The scepter of Charles V, also known in the early modern period as scepter of Charlemagne, is one of the most prominent preserved regalia of the Kingdom of France. It was donated by Charles V to the abbey of Saint-Denis on 7 May 1380, shortly before his death. [1] It has been used since for the coronation (sacre) of nearly all monarchs of France until Charles X, only excepting Charles VII and Henri IV. It has been kept at the Louvre since 5 December 1793.
The scepter consists of four elements: a shaft, a bulb, a fleur-de-lis, and a seated figure of Charlemagne on top. The bulb is decorated with three scenes from the Historia Caroli Magni . [1] : 264 Legend of Charlemagne: Saint James appearing to Charlemagne and commanding him to go and save Spain; the miraculous blossoming of spears of those going off to die in battle; and Saint James’s wrenching of Charlemagne’s soul from the Devil [2]
Charlemagne is represented holding a scepter and globus cruciger . The Sceptre at this time measured 3 feet 9 inches, weighed 2.2 kg, the shaft engraved with rosette and fleur-de-lis screwed together in five pieces.
An inscription at the base of Charlemagne's seat reads "SANTUS [sic] KAROLUS MAGNUS ITALIA ROMA GALIA ET [?] ALIA". A reading of "...ET GERMANIA" was proposed in the 16th century but is incompatible with the preserved object. [3]
In 1379 Charles V commissioned a collection of items for the use of his son Charles’s VI coronation. Shortly before the death of Charles V a collection of Items was entered into the Treasury of the Abbey of Saint-Denis for their preservation. [1] : 269 It has been attributed to court goldsmith Hennequin du Vivier. It may be viewed as bolstering the legitimacy of Charles V and his family in the context of the Hundred Years' War, by emphasizing their Carolingian lineage. [3] The Sceptre may have already been partially realized, in 1364, for the coronation of Charles V. The illuminations of the Coronation Ordo of Charles V of 1365 show a similar sceptre in the hands of the king. [4]
The Sceptre was used in all the coronations of the French kings from 1380 to 1775 with the exception of Charles VII and Henry IV, possibly due to the Hundred Years’ War and the coronation not being held in Reims respectively. Each new French king's acceptance of the Sceptre symbolized the transfer of divine authority and the responsibilities of kingship as well as a connection to Charlemagne.
The history of the Sceptre is punctuated with the repeated transports between Saint-Denis and Reims (about 144 km) and was not always done in the most suitable conditions for this preservation of the objects. Accounts of the coronation of Charles VIII in 1484, describe the instruments of the coronation enclosed in a chest and transported in a ‘shaky’ trolley in which pieces of the instruments broke during the journey to and from the Reims. [1]
Henry II in 1547, found that the regalia was worn and had them repaired, including, having cases made for the Sceptre and the crowns. [1] In 1722, in anticipation of the coronation of Louis XV, cases were made for the Sceptre, the Hand of Justice and the clasp, but the objects, poorly place; shifted during the journey. On arrival it was discovered that the sceptre had been broken and needed urgent repair to be used in the coronation.
Louis XVI in 1775 had his goldsmith, Auguste, and his Furbisher, Ravoisier, assess and repair the sword of Charlemagne and its sheath, the spurs, the crown of Charlemagne, the clasp of the coat, the Sceptre, and the Hand of Justice.
In 1790, the French Revolution, swept France with an emphasis on removing all signs of the monarchy. A commission of experts was appointed to create an inventory of the royal treasury before having it transported to the Mint where the items were to be melted, once the precious stones were extracted. The Commission des Monuments had been charged with preserving works whose conservation seemed important for the ‘Les Sciences et les Arts’. [1] The nationalization of treasures during the French Revolution saw the treasures of Sainte-Chapelle and Saint-Denis brought together on November 12, 1793 at the National Convention.
The members of the Commission, Masson, Sergent and de Bry, who can be suspected of having had secrets of complacency for the monarchy, insist in the minutes on the fact that the objects put aside showed deficiencies in their precious stones, to insinuate, that it was not retable to send them to the Mint. As remarkable as it may seem in these circumstances, they seem to have been aware of the interest of the instruments of the coronation and put the taste of art and history before political passions. [1] In 1793, part of the shaft of the sceptre was melted down, resulting in a new height of 1.9 feet.
