1577-1648
Christian IV
Read more about Christian IV
Christian IV’s crown
Christian IV’s crown, which is now on display in the Treasury under Rosenborg Castle, looks almost as it did on the August day in 1596 when Christian IV was crowned reigning king of Denmark and Norway.
Christian IV’s coronation as reigning king of Denmark and Norway, in August 1596, was marked with pomp and splendour – and a brand-new royal crown.
Flying gold coins and fireworks
The sight of the 19-year-old Christian IV, dressed in his gold- and pearl-embroidered coronation costume, and his entourage riding in procession through town for the ceremony at the Church of Our Lady must have been quite impressive. The fountain on Amager Square ran with wine, gold coins were tossed into the crowd, and in conclusion, there was a grand fireworks display.
For the big event, the King had commissioned a new crown, made of gold with enamel, a table-cut stone and a total weight of almost three kilos. In a departure from the prevailing fashion at the time, it is an open crown. The Kalmar Union kings had always worn open crowns, and by following this tradition, Christian IV sought to represent himself as the heir of a unified Nordic realm.
Wild details
The large points of the crown show the virtues of a good ruler. In front, above the king’s brow, and repeated over his ears, a pelican is shown pecking at its own breast to feed its chicks. Originally a metaphor for Christ’s sacrifice, here, the bird serves as a symbol of the king’s obligation to be willing to spill his own blood in defence of his people. Above the king’s right hand, we see Fortitudo, a woman riding a lion, symbolising the king as warlord. Above his left hand is Justitia, a female figure holding a sword and a set of scales, symbolising the king’s role as supreme justice. Above the back of the king’s neck, is Caritas, a mother breastfeeding her child, symbolising the king as the head of church and his love for God and his subjects.
What happened to Christian IV’s crown?
Pawned in Hamburg
According to tradition, a crown was only worn once. After the king’s death, it was stripped of its precious stones and remelted. However, in 1644, Christian IV had to pawn his crown with a merchant in Hamburg to raise money for war against Sweden.
Frederik III wore the same crown
When Christian IV died, in 1648, the crown was still in Hamburg, but Frederik III redeemed it and was crowned with his father’s crown that same year.
Now as a closed crown
On the same occasion, the coats of arms on the inside of the points were renovated, and golden arches were added, making it a closed crown. This raised the total weight to almost five kilos, making it the heaviest crown in European history.
Recycling gold and diamonds for Christian V’s crown
When Christian V was crowned, in 1670, he had the arches removed and recycled the gold and diamonds for the new closed crown of the absolute monarchy.
See Christian IV’s crown in the Treasury.
Christian V preserved his grandfather’s crown, and to this day, you can see Christian IV’s crown in the Treasury under Rosenborg Castle – almost unchanged from that August day in 1597.
