Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: crown

A settlement named "Comps" was known here since 909. Around 1050 the church and land of Comps were endowed to the Abbaye de la Chaise-Dieu by Raoul de Lugeac. The important Abbaye de la Chaise-Dieu, founded by Saint Robert de Turlande, had about 300 monks at that time. It was decided to found a nunnery here as a priory. The construction of the cloister and the convent buildings took place between 1052 and 1058, as the nuns moved in already in 1058. In 1487 the name was changed from Comps to Lavaudieu ("Valley of God"), so the nunnery became "Priory Saint-André Lavaudieu". After 1516 the matrons were ordered by the king and were no longer elected by the monastery community, so the strict rules of the order relaxed. In 1718 the former priory became an abbey and at the beginning of the Revolution 13 nuns lived here, all daughters of regional nobles. They were expelled and the abbey was sold. Most of the buildings were used for agriculture, large parts of the convent building were demolished. Meanwhile, the still existing buildings are carefully restored. When I visited Lavaudieu the first time, church and cloister were locked. This time I had more luck. The church was open, only the cloister was locked! This capital is much more symbolic and abstract than the Adam and Eve capital just seen. It is probably much younger than that.

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession. Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century. A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status +of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful, The court of Roger II became melting out of culture from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages. - William II of Sicily built from 1172 here a fort-like complex of buildings, which included a cathedral, an archiepiscopal palace, a royal palace and a Benedictine monastery. In 1183 the monastery became the seat of the archdiocese of Monreale. The town then developed around this complex. According to a legend, William fell asleep while hunting. The Holy Virgin appeared to him in a dream, suggesting him to build a church here. After removing a tree, a treasure was found, whose coins were used to finance the construction. Well, it is much more likely that Monreale was founded in competition with the bishop of Palermo, who had commissioned the large Cathedral of Palermo. This would explain the vast dimensions and the splendour of the "Duomo di Monreale" (= "Cattedrale di Santa Maria Nuova"), that with the cloister, is the only building that survived the times. The interior is breathtaking, but as the cathedral is about 100 m long, there are distances here, not like inside the "Capella Palatina", where all the mosaics are so "near" - plus the visitors can sit down here - and gaze. It is overwhelming. Here are more than 6000m² of byzantine mosaics. The sides of the nave show many very strong parallels to the Cappella Palatina. Here and there probably the same workshop. Probably a large, maybe even a generation-spanning studio of Byzantine artists. King William II of Sicily is being crowned by God himself.

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession. Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century. A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful, The court of Roger II became melting out of culture from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages. Palermo, founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians, became a possession of Carthage and later was part of the Roman Empire. From 831 to 1072 the city was under Arab rule. Following the Norman conquest, Palermo became the capital of a new Kingdom of Sicily and the capital of the Holy Roman Empire under Emperor Frederick II and King Conrad IV. Today Palermo is a bustling city with a population of about 700.000 plus - many many tourists. Where the Palermo Cathedral ist now, was a Byzantine basilica, probably founded by Pope Gregory I, in the 6th century. After their conquest of the city in the 9th century, the Saracens converted this building into the "Grand Mosque". When the Normans under Roger I took over Palermo the mosque became again a cathedral and the seat of the archbishop. After an earthquake had severely damaged the old building, it was decided to demolish and rebuild it. The new cathedral was erected from 1184 on. In the 14th to 16th centuries, the building underwent continuous expansions and Gothic remodelling. A rebuilding process from 1781 to 1801 changed the cathedral fundamentally. A classical dome above the crossing was erected and the roofs of the aisles got replaced by a series of smaller domes. So today the cathedral is a 3D-puzzle of bits and pieces of different times and different styles. A fragmet of a mantle of of Constance of Aragon is on display in the treasury of the cathedral. It was created ~1220 in Palermo. Here is a detail - and a reflection (sorry). Constance of Aragon (1179 – 1222) was an Aragonese infant who was by marriage firstly Queen of Hungary. After her husband King Emeric had died, she returned back to Aragon. Five years later Pope Innocent III solicited her hand for his pupil, the young Frederick. Constance and Frederick were married in Messina in August 1209. In the ceremony, she was crowned Queen of Sicily. By this time, Constance was thirty years old and her new husband only fourteen. In 1212, Frederick was crowned King of Germany. During his absence, Constance stayed in Sicily as regent of the Kingdom until 1220. Pope Honorius III crowned Frederick Holy Roman Emperor in 1220. Constance was crowned Holy Roman Empress while their son Henry became the new King of Germany.

