This is all very interesting - it's so ironic that so soon after the destruction of the old regalia, the French state reversed direction and had a new set made (most of which was soon afterwards destroyed in its turn). It's arguable whether they ever had liberté, égalité, and fraternité, but quite certain that they did not have stabilité! By the way, do we know why Napoleon's arched crown survived, when his laurel crown, sceptre, and orb were discarded? The design, while odd, is interesting in its use of ancient cameos.
I'm 53 years old but when I saw the title "Napoleon's Crown Jewels" I'm ashamed to say I giggled like a schoolboy! All jokes aside, another thoroughly absorbing video. Thanks Allan.
The heirs to Napoleon's General jean Bernadotte now the Royal family of Sweden own Napoleonic regalia. The cameo "bridal crown" came to mind when you discussed Napoleon's cameo crown. I believe it was worn by Josephine. There are additional regalia worth looking into passed down through the family and still worn by female descendants including the current queen and crown princess.
We as human beings must stop destroying items regardless of how it makes us feel. Destroying an item doesn't change history or make the person the item is connected to dissappear from history.
I was lamenting the same thing as I was watching this video. How frustrating it now is to look back at this time (and times before after, and I suspect, to come) in history, and only to see through a mirror darkly, because do much has been wantonly destroyed. Time and the elements take so much from us already; to have wastrels and hot-heads remove or burn what remains truly is a tragedy.
@@daniellekennedy8118 it's frustrating. Here in the USA a series is being made about the sword of surrender from Yorktown....NOBODY KNOWS WHERE IT IS !!!
@@sionrouge1697 Interesting, because what happened at Yorktown was Brigadier General O'Hara representing General Cornwallis (who begged off the surrender pleading illness) offered his sword to American Major General Benjamin Lincoln who was delegated by Washington to recieve the surrender. Lincoln graciously told O'Hara he could keep his sword. So if there's a missing surrender sword from Yorktown it sure isn't the one from the senior British officer present. What ARE missing are about a dozen or so surrendered British and Hessian regimental flags from the Revolution. During the War of 1812 Secretary of War Armstrong ordered an inventory of the surrendered and captured flags and it was discovered half of them were gone! And they've never been found either. So my advice is if you live in an old house on the East Coast, say 200-plus years old, check the attic! You never know...
@@allanbarton It is such a shame that all of that is all gone. The triregnum is not even on the Papal coat of arms anymore. + Do you happen to know the significance/why/how of the Moor's head on coat of arms. It's quite weird and I don't know what to make of it.
@@setonixI on pope Benedict’s arms? It was part of the coat of arms of the diocese of Freising, which was part of his archdiocese of Munich. So he was referencing his past history.
The detail on the leaves for the laurel crown is amazing. It's a shame only one leaf survived. The sword had really fine details also. The metal.workers.of the time were really talented. I'm glad we still have the paintings showing us what some of the destroyed piece.looked like. When objects like crowns were destroyed did they melt the metal down to be used in something else?
Napoleon's Emerald Coronation Ring still lives. It is with a Private collector living in Paris and is worn daily. I'll try to find the video here on UA-cam.
@@allanbarton Found it, Allan 🙂 ua-cam.com/video/Wf4cNEYjZJ0/v-deo.htmlsi=BM4X41pwVvVqYwfP Not sure if its emerald though, but it definitely was worn by His Imperial Majesty 🙂
An interesting historical footnote to David's monumental coronation canvas: Although Napoleon's mother is prominently portrayed, she famously did not attend the event. Thank you, Dr. B., for yet another meticulously researched and highly informative video.
That was a fascinating video, thank you. You make an excellent point at the end about his understanding the importance of display. We may not like the idea, but it's true. And I really want a silk nightie embroidered with stars and thunderbolts!
If contemporary reports are to be believed, the Parisians weren’t too convinced. One of the consequences of all this splendour however was George IV’s obsession with it, and his determination that his own coronation should outdo Napoleon’s in lavishness.
Sadly when talking about history the great musicians and composers of the time are ignored which is a pity considering the great impact music has in coronation rituals as recently viewed in the coronation of Charles III. Napoleon requested (or ordered) that the great Neapolitan composer Giovanni Paisiello write most of the music for his coronation. Paisiello was probably the most famous and successful composer of the era even more successful than Mozart, Haydn or Beethoven. He had previously been ordered to Russia to be the official composer to Catherine the Great. For those not that familiar with musical history his music sounds a lot like Mozart but that was probably because Mozart borrowed from him and not vice versa. The Coronation ritual with Paisiello's music can be heard on You Tube!
