Show ITALY'S FAMOUS IRON CROWN Symbol of Royalty That Goes Far Back Into the Records of European European European Euro Euro- History One of ot the tho most famous crowns is that which Is not bedecked with jo jewels jew jewels els but Is made of Iron This historic iron crown has played a romantic role in to the history of Italy It was fashioned fash tash- In the year by the command It U is said of Theolinda the widow of a Lombard king on the occasion of her marriage to a duke of Turin The iron is Ie overlaid o with gilt The significance of the crown was supposed supposed supposed sup sup- posed to lie In the fact tact that the weight of royalty could never be lightened by its splendid exterior The iron of the 3 inner portion was traditionally held 9 3 to be one of the long nails nalle used at the tho c crucifixion t For a long time the tho crown was kept 5 r in the famous monastery at Monza 1 In Jo it was brought forth to be i. i placed upon the head of Charlemagne as king of the Lombards and on later occasions It figured in the triumphs triumphs tri tri- of Frederic IV and Charles V V. Finally Final in the presence of all the representatives representatives representatives rep rep- of ot state the foreign envoys en en- voys toys and princes and officers Napoleon Napoleon Napoleon Na Na- Bonaparte solemnly united it to the crown of France The crown belongs to the state and the custodian of it Is the legitimate representative of the tho basilica of Mon Ion za 3 The title of grand custodian however pertains to the head of the ther Order of Cavaliers r |