Regalia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
‘’Regalia’’ is Latin ‘’Plurale Tantum’’ for the privileges and insignia, characteristic of a Sovereign or Emperor.
It stems from the Latin substantivation of the adjective regalis, 'regal', itself from Rex, 'king'.
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[edit] Abstract
In origin exclusively Royal (Lato Senso), including Imperial Rights, Prerogatives and Privileges - are enjoyed by any Sovereign, regardless of title (Emperor, Grand Duke) etc., such as the right to Mint coins (especially with one's own Effigy). In many cases, especially in Feudal societies and generally weak States, such rights have in time been eroded by grants to or usurpations by lesser Vassals.
[edit] Sovereign Insignia
The Emblems, Symbols, or Paraphernalia are indicative of Imperial, Royal or any other Sovereign status. Some are shared with Divinities, either to symbolize a god(ess)'s role as say king of the Pantheon (e.g.Brhaman's sceptre) or rather allowing mortal royalty to resemble Divinity or stress a link with it.
For items that are fabricated artistically and using precious materials to lend luster to the occasions (mainly coronation) they are designed for, the term Crown Jewels is commonly used. However, there are no criteria to determine when an item is valuable enough, indeed this may rather be a matter of symbolic and historic value. Such as Crown Jewels used since the start of the dynasty, or Regalia sent as tangible recognition of legitimacy by the Pope, to an Emperor or Caliph.
Each culture, even each monarchy and/or dynasty, may have its own historical traditions, and some even have a specific name for its regalia, or at least for a (major) set of them, such as :
- The Honours of Scotland
- The Nigerian Royal Regalia
- The Three Sacred Treasures of the Japanese tennō
But some elements occur in many traditions.
[edit] Headgear
- crown and its variations, diadem, tiara;
- Cap of Maintenance
[edit] Other Regal Dress and Jewelry
- Armillae - Bracelets
- (Ermine) Crowning Mantle
- Barmi (Russian word), a detachable collar in precious materials, as in use in Moscovia
- Ring, symbolizing the Monarch's 'marriage' to the state (in the Doagl republic of Venice to its lifeblood, the sea); especially a Signet-Ring, practical attribute of his power to command legally
[edit] Manipulable Symbols of Power
- Orb (Globus Cruciger)
- Sceptre
- Hand of Justice
- Sword of Justice; in England there are two: for justice to the Spirituality () viz. to the Temporality, both pointed, to which is joined the pointless Curtana as Sword of Mercy, known also as Edward the Confessor's Sword
- Sword of State
- any or more other weapons, such as a dagger (asi Arabian and Indian traditions), a spear, a royal kris (in Malay traditions)
- Flail and Crook
- Fly-Whiskand has said to have magic powers of the sun god ameterasu the emporers granddmother
[edit] Other Manipulable Symbols
Instead of expressing the Monarch's power, regalia can also stand for virtues, i.e. what is expected from the incumbent.
Thus the Imperial Regalia of Japan (Jp: 三種の神器; "Sanshu no Jingi", or "Three Sacred Treasures"), also known as the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan, represent three primary virtues, connected with Buddhist thought: the sword, Kusanagi (草薙剣) (or possibly a replica of the original; located at Atsuta Shrine in Nagoya) represents valor, the jewel or necklace of jewels, Yasakani no magatama (八尺瓊曲玉; at Kokyo in Tokyo), benevolence, and the mirror, Yata no kagami (八咫鏡), located in the Ise Shrine in Mie Prefecture, wisdom. Since 690, the presentation of these items to the Emperor by the priests at the shrine are a central part of the imperial enthronement ceremony. As this ceremony is not public, the regalia are by tradition only seen by the emperor and certain priests, and no known photographs or drawings exist.
[edit] Coronation Paraphernalia
In addition to regalia having a symbolic meaning as such, the same and/or other objects are presented and/or used in the formal ceremonial of enthronement/coronation. They can be associated with an office or court sinecure (cfr. Archoffices) that enjoys the privilege to carry, present/or at use it at the august occasion, and sometimes on other formal occasions, such as a royal funeral.
Such objects without intrinsic symbolism can include
- Anointing Utensils:
- Sacred ampulla containing the ointment
- Spoon for the same ointment
- Alternatively, the Norwegian Monarchy has an anointment horn
- A bible used for swearing in the Monarch as the new Sovereign.
[edit] Companions' Attributes
Apart from the Sovereign himself, attributes, especially a crown, can be used for close relatives who are allowed to share in the pomp, as in Norway both the Queen-consort (often the spouse) and the crown prince are the only other members of the Royal Family to be crowned and share in the Sovereign's pomp.
[edit] Reserved Colour
- In the Roman Empire, the colour purple and robes dyed in it (with an extremely expensive Mediterranean mollusk extract) were in principle reserved for the Imperial Court, but extended to various dignitaries, for whom the term purpuratus was coined as a high aulic distinction.
[edit] Additional Display
- Umbrella / Canopy
- fan(s)
- standard(s) - n
- Maces)
- Music, such as
- Fanfare, and/or reserved instruments, such as silver trumpets, or in India (especially Mewar) the Nakkara Drums
- The ceremonial Nobat Orchestra is even a formal requirement for a valid Malaysian coronation.
[edit] See also
For other meanings, such as the generalization to all Decorations or Insignia indicative of a lower Office (Such as a Chain of Office) or of membership to an Order or Society;
[edit] Other uses
By analogy, the term Regalia is also applied, technically improperly, to formal insignia in other contexts, such as Academic Regalia
[edit] Sources - External link
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Austrian Crown Jewels | British Crown Jewels | Bavarian Crown Jewels | Bohemian Crown Jewels | Danish Crown Regalia | Dutch Royal Regalia | French Crown Jewels | German Crown Jewels | Greek Crown Jewels | Hungarian Crown Jewels | Imperial Regalia of the Holy Roman Empire | Iranian Crown Jewels | Honours of Scotland | Honours of Wales | Irish Crown Jewels | Imperial Regalia of Japan | Nigerian Royal Regalia | Norwegian Royal Regalia | Polish Crown Jewels | Portuguese Crown Jewels | Prussian Crown Jewels | Romanian Crown Jewels | Russian Crown Jewels | Serbian Crown Jewels | Spanish Crown Jewels | Swedish Royal Regalia | Thai Royal Regalia| |
Categories: Formal insignia | Regalia | Coronation | Crown Jewels | Heir Apparent | Heir Presumptive | King | Monarchy | Queen | Royal Family
