The Hungarian Coronation Mantle

02/2009

Originally, the Coronation Mantle was a closed bell-shaped chasule which was altered later into a mantle. According to the inscription embroidered onto the robe, it was ordered by the king, Saint Stephen and his wife, Blessed Giselle in 1031 and it was given to the Church of Holy Mary in Székesfehérvár. Its basic material is Byzantine silk, which is almost fully covered by golden thread embroidery.

The representations of Christ are surrounded by the chorus of angels, prophets of the Old Testament, the apostles and a selected group of martyrs. In the row of the martyrs the images of the donating couple, Saint Stephen – S(t)ephanus rex – and Giselle – Gisla regina – could be caught together with a young man, possibly their son Saint Emeric.

The Latin inscriptions, apart from stating the act of donation and naming the figures interpret the images of Christ: "Christ rules sitting, showing himself in majesty", "The celestial hosts pay tribute to the supreme King" and "A throne is due to the governing and ruling Christ". In the inscription Holy Mary is also mentioned: "The picture of the Holy Mother is glowing in the sky".

The embroidery of the chasule is a pictoral represetation of the medieval hymn, Te Deum. This hymn is a prayer used in coronation ceremonies and also in the thanksgiving of the beginnings and closings of the years.

The chasule as a royal insignia is first mentioned in the description of coronation ceremony of Andrew III in 1290. It states that the "king wore a robe which was already used by Saint Stephen". Our priceless national relic is preserved in the Hungarian National Museum's strong-room and it is shown to our visitors as a separated part of the permanent historical collection.