Christianity used a cross as its top decoration, with some French
crowns using other national symbols.
While many early crowns were in uncovered circlet
form (and some Europe
an crowns continue to be in circlet form (see Danish Crown Regalia
) from late mediæval times it became traditional to enclose the crown in a headcovering or cap
, in part due to the drafty nature of mediæval cathedral
s, castle
s, palace
s and halls where crowns were worn. To hide the cap, a series of decorative features were added; the half-arch
es, meeting at the monde
, with the Christian nature of the crown symbolised by the use of 4 crosses pattee
and the crown on top of the monde.
A decorative cross is particularly associated with the British Crown Jewels and with Papal Tiara
s.
Crown (headgear)
A crown is the traditional symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, immortality, righteousness, victory, triumph, resurrection, honour and glory of life after death. In art, the crown may be shown being offered to...
on top of the monde
Monde (crown)
A monde is a ball-like object located near the top of a crown. It is the point at which a crown's half arches meet. It is usually topped off either with a national or religious symbol, for example a cross in Christian countries....
. Its usage traditionally symbolised the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
nature of the monarchy of that country, though not all crowns even in monarchies associated with Christianity used a cross as its top decoration, with some French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
crowns using other national symbols.
While many early crowns were in uncovered circlet
Circlet
A circlet is a crown with neither arches nor a cap ....
form (and some Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an crowns continue to be in circlet form (see Danish Crown Regalia
Danish Crown Regalia
Danish Crown Regalia are the symbols of the Danish monarchy. They consist of three crowns, a sceptre , an orb , a sword of state and an ampulla....
) from late mediæval times it became traditional to enclose the crown in a headcovering or cap
Cap (crown)
The cap of a crown is the cap which fills the inner space of a modern crown. While ancient crowns contained no cap, from mediæval times it became traditional to fill the circlet with a cap of velvet or other such cloth, with a base of ermine....
, in part due to the drafty nature of mediæval cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
s, castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
s, palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
s and halls where crowns were worn. To hide the cap, a series of decorative features were added; the half-arch
Half-arch (crown)
A half-arch is the piece of gold, silver or platinum, usually decorated with jewels, that links the circlet of a hoop crown to the globe at the top of the crown.-British tradition of 4 half-arches:...
es, meeting at the monde
Monde (crown)
A monde is a ball-like object located near the top of a crown. It is the point at which a crown's half arches meet. It is usually topped off either with a national or religious symbol, for example a cross in Christian countries....
, with the Christian nature of the crown symbolised by the use of 4 crosses pattee
Cross pattée (crown)
Many crowns worn by monarchs have jewelled cross pattée symbols mounted atop the band. Most crowns possess at least four such crosses, from which the half arches rise...
and the crown on top of the monde.
A decorative cross is particularly associated with the British Crown Jewels and with Papal Tiara
Papal Tiara
The Papal Tiara, also known incorrectly as the Triple Tiara, or in Latin as the Triregnum, in Italian as the Triregno and as the Trirègne in French, is the three-tiered jewelled papal crown, supposedly of Byzantine and Persian origin, that is a prominent symbol of the papacy...
s.
- See also Globus crucigerGlobus crucigerThe globus cruciger is an orb topped with a cross , a Christian symbol of authority used throughout the Middle Ages and even today on coins, iconography and royal regalia...