Iron Crown

In 1353 Pope Innocent VI appointed a festival for these holy nails.

Despite these facts, a legend arose in the latter part of the sixteenth century that these three nails were fashioned into an iron ring three-eighths of an inch broad and three-tenths thick, and presented by the Empress Helena to Constantine to protect him in battle; and that this ring was later used to support the golden plates of the celebrated Iron Crown of Lombardy.

In reference to the practice of relic-worship in the Christian Church, it is interesting to note that numerous objects of worship seem endowed with remarkable powers of multiplication.

The Church of Coulommes, Diocese of Chartres; the Cathedral of Pri; the Collegiate Church of Antwerp; the Abbey of Our Savior at Charroux; and the Church of St. John Lateran at Rome, all boast themselves the sole possessors of the only authentic Holy Prepuce, which was circumcised from Jesus on the eighth day after his birth, and preserved by the midwife in oil of spikenard, which was later poured upon his head and feet by Mary Magdalene.

Born in 795 AD, he was in his late 20s and had already been invested with control of Italy after his cousin Bernard's blinding and death.

In 817 AD, he had been declared heir and joint emperor of the Frankish realms with his father's Ordinatio Imperii, and in 823 AD, he was crowned as King of Italy with the Iron Crown.

The Iron Crown of Lombardy, now housed in Monza Cathedral in Italy, is an ancient symbol of power on the peninsula, and legend has it that Saint Helena, Constantine's mother, had it wrought around a nail from the True Cross, but its current parts are from different periods, some of which might date to the time of Constantine.

It had been used to crown Charlemagne as King of Lombardy back in 774 and is one of the great treasures of the medieval world passed down to us.

So Lothair was a powerful figure in the court and looked every inch the heir apparent to the entire empire after his father died or possibly retired to a monastery, which is not something out of the realms of possibility considering the amount of time Louis was spending in prayer.

Despite these facts, a legend arose in the latter part of the 16th century that these three nails were fashioned into an iron ring, three-eighths of an inch broad and three-tenths thick, and presented by the Empress Helena to Constantine to protect him in battle.

and that this ring was later used to support the golden plates of the celebrated Iron Crown of Lombardy.

In reference to the practice of relic worship in the Christian Church, it is interesting to note that numerous objects of worship seem endowed with remarkable powers of multiplication.

the Church of Coulombe, Diocese of Chartres, the Cathedral of Prix, the Collegiate Church of Antwerp, the Abbey of Our Saviour at Charrues, and the Church of St. John Lateran at Rome, all boast themselves the sole possessors of the only authentic Holy Prepuce.

Despite these facts, a legend arose in the latter part of the 16th century that these three nails were fashioned into an iron ring, three-eighths of an inch broad and three-tenths thick, and presented by the Empress Helena to Constantine to protect him in battle.

and that this ring was later used to support the golden plates of the celebrated Iron Crown of Lombardy.

In reference to the practice of relic worship in the Christian Church, it is interesting to note that numerous objects of worship seem endowed with remarkable powers of multiplication.

the Church of Coulombe, Diocese of Chartres, the Cathedral of Prix, the Collegiate Church of Antwerp, the Abbey of Our Saviour at Charrues, and the Church of St. John Lateran at Rome, all boast themselves the sole possessors of the only authentic Holy Prepuce.

This arrangement was accomplished and John of Luxembourg became King of Bohemia.

This done, Henry set off without waste of time to secure for himself the Iron Crown of Lombardy and the Golden Crown of Rome.

Henry's Italian expedition left neglected Germany a prey to rival factions and sad confusion prevailed when his death at Siena in 1313 rendered a new choice inevitable.

The election which followed the death of Henry VII was one of peculiar difficulty.

With strict impartiality he restored their exiles, whether Guelph or Ghibelline.

Deputies from nearly every state hastened to swear allegiance.

At Milan he received the iron crown of Lombardy.

Laurel leaves in their steel, polished and shining as a sword and with many large pearls and other stones.