Coronation of the Bohemian monarch

Coronation of King Ferdinand V of Bohemia in 1836, last Czech coronation.

The Coronation of the Bohemian monarch (in Czech: korunovace českého panovníka) was a ceremony in which the king (or queen-regnant) and queen-consort (if there was at time) was formally crowned, annoited and invested with regalia. It corresponded to the coronation ceremonies that occurred in other European monarchies, especially France, Germany and partially neighboring Hungary and England. Like in France and England the king's reign began immediately upon the death of his predecessor.

Location of all coronations was cathedral of St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, from time it was founded. Person performing coronation of king was Archbishop of Prague.

Ordinance for coronation (with all requisites to be performed) was set in coronation prescription (korunovační řád in Czech) made by king Charles I (Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor).

The first crowned ruler (king) of Bohemia was Vratislaus II of Bohemia. During the Middle Ages, it was held that enthronement would make a person Duke of Bohemia and that only coronation would make a person King of Bohemia. Soo coronations were held shortly after accession of new king (or acceptance of new king). In modern era the new king ascended on throne after death of his predecessor as king and coronation ceremony was held some time after accession.^[1] St. Vitus Cathedral was the coronation church.^[2] Monarchs of Bohemia were crowned with the Crown of Saint Wenceslas and invested with royal insignia, among which a cap or mitre and a lance (symbols of Saint Wenceslas) were specific for Bohemian coronations.^[3]

Maria Theresa, the only female monarch of Bohemia, was crowned literally as king in order to emphasize that she was the monarch and not consort. The last King of Bohemia to be crowned as such was Emperor Ferdinand of Austria (king of Bohemia as Ferdinand V) and his wife queen Maria Anna.^[4][5]

The Abbess of the St. George's Abbey had the privilege to crown the wife of the King of Bohemia.^[6][7][8] In 1791, the right to crown the Queen of Bohemia was transferred to the Abbess of the Damenstift (a post always filled by an Archduchess of Austria).^[9][10]

The coronation wasn't necessary for rule in Bohemia, but all kings except four were crowned. Kings of Bohemia which weren't crowned during their reign were:

• Joseph I (ruled 1705–1711, died before coronation)
• Joseph II (ruled 1780–1790, not crowned in Hungary neither)
• Franz Joseph I (ruled 1848–1916, not willing to do)
• Charles III (ruled 1916–1918, short reign. state at war, deposed).

On the other hand, king Ferdinand IV was crowned during lifetime of his father (Ferdinand III), but he died before him, so he never actually reigned. Coronation of heir during life of his father was only temporary custom for kings: Ferdinand III, Ferdinand IV and Leopold I.