Napoleon I wished to cement his connection to past rulers in order to legitimize his rule leading to the realization of the project to include in his coronation the ‘Honneurs de Charlemagne’ was entrusted to Vivant Denon, assisted by the goldsmith Martin-Guillaume Biennais and the young architect Joseph Gay. Denon, director of the Museum, kept the coronation instruments. At the same time the remaining parts of the sceptre were restored by Biennais for the coronation of Napoleon I, at the cost of restoration was 1,800 francs-or. During the restoration crown on the figure was altered and now bears a cross instead of a large pearl. In 1804, Biennais found only one eagle left on the throne and made three new ones. (One of the eagles is now missing.) Three imitation emeralds replaced the diamonds that were at the centre of the clusters. Three glass stones replaced the real sapphires. The largest change in this restoration was the removal of enamel from the lily, most likely executed due to the poor condition it was in. However, they did not play a role in Napoleon’s Coronation; instead, Napoleon used the ‘Honneurs de l’Empereur’ which had been created for the occasion. [5]
It was repaired on multiple occasions, including in 1722,1775, 1804 and 1825. The crown is not original and was replaced at some date before 1624. [1] : 264 The scepter held by Charlemagne and one of the eagles on his seat are also replacements. [ citation needed ]
In 1804, the scepter's shaft was restored using what was until then a separate precious object, known as the staff of Guillaume de Roquémont, originally created in 1394. [1] : 274 That modification was made ahead of the during which the scepter was used together with other French regalia. The fleur-de-lis was enameled in white in the past, as appears in depictions such as the Madonna of the Vic family by Frans Pourbus the Younger.[ citation needed ]
1365 – Illumination of the Coronation Ordo of Charles V shows a similar Sceptre
1379 – Mentioned in the Inventory of Charles V
The Sceptre served all the coronations of the kings of France since the 14th century at Notre dame du Reims. Returning to the Abbey of Saint- Denis unless specified. (Exceptions: Charles VII and Henry IV.)
1380 – Coronation of Charles VI - Reims
1429 – Coronation of Charles VII –Reims, not used
1461 – Coronation of Louis XI – Reims
1484 – Coronation of Charles VIII – Reims
1498 – Coronation of Louis XII – Reims
1515 – Coronation of Francis I – Reims
1547 – Coronation of Henry II – Reims
1559 – Coronation of Francis II – Reims
1561 – Coronation of Charles IX – Reims
1575 – Coronation of Henry III – Reims
1594 – Coronation of Henry IV – Chartes, not used
1610– Coronation of Louis XIII – Reims
~ 1617 – Depicted in Virgin of the Vic Family by Frans Pourbus II
1634 – Inventory of the treasury of Saint Denis
~ 1635-40 – Depicted in Louis XIII (1601-1643) by Philippe de Champaigne.
1654 – Coronation of Louis XIV – Reims
1722 – Coronation of Louis XV, Cases made for the regalia, including the sceptre. sceptre arrives at Reims broken and repaired urgently.
~ 1723-24 – Depicted in portrait of Louis XV by Alexis-Simon Belle
1730 – Depicted in portrait of Louis XV in Coronation Robes by Hyacinthe Rigaud
1775 – Coronation of Louis XVI – Reims Louis XVI has goldsmith, Auguste, check and repair the sword of Charlemagne and its sheath, the crown of Charlemagne, the clasp of the coat, the sceptre, and the Hand of Justice.
Reims not used again for a coronation until Charles X
1794 – Many coronation objects have been lost and some remaining are melted down. Noted to survived are the chalice of Saint Remi, gold and darknet spurs, the sword of Charlemagne, and the sceptre of Charlemagne,
1793, Nov 12 – The treasures of Sainte-Chapelle and Sainte-Denis brought together at the National Convention. Reserved to be deposited at the museum included: the spurs “Joyeuse and its sheath, the paten of serpentine, the clasp of the coronation, the Sceptre of Charlemagne.
1804 – Among the “Honours of Charlemagne” at Napoleons coronation, Notre Dame de Paris. `Remains at Notre dame till 1816
1806 – Depicted in Napoleon I on His Imperial Throne by Jean- August-Dominique Ingres
1816 – Sent to the Garde-Meuble
1825 – Coronation of Charles X – Reims
1829 – Depicted in King Charles X in Coronation Robes by Jean-August-Dominique Ingres
1841 – Depicted in La Sagesse divine donnant des lois aux rois et aux législateurs (Divine Wisdom giving laws to kings and legislator) by Jean-Baptiste Mauzaisse
1848 – Housed at the Ministry of Finance
1853 – Returned to the louvre, exhibited at the “Musée des souverains”.
1991 – Exhibition in the louvre “The treasure of Saint-Denis, Napoleon, Temporary Exhibition under the pyramid,
2004 – Exhibition in the louvre “The arts under Charles VI (1380-1422), Napoleon, Temporary Exhibition under the pyramid,
2007 –Musée d'histoire de France, The king, and his image, around the decorated charters of the national archives, Paris (France), Direction des Archives de France
2017-2018 – Exhibition in the louvre Small Gallery: Art and power. The theater of power, Richelieu, Temporary Exhibition Rooms,
2020-2021 –Castle - Domaine national de Versailles, Hyacinthe Rigaud (1659-1743) or the Sun portrait, Versailles (External, France), Castle - Domaine national de Versailles
2021- Onwards –Louvre Room 504, Richelieu Wing Level 1
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