In my case as an art historian I stick to things I know about, music is not something I know about at all. There is clearly space for someone to produce a UA-cam channel on this subject, and it would be wonderful.
@@allanbarton It's worth noting that Paesiello was also a favourite composer of the Emperor. It would be a little like the Pope inviting Luciano Pavarotti to sing at his investiture ceremony. 🦁☀️🐝⚡🦅⚡🐝☀️🦁
With regard to the symbolism of the bees; the Byzantine Emperor Constantine the Great wore a purple chasuble likewise decorated with gold-coloured bees.
@@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods Constantine was proclaimed Emperr of the Romans at Eboracum (Jorvik to you). He refounded Byzantium as Nova Roma, from which he ruled the entire Roman Empire, not just the East. 🦁☀️🐝⚡🦅⚡🐝☀️🦁
It is absolutely wonderful how Napoleon l, Emperor of the French was able to understand the meaning of symbols he displayed or wore them to symbolize many thing of the past, present, and future. His Imperial Ego had the consequence of inspiring the wonderful Imperial regalia.
Your videos often seem to coincide with Friday afternoon on the East coast of America and it is just the best start to the weekend! (With a glass of something yummy) Cheers and thank you!
@@nancytestani1470 Sounds delightful I will have to try it sometime! This side of the Atlantic my preference though is to sip good tequila from our lovely southern neighbors in Mexico :)
Huh, they're not so tiny after all...the mirrored Hand of Justice is mildly hilarious, but gosh that laurel wreath was a work of art. So much prettier than a crown, and more intimidating. I feel like I could beat up a monarch in a fancy cushion hat, but the pointy solar blaze of the Roman symbol for military victory makes me pretty sure the wearer can actually use a sword and would stab me right through without a second thought.
I wouldn't surprise me if those pieces of regalia were broken up for the value of the precious stones and metals. They were probably worth some serious money!
I believe the dictator and soi-disant Emperor of the Central Africa Bokassa specifically copied his coronation on Napoleon and had a set of regalia based on Napoleon's comissioned by serious jewelry firms in France. These are curious as a rare examples of regalia fashioned in the 20th century.
Yes. He picked his youngest wife as his Empress. Not sure if she was the only one who had given him a son, OR if her son being *young* was safer for him...
Contrary to most kings of the time, he - arguably - at the very least earned it. Ferdinand VII and other (inept) contemporaries probably rated themselves just as highly, absolutist monarchs were not exactly known for modesty.
@@jamesallison4875 Under both Napoleon the Great and his nephew Napoleon III, the edge of French coins read *GOD DEFEND FRANCE* Under the Bourbons the inscription read *GOD DEFEND THE KING* 🦁☀️🐝⚡🦅⚡🐝☀️🦁
Good morning Dr Allan this was very informative as always a liked the cheeky (to me) isn't it true that napoleon's old chap is still owned somewhere ? 😊😊
It would be wonderful to hear about the crown jewels of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, especially those which were created after colonisation, Tonga's for example.
Napoléon more or less kidnapped Pope Pius XII and imprisoned him in a tiny, bleak room in the Fontainebleau Palace. However, His Holiness managed to negotiate the Concordat of 1801/2 that lasted until 1905.
Bizarre obsession with destroying objects as of they somehow destroy an idea - everything destroyed in 1819 by rights should have been left to a state museum.
6:41 the sceptre in the portrait differs from the original sceptre in the er, sceptre. Did the artist embellish, perhaps? Thank you for a most interesting video.
@@1234j do you mean the sceptre of Charles V? It was altered, having the enamel stripped from it - but watch my video on the French crown jewels for more info.
@@allanbarton Perhaps part of the problem was the attempt to combine something essentially Medieval - regalia, coats of arms, crown with a classical sensibility from the early Empire/late Republic where this iconographic symbolism was aesthetically alien. The outcome is, I would say, slightly jarring, similar to buildings where you have a mixture of gothic and classical elements.
I quite agree. I've been looking to see if anyone else made the point. I guess Napoleon thought the same since there aren't any pictures of him wearing it.
