{"id":18904,"date":"2019-10-14T04:48:41","date_gmt":"2019-10-14T03:48:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=18904"},"modified":"2025-10-09T11:51:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T10:51:54","slug":"austrian-crown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/austrian-crown\/","title":{"rendered":"The Crown of the Austrian Empire"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/schatzkammer3.jpg\" alt=\"Schatzkammer sign\" class=\"wp-image-18908\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/schatzkammer3.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/schatzkammer3-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>No self-respecting monarch goes about their business without a suitable hat. And the crown of the Austrian empire could not be more imperial if it had the word, <em>Emperor<\/em>, inscribed on it (which, incidentally, it does)&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Private crown made in 1602 for Emperor Rudolf II<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rich with gold, pearls and diamonds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Became the official crown of the Austrian Empire<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/vienna-walking-tours-l205287\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_WalkingTours\" rel=\"sponsored\">historical walking tour<\/a>* in Vienna<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/schatzkammer\/\">Imperial Treasury visitor &amp; tickets info<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/top-10-art\/\">Other top art in Vienna<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The crown of Rudolf II<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"495\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/rudolfskrone.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18909\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/rudolfskrone.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/rudolfskrone-212x300.jpg 212w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The Crown of Rudolf II, later Crown of the Austrian Empire, Jan Vermeyen, Prague, 1602 \u00a9KHM-Museumsverband)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to impressive artefacts, Vienna&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/schatzkammer\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"256\">Schatzkammer<\/a> (Imperial Treasury) is like a chocolate shop to a child: delights everywhere and hard to say what you should pick first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately, though, when it comes to imperial treasures&#8230;it has to be a crown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, the imperial crown of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/holy-roman-empire\/\">Holy Roman Empire<\/a> probably counts as the most impressive from a historical perspective. The Reichskrone is, after all, over 1,000 years old and associated with such luminaries as Frederick Barbarossa and the great Maximilian I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But my eye falls instead on what is known as the Rudolfskrone.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"267\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/rudolfiibelvedere.jpg\" alt=\"Portrait of Emperor Rudolf II\" class=\"wp-image-64492\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/rudolfiibelvedere.jpg 267w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/rudolfiibelvedere-160x300.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(A portrait of Emperor Rudolf II by Johann Peter Krafft from around 1840. Rudolf commissioned the crown back in the 1600s; photo courtesy of Belvedere\u2019s Open Content Policy)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is not pragmatic headgear. Do not expect a bit of spiky metal you might toss around the throne room or wear out to dinner after a fresh conquest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No, this crown oozes imperial self-confidence layered in gold and gemstones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The crown makes it very clear indeed that the wearer is most definitely more important than anyone else in the room. A crown that leaves you with an urge to kneel, however republican your sentiments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brussels-born goldsmith, Jan Vermeyen, made the item in 1602 for Emperor Rudolf II (1552 &#8211; 1612) at the latter&#8217;s Prague court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><br><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"horizontal\" data-slug-ids=\"exp206741,exp238032\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_ConcTour\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Vermeyen&#8217;s creation had no official function as such, at least not until the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/austrian-empire\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"12856\">founding of the Austrian Empire<\/a> by Emperor Francis II\/I in 1804. Then his creation became formally designated as the Imperial Crown of Austria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rudolf does not count as one of the greatest Habsburg rulers, but he was certainly one of the greatest Habsburg collectors (and a huge patron of the arts).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of the wonderful pieces in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/khm\/kunstkammer\/\">Kunstkammer<\/a> chamber of wonders at Vienna&#8217;s Kunsthistorisches Museum stem from Rudolf&#8217;s collection, for example. Other Vermeyen works also appear there, such as a rhino horn drinking vessel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As for the Rudolfskrone, this astonishing example of the goldsmith&#8217;s art works like a hybrid between a more conventional circlet and a bishop&#8217;s mitre. It thus combines the secular and divine aspects of the monarch.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"353\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/franzportrait.jpg\" alt=\"Portrait of a 19th-century emperor\" class=\"wp-image-86360\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/franzportrait.jpg 353w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/franzportrait-235x300.jpg 235w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 353px) 100vw, 353px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Portrait of Emperor Franz II\/I, who gave the crown its official role. Undated painting by Johann Nepomuk H\u00f6chle; photo courtesy of Belvedere\u2019s Open Content Policy)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pearls and diamonds decorate the circlet and central arch, the latter topped by a huge sapphire. The golden mitre depicts four aspects of Rudolf&#8217;s position in relief:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Victor over the Ottomans (a somewhat dubious claim for Rudolf personally)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coronation as emperor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scene from the coronation as King of Bohemia<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scene from after the coronation as King of Hungary<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Incidentally, a copy of the crown resides in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/michaelerkirche\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"27662\">Michaelerkirche church<\/a>. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/michaelerkirche-crypt-tour\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"67513\">tour of the crypts<\/a> there includes a peek at this simplistic replica, which would have adorned the coffin of an emperor when lying-in-state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get to the Imperial Crown<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>First, find your way to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/schatzkammer\/\">Imperial Treasury<\/a> in the Hofburg complex. Once inside, it&#8217;s hard to miss. In fact, this is one of the very first exhibits you&#8217;ll see, displayed alongside an orb and sceptre. Look at the wall opposite for an 1832 painting of Emperor Francis II\/I in full regalia with the crown on his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: Schweizerhof, Hofburg, 1010 Vienna | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaiserliche-schatzkammer.at\/\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1asmHlbVpicbQLt1557vf6l4l0zQ\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>No self-respecting monarch goes about their business without a suitable hat. And the crown of the Austrian empire could not be more imperial if it had the word, Emperor, inscribed on it (which, incidentally, it does)&#8230; The crown of Rudolf II (The Crown of Rudolf II, later Crown of the Austrian Empire, Jan Vermeyen, Prague, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18908,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-18904","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-museums","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18904","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18904"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18904\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86362,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18904\/revisions\/86362"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18904"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18904"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18904"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}