The holy crown of Hungary

Fülszöveg

'We swear that we shall protect Hungary and all its several inhabitants by our laws and freedoms.' That was one of the oaths sworn by Hungaiy's kings, as they were crowned with a priceless set of coronation regalia, the oldest in Europe. The centrepiece is the exquisite Holy Crown. Though traditionally associated with St Stephen, Hungary's first king, it is a remarkable amalgam of two different crowns, assembled in the late 12th century. Later it was lost, stolen and damaged several times, as the crooked cross shows. After an absence of 33 years, the coronation regalia were returned to Hungary in 1978 and placed in the Hungárián National Museum. On January 1, 2000, for the start of the Millennium Year of Hungárián statehood, the Holy Crown, sceptre, orb and sword were transferred to the Domed Hall of the Parliament building. Endre Tóth telis the story of how Hungary's kings were crowned and gives an authoritative account of each piece, based on decades of researeh. He includes the... Tovább

Fülszöveg

'We swear that we shall protect Hungary and all its several inhabitants by our laws and freedoms.' That was one of the oaths sworn by Hungaiy's kings, as they were crowned with a priceless set of coronation regalia, the oldest in Europe. The centrepiece is the exquisite Holy Crown. Though traditionally associated with St Stephen, Hungary's first king, it is a remarkable amalgam of two different crowns, assembled in the late 12th century. Later it was lost, stolen and damaged several times, as the crooked cross shows. After an absence of 33 years, the coronation regalia were returned to Hungary in 1978 and placed in the Hungárián National Museum. On January 1, 2000, for the start of the Millennium Year of Hungárián statehood, the Holy Crown, sceptre, orb and sword were transferred to the Domed Hall of the Parliament building. Endre Tóth telis the story of how Hungary's kings were crowned and gives an authoritative account of each piece, based on decades of researeh. He includes the beautiful liturgical items and vestments used by the Church in the coronation service, and a chronology of kings and coronations. Károly Szelényi's colour photographs are a revelation-an insightful visual essay on these medieval masterpieces. They include views taken from angles and with detail that cannot normally be seen with the naked eye. Vissza