So the "marine ivory" / "unicorn's horn" conjunction identifies this with some degree of certainty as a narwhal tusk. That fascinating topic (medieval trade in these tusks) is a topic very worthy of your channel.
I had no idea that these pieces of French regalia survived! Astonishing, and all the moreso that they endured the more violent French Revolution compared to the English Civil War which saw the English regalia largely destroyed.
@@neilbuckley1613Of course the most important political action took place in Paris but the Vendée war and the Chouannerie where very violent conflicts in western France. And many religious buildings where destroyed everywhere, particularly abbeys.
Awesome video! Idea for a future topic: could you do a video or two on the Karlsschrein and other items of interest in Aachen Cathedral? Seems like it would be right up your alley.
Agreed. Aix-la-Chapelle / Aachen actually houses three fantastic items: the Shrine of Charlemagne (created between 1182 and 1215), the Shrine of Mary (created 1220 - 1239), and the Coronation Chair. There's also a bronze pine cone that is dated between the 3rd and 10th century. Go for it!
Dear Allan, some precisions about the holy ampulla. The original ampulla was indeed broken by Ruhl on the base of Louis XV statue in the former Reims's Place Royal. However, before giving the ampulla to the autorities, the sacristan of Saint Remi basilica emptied most part of the sacred oil in another container. This container was given back to the archbishop of Reims after the revolution and is still kept in a strongbox with other precious relics in the archbishop's palace. As a priest originary from this diocese, I've seen almost twice this ampulla and I hold it I'm my hands. It is a very simple glass ampulla in which can be seen a brown/red and granular balm. With the "new" ampulla one third filled with the original oil, there is a very little silver reliquary with a part in glass in which can be seen glass fragments of the original ampulla, recovered by some people after it was publicly broken. On those very little fragments can be seen the remnant of same kind of brown/red dried oil. Both the "new" ampulla and the little reliquary are closed by archbishop's red wax seals. In front of the actual archbishop's residency, in the "Palais du Tau", former archbishop's palace, is kept the great reliquary made after the borbonic restauration : with this beautiful reliquary is displayed a beautiful ampulla with a little gilded crown on the top, but this one is empty and clean. Can I add that in Reims is kept another astonishing testimony of the french coronations ? I mean the so-called Saint Remi's chalice that is a medieval masterpiece. It was used for the eucharistic communion of the king. Now it is used only for great occasion as jubillee or papal visits. It's not exactly a regalia for it belongs to the archbishop of Reims and was never kept in Saint Denis abbey.
The sword Joyeuse is actually quite frequently in fantasy/japanese animation. like all famous swords it’s name is usually use as a reference to a character’s legendary weapon or to make them more kingly.
This is a wonderful (😅in all senses) piece of work. I congratulate you, if I may. If only UK schools could fit these things in once a week. And pay you for it.
Watch it, you'll get deported to the Colonies. Much love and bless Mrs Mango of Port Douglas, Tropi-cool North Queensland Australia, the Pineapple Colony
Verly interesting video about the french crown jewels, please video, about the Medici Queen of France Catherine e Maria about thai jewels.Thank you very much.
I will travel to Reims (and Orléans) this summer in August. So glad to see the place where kings of France were crowned and annointed ! For those who want to go deeper into the mysteries of the lost French regalia, I recommend the novel "Sire" by Jean Raspail (1991).
Love all your videos. I thought I could pronounce all French city names up today but then you proved me wrong. Always thought Reims was pronounced Rem but it is ʁɛ̃s like you said it.
Thanks for this video. I didn’t know much about the french crown jewels, but I certainly do now! P.s. I love the clip of music at the start and end of your videos - I wonder if you would be so kind to tell me what it is?
As ever, a completely enthralling video. I’m surprised the French state - yes, a Republic now - has made no attempt to reset the crown of Louis XV with real gems. I remember when first I saw it in the Louvre thinking the paste stones detracted from what is the main surviving item of the regalia. It would be an expensive project, but surely worth it for “La Gloire” - the glory of France!
Thank God that in Russia the revolutionaries preserved all the medieval princely, royal and imperial regalias. All of them have survived to this day and are exhibited in the Kremlin. Only the Second Small Imperial Crown, which was copied from the original in the 19th century for the Dowager Empress, was dismantled. But all the main crowns, barmas, scepters, orbs, brooches, sword, shield, and order chains were preserved as the property of the people.
This is a channel truly devoted to people with an interest and often some prior knowledge of the subjects and not the condescending nonsense vlogged by other channels. I so appreciate your going into depth about a number of the items. Great channel! Liked and subscribed and now going to check out your magazine! Thank you!