@@maryloumawson6006 It's funny in the famous sketch of Napoleon crowning himself it looks like a much shorter crown, I guess even JLD thought it was a bit much lol
This is all very interesting - it's so ironic that so soon after the destruction of the old regalia, the French state reversed direction and had a new set made (most of which was soon afterwards destroyed in its turn). It's arguable whether they ever had liberté, égalité, and fraternité, but quite certain that they did not have stabilité! By the way, do we know why Napoleon's arched crown survived, when his laurel crown, sceptre, and orb were discarded? The design, while odd, is interesting in its use of ancient cameos.
The arched crown was kept for use in future coronations
🦁☀️🐝⚡🦅⚡🐝☀️🦁
liberte! oui! egalite! oui! fraternite! OUI! et stabilite! NON!
You do tell us details about what is in each painting that you show. I will never be tired of hearing about them.
Yes, so cool. That painting is so iconic. Wonderful jewels
I'm 53 years old but when I saw the title "Napoleon's Crown Jewels" I'm ashamed to say I giggled like a schoolboy! All jokes aside, another thoroughly absorbing video. Thanks Allan.
Oh dear, I’m afraid I share your schoolboy humour. 😂
@@allanbarton thank goodness it's not just me, that's all I can say!
I had to think long and hard about what you meant.
Ha.
I'm forever 12. 😂❤
Do a video on the Imperial Brazilian Regalia, they are beautiful and have a rich history, both the crown pf Pedro I and Pedro II
"I found the crown of France lying in the gutter, and I picked it up with the sword. But it was the people who placed it on my head."
The heirs to Napoleon's General jean Bernadotte now the Royal family of Sweden own Napoleonic regalia. The cameo "bridal crown" came to mind when you discussed Napoleon's cameo crown. I believe it was worn by Josephine. There are additional regalia worth looking into passed down through the family and still worn by female descendants including the current queen and crown princess.
That crown with the cameos is gorgeous.
We as human beings must stop destroying items regardless of how it makes us feel. Destroying an item doesn't change history or make the person the item is connected to dissappear from history.
I agree. Objects that make us reflect on history are so valuable.
I was lamenting the same thing as I was watching this video. How frustrating it now is to look back at this time (and times before after, and I suspect, to come) in history, and only to see through a mirror darkly, because do much has been wantonly destroyed. Time and the elements take so much from us already; to have wastrels and hot-heads remove or burn what remains truly is a tragedy.
@@daniellekennedy8118 it's frustrating. Here in the USA a series is being made about the sword of surrender from Yorktown....NOBODY KNOWS WHERE IT IS !!!
@@sionrouge1697"Oops"
@@sionrouge1697 Interesting, because what happened at Yorktown was Brigadier General O'Hara representing General Cornwallis (who begged off the surrender pleading illness) offered his sword to American Major General Benjamin Lincoln who was delegated by Washington to recieve the surrender. Lincoln graciously told O'Hara he could keep his sword. So if there's a missing surrender sword from Yorktown it sure isn't the one from the senior British officer present.
What ARE missing are about a dozen or so surrendered British and Hessian regimental flags from the Revolution. During the War of 1812 Secretary of War Armstrong ordered an inventory of the surrendered and captured flags and it was discovered half of them were gone! And they've never been found either.
So my advice is if you live in an old house on the East Coast, say 200-plus years old, check the attic! You never know...
Another masterly performance.
Good video. Are you ever going to do one on Papal Regalia?
Oh yes!
@@allanbarton It is such a shame that all of that is all gone. The triregnum is not even on the Papal coat of arms anymore. + Do you happen to know the significance/why/how of the Moor's head on coat of arms. It's quite weird and I don't know what to make of it.
@@setonixI on pope Benedict’s arms? It was part of the coat of arms of the diocese of Freising, which was part of his archdiocese of Munich. So he was referencing his past history.
@@allanbarton The moor's head on Pope Benedict XVI's papal coat of arms wears a crown instead of a headband.
That would be very, very cool.
The detail on the leaves for the laurel crown is amazing. It's a shame only one leaf survived. The sword had really fine details also. The metal.workers.of the time were really talented. I'm glad we still have the paintings showing us what some of the destroyed piece.looked like. When objects like crowns were destroyed did they melt the metal down to be used in something else?
Napoleon's Emerald Coronation Ring still lives. It is with a Private collector living in Paris and is worn daily. I'll try to find the video here on UA-cam.
Does it really, I could find nothing on it - so would be fascinated to see.
