Coronations in Poland officially began in 1025 and continued until 1764, when the final king of an independent Poland, Stanisław August Poniatowski, was crowned at St. John's Cathedral in Warsaw. Most Polish coronations took place at the Wawel Cathedral in Kraków, but crownings also occurred in Poznań and at Gniezno Cathedral. Whenever practical, Polish coronations were conducted as close as possible as to the date of the previous sovereign's funeral. This was explained by Joachim Bielski in the sixteenth century as osoba umiera, korona nie umiera, or "the person dies, the crown dies not".M. Bielski, Kronika polska, 1st ed. (1597, reprinted Sanok, 1856), 3:1207. With the emergence of an independent, republican Poland after World War I, coronations in the Polish state have been rendered obsolete.
Though many of the Polish Crown Jewels were stolen and destroyed by King Frederick William III of Prussia in March 1809 after the Third Partition of Poland, remaining pieces are exhibited at the Wawel Royal Castle National Art Collection and National Museum in Warsaw.
The ceremony During the period when coronations were held in Kraków, the following order was observed: on the eve of his coronation, the new monarch fasted, gave alms, and partook of the Catholic sacrament of confession. He then walked on foot from the royal Wawel Castle to the Basilica of St. Stanisław, patron saint of Poland. Unlike the remainder of the service, the royal procession was opened to the Polish masses. On the morning of the ceremony, the king was met in his bedchamber by a procession consisting of the local Metropolitan Archbishop and other notables. Wearing Episcopal clothing, the monarch was blessed with holy water and incensed. Following this, king, metropolitan and the others made their way in procession to the cathedral.
Inside the church, the Polish regalia were laid on the high altar, while the king was seated on a low chair nearby. The royal oath was administered, and the new monarch then knelt before the altar. Two mitred abbots next entered from a side chapel, carrying a mixture of holy oils, with which the ruler was then anointed. Following this, the king was handed a sword, which he used to trace a cross in the air. Next he was crowned by the Archbishop, assisted by two other bishops, following which he received his orb and scepter. The high Mass continued, with the newly crowned sovereign receiving Holy Communion, then kissing a crucifix and mounting his throne. Following this, the king created several new knights, then attended a coronation feast and rode into the public square on horseback, where he received the homage of his subjects while seated in a large chair.
List of Polish coronations * King or queen Polish name Date Site Presiding cleric Crown used K Bolesław I the Brave Bolesław I Chrobry Early 1025 Gniezno Cathedral Hipolit, Archbishop of Gniezno Original Crown of Bolesław I the BraveQOda of MeissenEarly 1025 (presumed)Gniezno CathedralHipolit, Archbishop of Gniezno (presumed)Unknown K Mieszko II Lambert Gniezno Cathedral Hipolit, Archbishop of Gniezno Original Crown of Bolesław I the Brave Q Richeza of Lotharingia Rycheza Lotaryńska Gniezno Cathedral Hipolit, Archbishop of Gniezno Richeza's Crown K Boleslaus II the Bold Bolesław II Śmiały Gniezno Cathedral Bogumił, Archbishop of Gniezno Boleslaus the Bold's Crown K Premislaus Przemysł Gniezno Cathedral Jakub Świnka, Archbishop of Gniezno Boleslaus the Bold's Crown Q Margaret of Brandenburg Małgorzata Brandenburska Gniezno Cathedral Jakub Świnka, Archbishop of Gniezno Margaret of Brandenburg's Crown K Wenceslaus Wacław Czeski Gniezno Cathedral Jakub Świnka, Archbishop of Gniezno Boleslaus the Bold's Crown Q Elisabeth Richeza of Poland Ryksa Elżbieta Prague Cathedral Henryk of Wierzbno, Bishop of Wrocław Margaret of Brandenburg's Crown K Władysław I Łokietek Kraków Cathedral Janisław, Archbishop of Gniezno So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave Q Hedwig of