Tiaras and Trinkets on Tuesdays (The Crown Jewels of Hispania)

The Crown Jewels of Hispania

As all the monarchies and Royal Families of Europa were ravaged by the 96 Revolution so too the symbols of those nations were affected. Chief amongst the symbols of Royalty is of course the crown. The Kingdom of Hispania was amongst those who saw the missile strike, on the Castle of Roswind on the fateful night the revolution began, destroy several of their historic jewels. All the Kingdoms of the world sent their monarchs to the Empire of Scot-Britania for what was to be the greatest and most regal celebration ever. These monarchs posed beside regalia brought with them and these were destroyed beside them in the ensuing missile blast and fire. Hispania's monarchy survived however and still has Crown jewels to symbolise their proud nation steeped in history.

The Crown of Hispania

The Royal Crown of the Kingdom of Hispania is a new crown made to replace the medieval one destroyed during the revolution. It does however contain gems and gold components from a far older crown. That deteriorating crown used to create the new one, was formerly used to crown a relic in the Royal Cathedral of St Bartholomeas.

The current Queen of Hispania's grandmother seated in state for a portrait taken at the wedding of Queen Crystobel II of Scotney to Crown Prince Christian Victor of Britania. On the pedestal to our right is the medieval crown used until the revolution as the Royal Crown of Hispania. It was destroyed in the 96 revolution along with the Duke of Alba's Coronet at left, the sword and the sceptre. The tiara the Queen is wearing however was not involved in the missile strike and survives to this day and is discussed directly below. 

The King Carlos X Crown Diamonds Diadem.

This tiara could be seen as the signature tiara for Hispania and its queens, be they regents or consorts. It is also often used as a sort of Consort Crown when the King's wife requires one. The diamonds in the lower band are of exceptional size and as such may rate this tiara as one of the most valuable in the world. it is also often worn due to its classic simple design. The diamonds were a gift from the former Hispanian colony of  Peru on the celebration of their independence in 1919. The amicable relations between the nations made for this gift to be a poignant one and has afforded this tiara its historic status. 

Another South Americanian colonial set in the Crown Jewel Collection is the Rubies of the Sun Parure. This set was designed and manufactured in Mexicoes as a tribute to the Hispanian Monarchy when they were still in power over their colony. It is made of gold and rubies and alludes to the Sun Disc seen in Mexcusian ancient art. The parure is a rarity as it consists of not just the standard tiara, necklace and earrings but includes a Mantilla. The distinctive, Hispanian hair comb, called a Mantilla is worn at the back of the head and can be seen in the picture below. 

The 2012 State Portrait of Queen Maria of Hispania. In this photo we can see the Crown, The Carlos X Diadem and the Rubies of the Sun Mantilla. The queen also wears the Crown Earrings and the Cataljone Necklace. 

The Crown Necklace and Earrings is a set of jewellery made at King Carlos X's own expense to compliment the Carlos X Diadem. They are not seen as a parure inclussive of the Tiara but are sometimes mistaken as such. The necklace contains a large diamond reputed to have descended down from King Alfonso the Great. 

The Cataljone Necklace was entered into the Crown Collection by the current Queen Hispania's mother. She received the necklace as a betrothal gift from her husband who later died in the 96 Revolution and as such never became King. To immortalise his memory and their love she bequeathed the jewel to the Crown to be worn in perpetuity by the Queens of Hispania. 

The Shard of Dusk Diamond 

In the days of the Hispanian conquest of the South Americanians many legends emerged of fabulous cities of gold, gargantuan gem stones and mythical creatures. Very few were founded in fact but some did have measures of truth. diamonds are not readily found in the South Americanias but they do exist. This specimen is of a rare smokey colour and quite large. It was reputed to be a ceremonial offering brought anually to the Sun Temple in order for it to refract the light of the holy sun. When the Conquistadors arrived in their armour, blazingly reflecting the light, the indigenous people offered up the stone to them and it found its way to the Hispanian Court. It is today rarely worn as some controversy surrounds the call for its return to its native land. In the photo above, Princess Isabella wore it in 2009 to a movie premierre and made news headlines for it. 

The Crown Emerald Parure

Our final piece of the Crown Jewel puzzle is The Crown Emerald Parure consisting of a tiara, necklace, earrings and a bracelet.The Hispanian Emeralds belong to the Crown of Hispania and as such like all the other gems in the Crown Collection cannot be sold. They are all kept as a national treasure and only used by the Royal family. Old Crown emeralds were recut into a more modern square cut in the early 1900's and then set into this parure as part of the Hispanian Crown Jewels. The rules for this tiara is that only the wife or daughters of a Hispanian Monarch may wear them. As such it is often worn by Infanta Isabella or her mother the Dowager Princess Cataljone. We have yet to see Queen Maria or her daughter wear them.