@@allanbarton Found it, Allan 🙂
ua-cam.com/video/Wf4cNEYjZJ0/v-deo.htmlsi=BM4X41pwVvVqYwfP
Not sure if its emerald though, but it definitely was worn by His Imperial Majesty 🙂
@@allanbarton The collector Pierre-Jean Chalencon would no doubt be delighted to help you.
🦁☀️🐝⚡🦅⚡🐝☀️🦁
Brilliant work as always.
An interesting historical footnote to David's monumental coronation canvas: Although Napoleon's mother is prominently portrayed, she famously did not attend the event. Thank you, Dr. B., for yet another meticulously researched and highly informative video.
That was a fascinating video, thank you. You make an excellent point at the end about his understanding the importance of display. We may not like the idea, but it's true.
And I really want a silk nightie embroidered with stars and thunderbolts!
If contemporary reports are to be believed, the Parisians weren’t too convinced. One of the consequences of all this splendour however was George IV’s obsession with it, and his determination that his own coronation should outdo Napoleon’s in lavishness.
The. Crown of Laurel leaves is breathtaking ❤
Sadly when talking about history the great musicians and composers of the time are ignored which is a pity considering the great impact music has in coronation rituals as recently viewed in the coronation of Charles III. Napoleon requested (or ordered) that the great Neapolitan composer Giovanni Paisiello write most of the music for his coronation. Paisiello was probably the most famous and successful composer of the era even more successful than Mozart, Haydn or Beethoven. He had previously been ordered to Russia to be the official composer to Catherine the Great. For those not that familiar with musical history his music sounds a lot like Mozart but that was probably because Mozart borrowed from him and not vice versa. The Coronation ritual with Paisiello's music can be heard on You Tube!
In my case as an art historian I stick to things I know about, music is not something I know about at all. There is clearly space for someone to produce a UA-cam channel on this subject, and it would be wonderful.
@@allanbarton It's worth noting that Paesiello was also a favourite composer of the Emperor. It would be a little like the Pope inviting Luciano Pavarotti to sing at his investiture ceremony.
🦁☀️🐝⚡🦅⚡🐝☀️🦁
With regard to the symbolism of the bees; the Byzantine Emperor Constantine the Great wore a purple chasuble likewise decorated with gold-coloured bees.
"Byzantine"?
🦁☀️🐝⚡🦅⚡🐝☀️🦁
@@NapoleonCalland Reigned 306-37. It was the eastern part of the Roman Empire. He established his capital in Byzantium, hence the name.
@@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods Constantine was proclaimed Emperr of the Romans at Eboracum (Jorvik to you). He refounded Byzantium as Nova Roma, from which he ruled the entire Roman Empire, not just the East.
🦁☀️🐝⚡🦅⚡🐝☀️🦁
@@NapoleonCalland Anyway, he had bees on his chasuble.
@@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods Efharisto 😉⬆️
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
Napoleon: a chap that could never be accused of underselling himself.
14:03 I like Josephine. She was a bit of a character.
It is absolutely wonderful how Napoleon l, Emperor of the French was able to understand the meaning of symbols he displayed or wore them to symbolize many thing of the past, present, and future. His Imperial Ego had the consequence of inspiring the wonderful Imperial regalia.
Your videos often seem to coincide with Friday afternoon on the East coast of America and it is just the best start to the weekend! (With a glass of something yummy) Cheers and thank you!
Cheers, that is very cool. Have a Dubonnet for me.ciao.
@@nancytestani1470 Sounds delightful I will have to try it sometime! This side of the Atlantic my preference though is to sip good tequila from our lovely southern neighbors in Mexico :)
Thanks!
I’ve seen this coronation portrait it’s stunning
he came so damn close. European history could have been SO different through the coming centuries. IF.
All a concerted effort to confer legitimacy on a regime that had none. Fascinating. Thanks for such an informative video.
Well, he almost made it. Quite impressive. However if he just stayed for France..who knows, history would have been different.
The victors write the history books. He was their Adolf.
I think a second gold leave turned up about 18 months ago and was auctioned. Vive l’Empereur! 😊
Thanks Allan. You are a commander when it comes to regalia and royal jewels!
Huh, they're not so tiny after all...the mirrored Hand of Justice is mildly hilarious, but gosh that laurel wreath was a work of art. So much prettier than a crown, and more intimidating. I feel like I could beat up a monarch in a fancy cushion hat, but the pointy solar blaze of the Roman symbol for military victory makes me pretty sure the wearer can actually use a sword and would stab me right through without a second thought.
