The Crown of St Wenceslas & the Bohemian Crown Jewels

In this video I look at the Crown of St Wenceslas, the crown of Bohemian, a medieval artefact that is still important to the Czech people, as a symbol of their national identity and sovereignty. Created in the 14th century by a Prague goldsmith, it was commissioned by Charles IV, who was king of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor and was first used in his coronation in 1347. Made of 22-carat gold and adorned with precious stones, the crown also contains a thorn from Christ's crown of thorns, making it a reliquary. It was Charles himself who associated the crown with St Wenceslas, once duke and then patron saint of Bohemia, and it may have been placed on the skull reliquary of the saint, thus imparting on the crown the status as a third class relic. A beautiful and enigmatic object, It has in its long history been a potent symbol of authority and national identity throughout Bohemia's very turbulent history.