ADVENTURES OF A EUROPEAN CROWN

Evening Star, Issue 21543, 16 October 1933, Page 7

ADVENTURES OF A EUROPEAN CROWN

The fondness of the Hungarian .people for colourful, dramatic, and elaborate ceremonies, reminding them of past glories,and of their place in world history. Iws found vivid expression ip. the election and installation of two) new keepers of the historic crown which is still a live symbol in the life of Hungary (says the ‘ Christian Science Monitor’) • . . Keeping the crown is a very exalted and responsible position occupied by eight men, whose duty is to guard an elaborate metal headgear nearly 1,000 years old, inextricably bound up with Hungarian history. Usage and the Constitution require the “keepers ” to be designated by the king, but since Hungary is a kingdom without a king, the new incumbents had to be selected by the Regent ahd the two Houses of Parliament. Consequently, a special electric assembly was called for this purpose.. Deputies, nobles, prelates, and professors, dressed in the silk and furtrimmed velvet attire of their ancestors, gathered' in the cupola hall of the Budapest House of Parliament, which is one of the most imposing in the world. •_ In the" presence of the Regent, Admiral Nicholas Horthy, Sir Julius Goiiibo's, the Prime Minister, and other Ministers and high officials, Count Tiber Teleky, and Baron Zsigmond Perenyi were chosen for the posts, _ _ Subsequently their installation took place in tho marble hall of the royal palace. Six crown guards in red and white uniforms brought in the case in which, since the fifteenth century, the crown has been securely sealed, never being taken out except for the coronation of kings. | Then the newly-elected keepers received the keys, took the path of office, and stepped into their places. _ Arid now no coronation can® be held without their consent'or that of their successors.

The Hungarian crown,-which is heavy and elaborate, containing many jewels, ami enamelled images, was given by Pope Sylvester XT. in the year 1,000 to St. Stcplien, the first king o_f the Magyars • who introduced Christianity among his people. Thus it was a symbol of Christianity, and so came to have ; a strong and very real meaning which has grown during the nine intervening centuries. Tn Hungary, .succession; to tho throne is not complete without a coronation with this crown. It serves as a guarantee of the Hungarian Constitution. . . For this reason if has experienced a chequered history. It has wandered about all over Central Europe, been stolen, pawned, captured, buried, , and lost. Once it was discovered in , a swamp with the cross upon it bent and tho cross has never been straightened. At another time a foreign rider gained possession of it and thereby delayed a coronation for twentv-four years. _ During the years of Turkish domination the crown was smuggled from place to place to prevent its Tallinn: into Mohammedan hands. In 1848 when Hungary launched a' revolutionary, .war against Austria the crown was hidden and not discovered until 1853. when'it was dug up under the floor of a house. Since then it has been guarded in the Royal Palace at Budapest. If was last used in 1917 when, after the passing on of Emperor Franz Joseph who ruled for sixty years, it was placed on tho head of his successor Karl. One of the crown keepers must -always live in the vicinity of the crown, which is guarded day and night. , . < Since the close of the World Avar, Hungary, has had no king. It is a , kingdom in suspense and expectation

with the Regent, Nicholas Horthy, bolding the supreme power until that day when a real king may be placed upon the throne. Many thousands of Hungarians hope that day will come soon. They are working to hasten its arrival. But neighbouring Powers say “no.”