Like the Honours of Scotland 😉
A brilliant vdieo, Allan. Thank you!
There's a painting of Napoleon as king of Italy. His hand is placed on a crown that is unknown to me. Is there any info on that?
Video incoming!!!
So the French destroy all the regalia because they don't want to be reminded of the monarchy, but they leave all the paintings. What the hell! 🤔
Another great video. I guess I'm a fan, from Brazil.
Well, what happened in 1819? So many things were lost. ???
Louis XVIII had a good clear out! 😂
@@allanbarton Ah. So don't put all your eggs in one basket. 🤯
I wouldn't surprise me if those pieces of regalia were broken up for the value of the precious stones and metals.
They were probably worth some serious money!
I believe the dictator and soi-disant Emperor of the Central Africa Bokassa specifically copied his coronation on Napoleon and had a set of regalia based on Napoleon's comissioned by serious jewelry firms in France. These are curious as a rare examples of regalia fashioned in the 20th century.
Yes. He picked his youngest wife as his Empress. Not sure if she was the only one who had given him a son, OR if her son being *young* was safer for him...
Normally people who think they’re Napoleon end up in a loony bin.
When you destroyed, could you explain how, what happened to the metals stones and furs?
He certainly thought a lot of himself, didn’t he?
He was not a modest man
Contrary to most kings of the time, he - arguably - at the very least earned it. Ferdinand VII and other (inept) contemporaries probably rated themselves just as highly, absolutist monarchs were not exactly known for modesty.
@@jamesallison4875 Under both Napoleon the Great and his nephew Napoleon III, the edge of French coins read *GOD DEFEND FRANCE* Under the Bourbons the inscription read *GOD DEFEND THE KING*
🦁☀️🐝⚡🦅⚡🐝☀️🦁
can you do a video about netherlands, norway, sweden, bavaria, wuttemburg , prussia and other regalia from around europe...
What about the Talisman of Napoleon … it is magnificent
Good morning Dr Allan this was very informative as always a liked the cheeky (to me) isn't it true that napoleon's old chap is still owned somewhere ? 😊😊
It's still owned by the Emperor and attached to the rest of his body.
🦁☀️🐝⚡🦅⚡🐝☀️🦁
@@NapoleonCalland thats not necessarily true according to many reports ... but it could be a 'cock and bull story 😊
@@carolescutt2257 The story surfaced in the 1970s when someone tried to sell "Napoleons penis" at Christie's. No one bought the story, or the "penis".
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Amazing video
It would be wonderful to hear about the crown jewels of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, especially those which were created after colonisation, Tonga's for example.
🤜🇨🇵🤛
Napoléon more or less kidnapped Pope Pius XII and imprisoned him in a tiny, bleak room in the Fontainebleau Palace. However, His Holiness managed to negotiate the Concordat of 1801/2 that lasted until 1905.
Good lord.
Bizarre obsession with destroying objects as of they somehow destroy an idea - everything destroyed in 1819 by rights should have been left to a state museum.
Yikes re ' money doesn't guarantee taste.'
What's the French for nouveau riche??😂
Super video as always. Thank you.
He, ha, it doesn’t. It is oddly vulgar, a bit like Napoleon himself in many respects.
6:41 the sceptre in the portrait differs from the original sceptre in the er, sceptre. Did the artist embellish, perhaps?
Thank you for a most interesting video.
@@1234j do you mean the sceptre of Charles V? It was altered, having the enamel stripped from it - but watch my video on the French crown jewels for more info.
@@allanbartonthank you. Heading there now.
@@allanbarton Perhaps part of the problem was the attempt to combine something essentially Medieval - regalia, coats of arms, crown with a classical sensibility from the early Empire/late Republic where this iconographic symbolism was aesthetically alien. The outcome is, I would say, slightly jarring, similar to buildings where you have a mixture of gothic and classical elements.
He looks like a petulant brat in the coronation painting.
An interesting video non the less.
Horrible crown.
I don’t think he had much in the way of taste! I’m not a fan of most first empire design.
Ugly crown but gosh that laurel leaf is gorgeous, would that the whole had survived
I quite agree. I've been looking to see if anyone else made the point. I guess Napoleon thought the same since there aren't any pictures of him wearing it.
@@maryloumawson6006 It's funny in the famous sketch of Napoleon crowning himself it looks like a much shorter crown, I guess even JLD thought it was a bit much lol