Hi, I am french and looking at your channel. If you do a study on the Napoleon " regalia " , keep in mind that they are not only fake but also ridiculous. The climax of this is " la main de Justice " : as the original royal ones were distroyed, Bonaparte asked to make a new one for the mascarade of his coronation, and they made it using the very same drawings that you showed in this current video .... but as Bonaparte and his gang did not understand the symbols, they copied what they saw, and they carved a LEFT hand !!! The LEFT cannot bless nor judge rightly, but this LEFT ivory hand was used ... and was the symbol of Bonaparte dictatorship ( for instance to judge and murder the Duc d Enghien ) Every time I go to the Louvre with foreign friends coming to Paris, I draw their attention to this " fake " main de Justice.
I think we NEED a whole video about Napoleon's coronation. The regalia, the clothes, the interior of Notre Dame and indeed the self-crowning... One of history's most astonishing examples of hubris.
Can you imagine if we had more of these stunning objects how much knowledge could’ve been tested out on their origins, the materials used to make them and further study of them in person
Brilliant, gracious and elucidative video. Talking personally, I love Crown Jewels subjects and the French Crown Jewels subject always specifically dificult because the descontinuity of caused by extreme personalisation first generate by the modern monarchy of the Indirect Capetians, second the destrutctive mess and dispertion generate by the disgrace of the satanic revolution and its subsidiary consequences. Dr Barton has as always, made a very informative, complete, enlighting and generous vídeo. A true jewel about jewels!
As an American with some intense interest in the symbols used by European monarchies, I have enjoyed your series of detailed and well-researched videos. As I understand French history, the French monarchy came to an abrupt end with executions spawned by revolt against ghastly financial mismanagement of its monarchy. Nowadays, do the French people have an interest in their monarch history and the symbolism of their regalia? Now, centuries removed from the revolution, I can imagine a French citizen having a genuine interest in her country’s history, independent of excesses. How would you compare the French’s history of their monarchy to British citizen’s interest in its monarchy and symbolism?
I've probably said it before but 'wearing' these crowns as Louis the Pious or Louis the German in CK3 and knowing their provenance and history makes it even more enjoyable. Dayum! That Staff of Charlamagne is magnificent!
The destructive acts of the revolutionaries are to be condemned in no uncertain terms. We can only hope that one day the lost treasures can be found, the destroyed ones remade.
This makes me wonder, what happened to the regalia used during the Bourbon Restoration? Charles X still had a coronation in 1825, with most of the lost coronation paraphernalia and regalia being remade for the ceremony. How much of it still exists?
@@allanbarton Looking forward to it. I know Charles X's coronation mantle is still on display in Reims, but info on any other artifacts that may have survived is very obscure and difficult to find, at least in English sources.
go over the pommel and blade and hilt and scabbard, but what's the brown leather and purple thing? Is that the sword belt? It has an odd shape at the ends and I was curious about why. What's with the curve and the little bit that separates off and is tipped with metal?
Two questions. What is the distiction between a sceptre, a rod and a staff? I noticed that orbs were not included. Were they not used by the French, and, if so, why?
Wonderful video, as always, however while Charlemagne was crowned Emperor, isn’t it Otto I that is now considered as the first Holy Roman Emperor, and the title itself was only in use since 12th century?
@@mitjacosic7889 I think we are splitting hairs here, and also going off the topic of the video. If I’d referred to Charlemagne as Roman Emperor in a video, that really would have caused no end of confusion in the comments box!
@@mitjacosic7889 no problem at all, it was a really interesting point. I was thinking of following this up with a video in the emergence of the French crown, so you’ve got me thinking!
Thank you for the meaning of the Fleur De Lis. So much superstition about that oil. The Bible says the anointing oil is olive oil, no need for tales of angels. Yes, the dove represents the Holy Spirit.
Any monarchy is irrelevant. It's a hereditary title. No population needs to fund a highly expensive lifestyle of a family continuously. There is no need for kings or queens, every country now has their own boundaries and will not be conquered like in olden days. Monarchies are a costly upkeep for the taxpayers. France doesn't need such a weight on the shoulders of the people. Monarchs are extravagant and expect the best of the best payer for by the working class.
My video on television had np spound. I transferred to my computer to watch it. My TV does not do this (i.e. no sound during the video and has NEVER happened during the playing of any video.
That’s very bizarre, I hope your TV isn’t broken. When these things happen I always turn the device off and on again. RU-vid is working, as lots of people have watched this video and commented. I hope you enjoyed it!
Did you laugh that they thought the hand of justice was made of unicorn horn? Unicorns are the latin name for rhinoceros. Not knowing what they looked like medieval French and English bought Unicorn horn from Norwegian sailors which was really narwhal tooth. This lead to the expectation that one day this horse with a narwhal tooth stuck to its head would turn up. Some are still waiting.
