Crown Jewels of Velikoslavia
Crown Jewels | |
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Overview | |
Country | Velikoslavia |
Location | Velikograd Palace, Grand Vault |
Size | 165 objects |
Oldest | Agian |
Newest | Necklace of Stars |
Stones | 27,578, including Dagan's Ruby, Diamond of the Sun, Fire Prince's Amulet, Emerald of the Moon, Saint Andrew's Cross, Agian, Solanaceae |
Owner | Monarchy of Velikoslavia |
Managers |
The Crown Jewels of the Velikoslavia, originally the Crown Jewels of Kollavik, are a collection of ceremonial objects kept in the Grand Vault in the Velikograd Palace, which include the coronation regalia and vestments worn by Velikoslavian monarchs. Symbols of over 1000 years of the monarchy the coronation regalia is one of the most extensive collections in the world. Objects used to invest and crown Velikoslav Tsars variously denote their role as head of state, head of the Velikoslav Orthodox Church, and head of the armed forces. They feature heraldic devices and national emblems of Velikoslavia.
Use of regalia by rulers of Kollavik can be traced back to Dagan I, who famously used his sword, Agian, in official ceremonies. A permanent set of coronation regalia was established in the 11th century under the Raliov dynasty. These relics were kept within the Saint Andrew's Abbey. Collectively, these objects came to be known as the Jewels of the Crown. Most of the collection dates from during the Orlov-Nikomedes dynasty, where numerous objects were created using the wealth acquired during that era.
The regalia contain 27,578 gemstones, among them the Diamond of the Sun (530 carats (106 g)), and the Northern Star set in the Imperial Scepter, which is 189.62 carats (37.924 g). On the Imperial Crown of Velikoslavia is the Fire Prince's Ruby.
At a coronation, the monarch is anointed using holy oil poured from an ampulla, invested with robes and ornaments, and crowned with the Imperial Crown. Afterwards, it is exchanged for the lighter Grand State Crown, which is also usually worn at State Openings of the Synod. Wives of Tsars, known as the Tsaritsa, are invested with specially made regalia as well. Also regarded as crown jewels are state swords, trumpets, ceremonial weapons, church plate, historical regalia, banqueting plate, and imperial christening fonts. They are part of the Grand Collection and belong to the institution of monarchy, passing from one sovereign to the next. They are periodically put on display several times a year in the Imperial Museum.
Crowns
Crowns are the primary symbol of Velikoslav imperial authority. The crowns of the collection all have varied designs and there are a grand total of sixteen crowns. Nine of them represent the Nine Marches and the houses of the original Telerian generals. Though representative of these realms, the Grand Dukes themselves do not own nor wear or own the crowns outside of the coronation. The others are the Imperial State Crown, the Imperial Minor Crown, and the Tsaritsa Crown, the Tsesarevich Crown, the Princely Crown of Kollavik, the Midnight Crown, and the Horned Crown of the Telerians.