Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Crown (symbol of sovereignty)
(1,069 words)

A crown is an ornament worn on the head symbolizing authority, legitimacy, tradition, or victory [6]. Various types were used in the Middle Ages and early modern period, including circlet,  fleur-de-lis crown, plate crown, miter crown, and hoop crown, usually made of gold, silver, or iron, and in most cases decorated with precious stones and pearls. Many crowns included a cross as a symbol of Christian rule. In the early modern period, rank crowns (coronet, baronial crown, comital crown, ducal crown) had almos…

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Hengerer, Mark, “Crown (symbol of sovereignty)”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_SIM_022822>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20170206



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