The Royal Imperial Crown of Serbia () is a royal regalia that existed during the Serbian monarchy.
Serbia, like most former monarchies in Europe, has had crowns once worn by its rulers. The various Serbian principalities and kingdoms were organised around a number of different royal dynasties. Many of these invested in symbols of royalty which has led to a number of distinctive crowns, jewels and other treasures of incredible wealth surviving to the present day. As far as is known, there are four royal crowns once worn by Serbian kings or princes that have survived to the present day, of which just one is kept in the modern Republic of Serbia today.
Nemanjić Crowns
The Nemanjić Crown Jewels are the oldest of the surviving pieces of Serbian royal regalia. They were used in the coronation ceremonies of members of the medieval House of Nemanjić. Most of the original Nemanjić crown jewels were lost or are located in foreign countries. Many Serbian royal valuables ended up in Austria, Hungary, United Kingdom, Germany, Montenegro, Turkey, and Russia. Fleeing from the Turks, Serbian princes and lords, together with the clergy and the people, when they came to southern Hungary, carried with them their movable property, which not infrequently contained the ruler's insignia and valuables. Valuables kept for generations have thus found their final destination in the palace treasuries and collections of Western Europe. Many Serbian officers and dignitaries left their movable properties, by marriage and sale, in the hands of Hungarians and Germans, mostly residents of Vienna and Pest. But not only the Serbian medieval heritage, but also the heritage of the Serbs, Austrian subjects, who showed great cultural and economic progress in their new homeland, flowed for centuries, slowly, to Vienna and Budapest. This happened especially after the liberation of Hungary from the Turks, when Vienna and Pest developed rapidly. Retired high-ranking border officers of Serbian nationality immigrated to these two cities for two centuries, bringing with them many valuable possessions. Likewise, many Germans and Hungarians, generals and other officers, who served in the midst of Serbs, came to Vienna and Budapest, carrying entire caravans of almost everything that represented of value.
The 14th Century Crown of King Stefan Uroš III Dečanski Nemanjić is kept at Cetinje Monastery in Montenegro. Originally the crown was in possession of the Metropolitanate of Karlovci and was later gifted to Metropolitan of Cetinje, Petar I Petrović-Njegoš. The last time the crown was used was during the coronation of King Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš in 1910.
At the Kaiserliche Schatzkammer, a crown once worn by members of the medieval Nemanjić dynasty can be found which was later attributed to Stephen Bocskai, given by Ottoman Grand Vezir Sokolluzade Lala Mehmed Pasha on 11 November 1605 in Roško Polje. The second crown of Stephen Bocskai would end up in the possession of the Budapest museum. Together with these is a golden mantle (buckle) of unknown origin which is believed to have been captured by the Serbs from the Ottomans at Brasov.
The are accounts that the crown of Hohenstaufen in Germany, also of Byzantine design, has Serbian origins and that it might have belonged to one of Serbian medieval rulers. Due to the impossibility of testing, it is impossible to prove it.
Karađorđević Crown
The Karađorđević Crown Jewels were created in 1904 for the coronation of King Peter I. The pieces were made from materials that included bronze taken from the cannon Karađorđe used during the First Serbian Uprising. This gesture was symbolic because 1904 was the 100th anniversary of that uprising. The regalia was made in Paris by the famous Falise brothers jewellery company. The crown and the rest of the regalia are in the Historical Museum of Serbia in Belgrade. Until 1904 they were at the altar of the Royal Chapel of St. Andrew the First-Called which is at the Royal Compound in Dedinje. The crown is currently the only Serbian crown kept in the territory of the Republic of Serbia.
Regalia
The Karađorđević Serbian Royal Regalia consist of the following: Royal crown (Also known as the Karađorđević Crown), with details such as the Serbian coat of arms Royal orb Royal scepter Royal mantle buckle Royal mantle
The crown, scepter, and orb are decorated with gemstones found in Serbia and enameled in the national colours of red, blue, and white. The royal mantle is made of purple velvet, embroidered with gold and lined with ermine fur.