Kalisz Jadwiga Kaliska Kraków Cathedral Janisław, Archbishop of Gniezno Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown K Casimir III the Great Kazimierz III Wielki Kraków Cathedral Janisław, Archbishop of Gniezno So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave Q Aldona of Lithuania Kraków Cathedral Janisław, Archbishop of Gniezno Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown Q Adelaide of Hesse Adelajda Heska Poznań Cathedral Janisław, Archbishop of Gniezno Hedwig of Kalisz's CrownQHedwig of Sagan Jadwiga Żagańska25 February 1365 (presumed)WschowaJan Doliwa, bishop of Poznań (presumed)Unknown K Louis the Great Ludwik Węgierski Kraków Cathedral Jarosław of Bogoria, Archbishop of Gniezno So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave K Jadwiga Jadwiga Andegaweńska Kraków Cathedral Bodzanta, Archbishop of Gniezno Unknown (possibly Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown) K Ladislaus II Władysław II Jagiełło Kraków Cathedral Bodzanta, Archbishop of Gniezno Ladislaus II's Crown Q Anna of Celje Anna Cylejska Kraków Cathedral Mikołaj Kurowski, Archbishop of Gniezno Anna of Celje's Crown Q Elizabeth Granowska Elżbieta Granowska Kraków Cathedral Jan Rzeszowski, Archbishop of Lviv Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown Q Sophia of Halshany Zofia Holszańska Kraków Cathedral Wojciech Jastrzębiec, Archbishop of Gniezno Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown K Władysław III Władysław III Kraków Cathedral Wojciech Jastrzębiec, Archbishop of Gniezno So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave K Casimir IV Kazimierz IV Kraków Cathedral Wincenty Kot, Archbishop of Gniezno So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave Q Elizabeth of Austria Elżbieta Rakuszanka Kraków Cathedral Jan Sprowski, Archbishop of Gniezno Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown K John I Albert Jan I Olbracht Kraków Cathedral Zbigniew Oleśnicki, Archbishop of Gniezno So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave K Alexander Aleksander Kraków Cathedral Fryderyk Jagiellończyk, Archbishop of Gniezno So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave K Sigismund I Zygmunt I Kraków Cathedral Andrzej Boryszewski, Archbishop of Gniezno So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave Q Barbara Zápolya Kraków Cathedral Jan Łaski, Archbishop of Gniezno Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown Q Bona Sforza Kraków Cathedral Jan Łaski, Archbishop of Gniezno Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown K Sigismund II Augustus Zygmunt II August Kraków Cathedral Jan Łaski, Archbishop of Gniezno So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave Q Elizabeth of Austria Elżbieta Habsubrżanka Kraków Cathedral Piotr Gamrat, Archbishop of Gniezno Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown Q Barbara Radziwiłłówna Kraków Cathedral Mikołaj Dzierzgowski, Archbishop of Gniezno Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown Q Catherine of Austria Katarzyna Habsburżanka Kraków Cathedral Mikołaj Dzierzgowski, Archbishop of Gniezno Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown K Henry Henryk Walezy Kraków Cathedral Jakub Uchański, Archbishop of Gniezno So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave K AnnaAnna Jagiellonka Kraków Cathedral Stanisław Karnkowski, Bishop of Kuyavia Anna Jagiellonka's Crown K Stephen Stefan Batory Kraków Cathedral Stanisław Karnkowski, Bishop of Kuyavia So-called Hungarian Crown K Sigismund III Zygmunt III Waza Kraków Cathedral Stanisław Karnkowski, Archbishop of Gniezno So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave Q Anna of Austria Anna Austriaczka Kraków Cathedral Stanisław Karnkowski, Archbishop of Gniezno Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown Q Constance of Austria Konstancja Austriaczka Kraków Cathedral Piotr Tylicki, Bishop of Kuyavia Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown K Władysław IV Władysław IV Kraków Cathedral Jan Wężyk, Archbishop of Gniezno So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave Q Cecilia Renata Cecylia Renata St. John's Church in Warsaw Jan Wężyk, Archbishop of Gniezno Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown Q Marie Louise Gonzaga Ludwika Maria Gonzaga Kraków Cathedral Maciej Łubieński, Archbishop of Gniezno Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown K John II Casimir Jan II Kazimierz Kraków Cathedral Maciej Łubieński, Archbishop of Gniezno So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave K Michael Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki Kraków Cathedral Mikołaj Prażmowski, Archbishop of Gniezno So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave Q Eleonora Maria Josefa Eleonora Habsburżanka St. John's Church in Warsaw Mikołaj Prażmowski, Archbishop of Gniezno Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown K John III Jan III Sobieski Kraków Cathedral Andrzej Olszowski, Archbishop of Gniezno So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave Q Marie Casimire d'Arquien Maria Kazimiera Kraków Cathedral Andrzej Olszowski, Archbishop of Gniezno Hedwig of Kalisz's Crown K Augustus II the Strong August II Mocny Kraków Cathedral Stanisław Dąbski, Bishop of Kuyavia So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave K Stanislaus I Stanisław Leszczyński St. John's Church in Warsaw Konstanty Zieliński, Archbishop of Lviv Stanislaus I's Crown Q Katarzyna Opalińska St. John's Church in Warsaw Konstanty Zieliński, Archbishop of Lviv Katarzyna Opalińska's Crown K Augustus III August III Sas Kraków Cathedral Jan Aleksander Lipski, Bishop of Kraków Augustus III's Crown Q Maria Josepha of Austria Maria Józefa Austriaczka Kraków Cathedral Jan Aleksander Lipski, Bishop of Kraków Maria Josepha's Crown K Stanislaus II Augustus Stanisław August Poniatowski St. John's Church in Warsaw Władysław Łubieński, Archbishop of Gniezno So-called Crown of Bolesław I the Brave K Nicholas I Mikołaj I Romanow Royal Castle in Warsaw The king crowned himself, assisted by Jan Paweł Woronicz, Archbishop of Warsaw Empress Anna Ivanovna's Crown * "K" indicates a king or queen regnant; "Q" indicates a queen consort.
Pretenders and royal consorts not crowned Wenceslaus III of Bohemia, assassinated before crowning Wiola of Cieszyn, wife of Wenceslaus III of Bohemia, daughter of Mieszko of Cieszyn, Duke of Cieszyn Krystyna, daughter of Weneclaus of Praga, third wife of Casimir III of Poland, taken by him as morganatic wife Elizabeth of Bosnia, wife of Louis the Great, daughter of Stephen II, Ban of Bosnia William of Austria, married in childhood to Jadwiga of Poland, later claimed to consummated marriage during his visit in Poland; marriage was not recognized as valid by Polish nobles and the Pope, and renounced by Jadwiga Helena of Moscow, wife of Alexander Jagiellon, daughter of Ivan III, Grand Duke of Moscow, not crowned because of her Orthodox faith Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, wife of August II the Strong, daughter of Christian Ernst, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, not crowned because of her Protestant faith Elżbieta Szydłowska, possible morganatic wife of Stanisław August Poniatowski
Further reading Michał Rożek, Polskie koronacje i korony, Krajowa Agencja Wydawnicza, Kraków 1987 (in Polish) Besala, Jerzy (2006). Małżeństwa królewskie. Piastowie, Przemyślidzi, Andegawenowie. Bellona Muza. (in Polish) Besala, Jerzy (2006). Małżeństwa królewskie. Jagiellonowie. Bellona Muza. . (in Polish) Besala, Jerzy (2007). Małżeństwa królewskie. Władcy elekcyjni. Bellona Muza. (in Polish) Borkowska, Urszula (2012). Dynastia Jagiellonów w Polsce. PWN. .
References
External links
Koronacje królów i królowych polskich Zarys historii regaliów Królestwa Polskiego
See also List of Polish monarchs Henrician Articles Polish Crown Jewels Royal Road, Kraków St. Florian's Church Vivente Rege