List of royal coronations

Status	Name	Date	Place	Konsecrator
King	Vratislaus II of Bohemia	20 April 1085 15 June 1086	Mainz Prague	Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor Egilbert Archbishop of Trier
Queen	Świętosława of Poland	15 June 1086	Prague	Egilbert Archbishop of Trier
King	Vladislaus I	11 January 1158 8 September 1158	Regensburg Milan	Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor
King	Ottokar I of Bohemia	8 September 1198 24 August 1203	Boppard Merseburg	Guidem z Praeneste Papal legate
King	Wenceslaus I of Bohemia	6 February 1228	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Siegfried z Eppenštejna Archbishop of Mainz
Queen	Kunigunde of Hohenstaufen wife of Wenceslaus I	6 February 1228	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Siegfried z Eppenštejna Archbishop of Mainz
King	Ottokar II of Bohemia	25 December 1261	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Werner von Eppstein Archbishop of Mainz
Queen	Kunigunda of Halych wife of Ottokar II of Bohemia	25 December 1261	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Werner von Eppstein Archbishop of Mainz
King	Wenceslaus II of Bohemia	2 June 1297	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Gerhard von Eppstein Archbishop of Mainz
Queen	Judith of Habsburg wife of Wenceslaus II	2 June 1297	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Gerhard von Eppstein Archbishop of Mainz
Queen	Elizabeth Richeza of Poland wife of Wenceslaus II	26 May 1303	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Gerhard von Eppstein Archbishop of Mainz
King	John of Bohemia	7 February 1311	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Peter of Aspelt Archbishop of Mainz
Queen	Elizabeth of Bohemia wife of John of Bohemia, heiress of Kingdom	7 February 1311	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Peter of Aspelt Archbishop of Mainz
Queen	Beatrice of Bourbon wife of John of Bohemia	18 May 1337	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Heinrich von Virneberg Archbishop of Mainz
King	Charles I (Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor)	2 September 1347	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Arnošt of Pardubice Archbishop of Prague
Queen	Blanche of Valois wife of Charles	2 September 1347	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Arnošt of Pardubice Archbishop of Prague
Queen	Anne of Bavaria wife of Charles	1 September 1349	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Arnošt z Pardubic Archbishop of Prague
Queen	Anna von Schweidnitz wife of Charles	28 July 1353	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Arnošt z Pardubic Archbishop of Prague
Queen	Elizabeth of Pomerania wife of Charles	18 June 1363	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Arnošt z Pardubic Archbishop of Prague
King	Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia	15 June 1363	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Arnošt z Pardubic Archbishop of Prague
Queen	Joanna of Bavaria wife of Wenceslaus IV	17 November 1370	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Jan Očko z Vlašimi Archbishop of Prague
Queen	Sophia of Bavaria wife of Wenceslaus IV	13 March 1400	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Olbram III. ze Škvorce Archbishop of Prague
King	Sigismund	28 July 1420	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Conrad of Vechta Archbishop of Prague
Queen	Barbara of Cilli wife of Sigismund	11 February 1437	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Sede vacante Filibert, biskup konstantský diocesan administrator
King	Albert	29 June 1438	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Sede vacante Filibert, bishop of Konstanz diocesan administrator
Queen	Elizabeth of Luxembourg	29 June 1438	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Sede vacante Filibert, bishop of Konstanz diocesan administrator
King	Ladislaus the Posthumous	28 October 1453	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Sede vacante Václav Hněvsín z Krumlova, děkan pražský diocesan administrator
King	George of Poděbrady	7 May 1458	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Sede vacante Mikuláš z Krumlova, arcijáhen bechyňský diocesan administrator
Queen	Joanna of Rožmitál wife of George of Poděbrady	7 May 1458	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Sede vacante Mikuláš of Krumlov, archdeacon of Bechyně diocesan administrator
King	Vladislaus II	22 August 1471	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Sede vacante Jan of Krumlov, dean of Prague diocesan administrator
King	Louis	11 March 1509	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Sede vacante Ambrož Chrt of Pilsen, dean of prague deanery Blažej Kremer z Plzně, arcijáhen litoměřický diocesan administrators
Queen	Mary of Hungary wife of Louis	1 January 1522	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Sede vacante Jan Žák, dean and later provost of Prague diocesan administrator
King	Ferdinand I	24 February 1526	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Bernardo Clesio Prince-Bishop of Trent
Queen	Anne of Bohemia and Hungary wife of Ferdinand I	24 February 1526	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Bernardo Clesio Prince-Bishop of Trent
King	Maximilian	20 November 1562	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Antonín Brus z Mohelnice Archbishop of Prague
Queen	Maria of Austria wife of Maximilian	20 November 1562	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Antonín Brus z Mohelnice Archbishop of Prague
King	Rudolf II	25 September 1575	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Antonín Brus z Mohelnice Archbishop of Prague
King	Matthias	11 May 1611	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Franz von Dietrichstein Bishop of Olomouc
Queen	Anna of Tyrol wife of Matthias	10 January 1616	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Johann Lohel Archbishop of Prague
Anti-King Winter King	Frederick	4 November 1619	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Jiří Dikast Mirkovský, Jan Cyril Třebíčský
Queen	Elizabeth Stuart wife of Frederick	4 November 1619	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Jiří Dikast Mirkovský, Jan Cyril Třebíčský
King	Ferdinand II	29 June 1617	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Johann Lohel Archbishop of Prague
Queen	Eleonora Gonzaga wife of Ferdinand II	21 November 1627	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Ernst Adalbert von Harrach Archbishop of Prague, primate of Czechlands
King	Ferdinand III	24 November 1627	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Ernst Adalbert von Harrach Archbishop of Prague, primate of Czechlands
King	Ferdinand IV crowned during lifetime of his father, never reign	5 August 1646	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Ernst Adalbert von Harrach Archbishop of Prague, primate of Czechlands
Queen	Eleonora Gonzaga wife of Ferdinand III	11 September 1656	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Ernst Adalbert von Harrach Archbishop of Prague, primate of Czechlands
King	Leopold I	14 November 1656	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Ernst Adalbert von Harrach Archbishop of Prague, primate of Czechlands
King	Charles II	5 September 1723	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Ferdinand Graf von Khünburg Archbishop of Prague, primate of Czechlands
Queen	Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel wife of Charles II.	8 September 1723	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Ferdinand Graf von Khünburg Archbishop of Prague, primate of Czechlands
Anti-King	Charles Albert	19 December 1741	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Not crowned with St. Wenceslaus crown
Queen-regnant	Maria Theresa	12 May 1743	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Jakub Arnošt z Lichtenštejna Archbishop of Olomouc
King	Leopold II	6 September 1791	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Antonín Petr hrabě Příchovský z Příchovic Archbishop of Prague, primate of Czechlands
Queen	Maria Luisa of Spain wife of Leopold II	12 September 1791	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Antonín Petr hrabě Příchovský z Příchovic Archbishop of Prague, primate of Czechlands Maria Anna of Austria, archduchess-abbes of Damenstift
King	Francis	9 August 1793	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Antonín Petr hrabě Příchovský z Příchovic Archbishop of Prague, primate of Czechlands
Queen	Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily wife of Francis	11 August 1793	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Antonín Petr hrabě Příchovský z Příchovic Archbishop of Prague, primate of Czechlands Maria Anna of Austria, archduchess-abbes of Damenstift
King	Ferdinand V	7 September 1836	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Andrzej Alojzy Ankwicz Archbishop of Prague, primate of Czechlands
Queen	Maria Anna of Savoy wife of Ferdinand V	12 September 1836	St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague	Andrzej Alojzy Ankwicz Archbishop of Prague, primate of Czechlands Maria Theresa of Austria, archduchess-abbes of Damenstift

