Christian 5.s krone
When Christian V took to the throne as the first absolute king, in 1670, he wore the crown of the absolute monarchy. Christian IV’s crown had been placed in the Treasury. Using the gold from the arches that had been removed from Christian IV’s crown, Court Jeweller Paul Kurtz created a new crown.
Christian V’s crown is also known as the crown of the absolute monarchy, which was introduced in 1661. Christian V was the first king to begin his reign as an absolute monarch.
A new crown
When Christian V took to the throne, the Danish king was no longer coronated but anointed. The King chose not to use Christian IV’s crown, which was placed in the Treasury. The gold arches that his father, Frederik III, had added to Christian IV’s crown, were removed. Court Jeweller Paul Kurtz used the gold from the arches to create a new crown.
The design of Christian V’s crown was inspired by the crown of the French King Louis XIV, which was the height of fashion at the time of Christian V’s anointing. While Christian IV’s crown is quite colourful, Christian V’s crown is very simple, made mainly of gold and white diamonds.
Two kilos of gold and precious stones
Christian V’s crown weighs over two kilos and is decorated with two large sapphires, two large garnets and about 2,600 diamonds. The stone at the top of the cross is a corundum. A red corundum is called a ruby, while a blue one is called a sapphire. The corundum on the crown is a rare combination of both: a blue stone with a red stripe. The ‘large precious sapphire’ at the front of the crown can be traced back to the time of Frederik I and was probably a gift to his father, Christian I (1426–1481) from the Duke of Milan, in 1474. Under the large table-cut diamond at the front of the crown, we see Christian V’s monogram in gold thread.
You know the crown
Christian VIII’s anointing
Christian V’s crown was last used at the anointing of Christian VIII in 1840.
Neither coronation nor anointing today
After the introduction of the Danish Constitutions and constitutional monarchy, in 1849, Danish monarchs are neither crowned nor anointed. Photo: Christian VII in his anointing robes and crown, 1767.
Castrum doloris
Today, the crown is only used once in a monarch’s life: when the monarch has passed away. Their coffin is placed on display in the Palace Chapel at Christiansborg. In this ceremony, which is called castrum doloris, the crown is placed on the coffin.
See Christian V’s crown
Today, you can see Christian V’s crown everywhere, as that is the crown depicted on Danish coins. To see the original, you have to visit the Treasury under Rosenborg Castle.