Iron Crown Of Lombardy

 

The Iron Crown of Lombardy (in Italian, Corona ferrea) is revered as a holy relic and is housed in Monza Cathedral to this day. 

According to one of many legends, the small crown is said to have been ordered by Saint Helena for her son, Constantine the Great, and encases a beaten nail from the cross used during Christ’s crucifixion, which she had found in the Holy Land, thus giving the crown its name

                                                                Iron Crown Of Lombardy

                                      Crown With A Nail Used At The Crucifixion Of Jesus

The Iron Crown is so called because it contains a one-centimetre-wide band within it that is said to have been beaten out of a nail used at the crucifixion of Jesus. 

The outer circlet of the crown is made of six segments of beaten gold, partly enamelled, joined together by hinges. It is set with 22 gemstones

Napoleon At Coronation

Napoleon moved to the altar, took the Iron Crown, placed it on his own head on top of the Imperial Crown, and declared 

“God has given it to me; beware he who touches it”. 

Snapshot