References

1. Lisa Wolverton, Hastening Toward Prague: Power and Society in the Medieval Czech Lands, University of Pennsylvania Press, 2001
2. The Encyclopædia Britannica, 1911
3. Sedlar, Jean W. (1994). East Central Europe in the Middle Ages, 1000-1500. USA: University of Washington Press. ISBN 978-0-295-97290-9.
4. The New Encyclopædia Britannica, 1974
5. Sekyrová, Milada (2004). 7.9.1836 Ferdinand V. - Poslední pražská korunovace (en: 7.9.1836 Ferdinand V. - Last coronation in Prague). Prague: Havran s.r.o. ISBN 80-86515-37-0.
6. The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913
7. Oldys; Malham, William; John (1810). The Harleian Miscellany: Or, A Collection of Scarce, Curious, and Entertaining Pamphlets and Tracts, as Well in Manuscript as in Print, Found in the Late Earl of Oxford's Library, Interspersed with Historical, Political, and Critical Notes. Printed for R. Dutton. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
8. Wallace, David (1997). Chaucerian polity: absolutist lineages and associational forms in England and Italy. Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-2724-2. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
9. The Metropolitan magazine. Theodore Foster. 1837. ISBN 978-0-19-925101-8. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
10. Tapié, Victor Lucien (1971). The rise and fall of the Habsburg monarchy. Praeger. ISBN 978-0-19-925101-8. Retrieved 2009-07-07.

Bibliography

• Hrbek, Jiří (2010). České barokní korunovace (en: Bohemian baroque coronations). Prague: NLN - Nakladatelství Lidové noviny. ISBN 978-80-7422-011-1.
• Sekyrová, Milada (2004). 7.9.1836 Ferdinand V. - Poslední pražská korunovace (en: 7.9.1836 Ferdinand V. - Last coronation in Prague). Prague: Havran s.r.o. ISBN 80-86515-37-0.
• Kuthan, Jiří; Šmied, Miroslav (2009). Korunovační řád českých králů (en: Coronation prescription of bohemian kings). Prague: Togga. ISBN 978-80-7308-266-6.
• Cibulka, Josef (1935). Korunovační řády středověké a Karla IV. korunovační řád králů českých. Prague: ČKD.

See also

• Bohemian Crown Jewels
• List of Bohemian monarchs