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession. Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century. A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful, The court of Roger II became melting out of culture from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages. Palermo, founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians, became a possession of Carthage and later was part of the Roman Empire. From 831 to 1072 the city was under Arab rule. Following the Norman conquest, Palermo became the capital of a new Kingdom of Sicily and the capital of the Holy Roman Empire under Emperor Frederick II and King Conrad IV. Today Palermo is a bustling city with a population of about 700.000 plus - many many tourists. Where the Palermo Cathedral ist now, was a Byzantine basilica, probably founded by Pope Gregory I, in the 6th century. After their conquest of the city in the 9th century, the Saracens converted this building into the "Grand Mosque". When the Normans under Roger I took over Palermo the mosque became again a cathedral and the seat of the archbishop. After an earthquake had severely damaged the old building, it was decided to demolish and rebuild it. The new cathedral was erected from 1184 on. In the 14th to 16th centuries, the building underwent continuous expansions and Gothic remodelling. A rebuilding process from 1781 to 1801 changed the cathedral fundamentally. A classical dome above the crossing was erected and the roofs of the aisles got replaced by a series of smaller domes. So today the cathedral is a 3D-puzzle of bits and pieces of different times and different styles. A fragmet of a mantle of of Constance of Aragon is on display in the treasury of the cathedral. It was created ~1220 in Palermo. Constance of Aragon (1179 – 1222) was an Aragonese infant who was by marriage firstly Queen of Hungary. After her husband King Emeric had died, she returned back to Aragon. Five years later Pope Innocent III solicited her hand for his pupil, the young Frederick. Constance and Frederick were married in Messina in August 1209. In the ceremony, she was crowned Queen of Sicily. By this time, Constance was thirty years old and her new husband only fourteen. In 1212, Frederick was crowned King of Germany. During his absence, Constance stayed in Sicily as regent of the Kingdom until 1220. Pope Honorius III crowned Frederick Holy Roman Emperor in 1220. Constance was crowned Holy Roman Empress while their son Henry became the new King of Germany.

Sicily, the largest Mediterranean island, has a long history, that starts around 8000 BC, but later there were Phoenician, Carthaginian, Greek and Roman periods. After the Roman Empire had fallen apart the Vandals tried to take over the island but failed. Finally, the Ostrogoths took possession. Mid of the 6th century Sicily was conquered by troops of the Byzantine Empire. After the advent of Islam, Sicily got attacked by the Arab forces. Raids seeking loot continued until the mid-8th century. A Muslim army was sent to the island in 827 but met with much resistance. So it took a century to conquer it and even later revolts constantly occurred In 1038 the Byzantines invaded the island supported by Norman mercenaries, led by Roger. In 1072, after the siege of Palermo, most of Sicily was under Norman control. Roger´s son Roger II raised the status of the island to a kingdom in 1130. During this period, the Kingdom of Sicily was prosperous and powerful, The court of Roger II became melting out of culture from Europe and the Middle East. This attracted scholars, scientists, artists, and artisans. Muslims, Jews, Greeks, Lombards, and Normans cooperated and created some extraordinary buildings. In 1186 the last descendant of Roger, Constance of Sicily married Emperor Henry VI, the second son of Barbarossa. So the crown of Sicily was passed on to the Hohenstaufen Dynasty. Frederick II, the only son of Constance, was crowned King of Sicily at the age of four in 1198. He became "Stupor Mundi", one of the greatest and most cultured men of the Middle Ages. Palermo, founded in 734 BC by the Phoenicians, became a possession of Carthage and later was part of the Roman Empire. From 831 to 1072 the city was under Arab rule. Following the Norman conquest, Palermo became the capital of a new Kingdom of Sicily and the capital of the Holy Roman Empire under Emperor Frederick II and King Conrad IV. Today Palermo is a bustling city with a population of about 700.000 plus - many many tourists. Where the Palermo Cathedral ist now, was a Byzantine basilica, probably founded by Pope Gregory I, in the 6th century. After their conquest of the city in the 9th century, the Saracens converted this building into the "Grand Mosque". When the Normans under Roger I took over Palermo the mosque became again a cathedral and the seat of the archbishop. After an earthquake had severely damaged the old building, it was decided to demolish and rebuild it. The new cathedral was erected from 1184 on. In the 14th to 16th centuries, the building underwent continuous expansions and Gothic remodelling. A rebuilding process from 1781 to 1801 changed the cathedral fundamentally. A classical dome above the crossing was erected and the roofs of the aisles got replaced by a series of smaller domes. So today the cathedral is a 3D-puzzle of bits and pieces of different times and different styles. The crown of Constance of Aragon is on display in the treasury of the cathedral. Constance of Aragon (1179 – 1222) was an Aragonese infant who was by marriage firstly Queen of Hungary. After her husband King Emeric had died, she returned back to Aragon. Five years later Pope Innocent III solicited her hand for his pupil, the young Frederick. Constance and Frederick were married in Messina in August 1209. In the ceremony, she was crowned Queen of Sicily. By this time, Constance was thirty years old and her new husband only fourteen. In 1212, Frederick was crowned King of Germany. During his absence, Constance stayed in Sicily as regent of the Kingdom until 1220. Pope Honorius III crowned Frederick Holy Roman Emperor in 1220. Constance was crowned Holy Roman Empress while their son Henry became the new King of Germany.

