The French Regalia, or coronation instruments, and the jewels of the royal family are part of the Crown jewels. King Louis the Pious was first crowned in 816 at Notre-Dame de Reims with the unction of the Holy Ampulla, which was performed for the first time in 816 at Notre-Dame de Reims for Louis the Pious. The Crown of Charlemagne was then used for the coronation.
In the church of Notre-Dame de Reims, from 888 until 922, and again in 1027, all kings and queens of France were crowned. There were only three monarchs left in power following the revolution: Emperor Napoleon I, Empress Josephine, and King Charles X. A pricey set of crown jewels did exist, and it was supplemented by successive monarchs even though it was rarely utilized.
Crown jewels
Francis I made the French Regalia Crown Jewels or Diamants de la Couronne de France, a collection of jewels and jewellery, unalienable on June 15, 1530. The red spinel from Côte-de-Bretagne was one of the eight primary gems at the time. Reconstituted by Henry IV and increased by Louis XIV with the gift of the 18 Mazarin diamonds and the acquisition of the “Royal French Blue” and “Ruspoli” sapphires, which were subsequently followed in 1717 by the Regent Diamond, they suffered a significant loss in 1590.
As part of the Garde Meuble de la Couronne (Royal Treasury) at the Place de la Concorde, they were stolen and sold off in 1792 and 1795 respectively, after being partially recovered. A total of 65,072 gems and pearls had been added to the royal jewels by Napoleon I in 1814, excluding the personal jewellery of the two empresses. Diamonds and pearls counted in 1885, when they were auctioned by the Third Republic in 1885, amounted to 77,662 stones and pearls, including 51,403 brilliant cut diamonds and 21,119 rose cut diamond encrusted gems, as well as 507 rubies and 528 rubies and 528 turquoises and 235 amethysts in total.
Regalia and jewels at the Louvre
Regalia of France Crown of Louis XV, the sole surviving Ancient Regime crown from the disasters of 1590 and 1793. With the help of eight of the famed Mazarin diamonds that Cardinal Mazarin had donated to the French Crown, King Louis XIII had the bottom half of his fleur-de-lis in the front of his crown set with the Regent Diamond.
There are diamonds and colourful gemstones put into the four arches behind the fleur-de-lis, as well as the eight decorative points that separate the fleur-de-lis, in this circlet. A little pedestal encircled by two rows of small diamonds and a row of small pearls sits at the intersection of these four arches. When viewed from above, the crown appears to have a sunburst effect thanks to the placement of eight bigger diamonds between the pedestal and the arches. A double fleur-de-lis, incorporating the Sancy Diamond as its central top petal, rises from the pedestal. It is comprised of nine enormous diamonds. Large diamonds adorn the gold brocade cap that lines the crown as well as the rest of the crown itself.
Crown of Empress Eugenie
Like the Emperor’s crown, which was destroyed in 1887, the Empress Eugenie’s crown was made in 1855 by Gabriel Lemonnier for the World’s Fair. Napoleon III, on the other hand, ultimately choose not to be crowned. As well as a massive diamond brooch by Alfred Bapst, a large corsage diamond knot, and a pearl and diamond shoulder brooch by Francois Kramer, her diadem by the same jeweller is also on display in the Louvre.
Coronation Sword
Displayed in the Louvre Museum is the sword used in the coronation of the French monarchs, together with its 13th century scabbard. A knight’s insignia of spurs and sword was presented to the King early in the festivities. All of this ceremony’s sword holding was done by the “Connetable,” who held it with the blade pointed aloft. Several mediaeval swords, notably the Saint Louis, were kept in the treasury of Saint-Denis. The tradition has it that “Joyeuse,” Charlemagne’s sword, will be used at the coronation. Despite their odd construction and decoration, the components probably date from the 10th to 13th century. Even before Charlemagne’s reign, some think that it was made.