Tiaras and Trinkets on Tuesday (Lost to History Part 1 The Crown of St. Christian)

There are many legends surrounding the history of some of the Royal Jewels. This fairy tale mystique has been the quality that is unavoidably always associated with the concept of Kings and castles. Indeed it is even generated by it. One of the most inspiring yet also unrealistically miraculous legends is the story of the Crown of St.Christian. This was for centuries the official King's Crown for the Independent Kingdom of Scotney. The last monarch to be crowned with this solid gold crown set with precious gems was our own Empress Crystobel when she became the last Queen of Scotney. 

The only remaining detailed photograph of the magnificent Crown of St. Christian.

Legend has it that in the year 1456AD the then Duke of Stirling, Prince Christian of Scotney, who was the heir to the throne of Scotney lost his way while horse riding alone in the dense Veiled Forest near the northern hunting lodge of his father the King. The Prince was in repose after being virtually exiled by his geriatric father who despised him for disagreeing with his expansionist campaigns into neighbouring lands. After hours of searching for the edge of the forest the Prince came upon a clearing with a large rose bush in bloom at its centre. His eye was immediately caught by a bright scintillation coming from the bush. Thinking his fatigue was getting the better of his senses he decided to investigate. He dismounted and as he approached noticed to his astonishment, a gem encrusted crown entangled in the thorny branches. With a calm breeze stroking his cloak the Prince, now entirely distracted from his own dilemma, reached for the crown but gashed his hand on the thorns resulting in a drop of blood falling at the base of the bush.

Unexpectedly a voice greeted the Prince from behind and as he turned nursing his hand, he saw what seemed to be a very old hooded man leaning on a gnarled walking stick. "Forgive me sir" the Prince exclaimed. "No need young man, may I help you?" came the reply. The Prince relinquished his hand to the old man who breathed on it leading to its total healing. Shocked, the Prince recoiled only to hear something thudding to the ground at his heel. The crown rolled and touched his feet as he looked down at it. Dazed, the Prince looked back at a now vanished old man while the wind seemed to breathe the words: "...a treasure lost, is a treasure found..."

Hours passed but the Prince with new vigour found his way and arrived back at the hunting lodge later that evening with the crown in his buffle bag. He was however greeted by acclamations while receiving the news that his tyrannical father had passed and that he was the new King of Scotney. That night, the new King dreamt of an ancient battle that he was told about in his tutoring on history as a child. The Battle of the Veil was fought near the very forest where he became lost and the then King was defeated, losing his crown to what was said to be a demonic force come to judge him for his crimes. In his dream he saw the devil cursing the land until someone worthy sat on the throne with the words: "The crown earned with blood will never take blood." and so he woke with a cold sweat streaming down his face. The King fasted for a week while roaming the forest searching for the old man. All he was said to have ever found was his own shadow and his reflection in a pond whereupon he realised that his life was his own responsibility. He vowed to serve God and his people at the cost of his life and never to put wealth and prestige before his people. He was crowned with the Rosebush Crown that was then named the Crown of Christian the Great after his death and became known as the Crown of St Christian after his canonisation in 1966. In his lifetime, King Christian established what to this day is regarded as the full exstent of Scotney territory. Scotney never had to defend its borders against attack and never declared war during his reign. It is said that peace and prosperity never abounded to such an extent since. 

The Coronation photo of Queen Crystobel I, the mother of Empress Crystobel, was crowned with the Crown of St. Christian like every monarch before her since the tradition began in 1456. 

Scotney merged with the Kingdom of Britania in a single Empire in 1993 and the Crown was displayed along with the regalia of Britania and the new Imperial Crowns in the Imperial Capital. However the Revolution of 1996 saw the destruction of much of the Royal historic pieces and it is presumed destroyed today. It is almost poetic that the Crown which is surrounded by so much historic symbolism and legends speaking of kingly principles is now, in line with its epithet, lost. 

"...a treasure lost, is a treasure found..." The old makes way for the new and one generation gives way to the next. This almost prophetic statement began what we know as the Kingdom of Scotney's prosperous establishment and resounded in its fall. It might be spoken again somewhere in the furure. We can but wait and see.