What is the parish church of the tiny village Saint-Thibault, seen here, was the center of a priory, that was founded in 1190. In the early times, the priory had erected a Romanesque church. After the "translation" of Saint Thibault´s relics to this church (1240), pilgrims arrived here in greater numbers, what created "business". So end of the 13th century the monks started to replace the Romanesque church with a "modern" Gothic one. The choir was built between 1299 and 1323. This large church collapsed in 1712. A fire burnt down what was rebuilt 16 years later. So that only the choir, a transept chapel and an early Gothic portal still existed, when a humble rebuilding process started mid 18th century. The portal, seen on the previous upload, has two statues on either side. Here is the couple from the portal´s left side. A luxuriously clothed couple, clearly older than their counterparts on the right side of the portal. Way better clothed. He wears a large embroidered collar and a crown. A small moneybag hangs down her belt, probably filled with some small coins for the poor. She is such a a merciful lady! These are probably statues of important donors, when the monks built the church.

What is the parish church of the tiny village Saint-Thibault, seen here, was the center of a priory, that was founded in 1190. In the early times, the priory had erected a Romanesque church. After the "translation" of Saint Thibault´s relics to this church (1240), pilgrims arrived here in greater numbers, what created "business". So end of the 13th century the monks started to replace the Romanesque church with a "modern" Gothic one. The choir was built between 1299 and 1323. This large church collapsed in 1712. A fire burnt down what was rebuilt 16 years later. So that only the choir, a transept chapel and an early Gothic portal still existed, when a humble rebuilding process started mid 18th century. The portal, seen on the previous upload, has two statues on either side. Here is the couple from the portal´s right side. Two simply dressed men. The left one wears a helmet and has red hair and beard. He seems to greet or bless somebody to the right. His nicely combed friend wears a kind of crown, but for a young king of prince, his attire is too simple. He has this typical Gothic smile on his face.

The Monasterio de San Pedro el Viejo ("Saint Peter the Old") is a former Benedictine monastery built within the 12th century. A church had existed here (built on the place of a Roman temple) since Visigothic times and even, when the Moors hold Huesca, this church was in use. Christian troops conquered Huesca in 1096 and from 1117 on Benedictines with obvious ties to Cluny reconstructed the church and erected a monasterio here. Of course the Benedictian monastery needed a decent cloister. This got erected adjoining the church around 1140. Many of the capitals, carved in the style of the "Master of Agüero" (aka "Master of San Juan de la Peña"), are creations done during the renovation of San Pedro el Viejo end of the 19th century. This capital is (probably) one of the old (original) ones. The horseman is a friendly greeting king (crown), accompanied by warriors (swords). The king has no nimbus. The lady to the left seems not too enthusiastic.

The Catedral de Santa Maria in Tudela was erected late 12th century on the place, where the Great Mosque of Tudela (9th c.) had stood before. The cathedral is really large (65m x 52m) but unfortunately was closed, so I could not see the well known cloister. I was very impressed by the late-Romanesque "Puerta del Juicio". The slightly pointed portal, created wirthin the 13th century, has eight archivolts and 122 different icons. The right side of the portal gives the onlooker an inside view into the heaven, that seems to be a very communicative place. All "members" here wear a nimbus - and crowns and mitras are allowed as well.