"The almost thousand year-old, semicircular, blue toned garment densely embroidered with gold thread is an important element of the set of Crown Jewels consisting of the Holy Crown, the sceptre, the orb and the sword.The original function of the mantle is indicated by the semicircular Latin inscription made with the same technique as the rest of the clothing. According to the inscription, it was ordered by Saint Stephen, King of Hungary and his wife Giselle in 1031 and donated to the Church of the Virgin Mary in Székesfehérvár, which was built at the time.
The originally bell-shaped chasuble was converted into a coronation mantle in the late 12th century. This was probably when the embroidered collar, adorned with pearls was fitted to it. The base fabric of the mantle is green Byzantine silk, with purple rosette-patterns.
The embroidered images crafted of golden and coloured silk threads cover the garment almost completely. It is estimated that about two kilograms of gold was used to decorate the mantle. The extraordinary quality of the gold work is shown by the fact that on every square centimetre of the material there are 50-60 metal threads stitched down by coloured silk thread following the pattern.
The Latin inscriptions state the act of the royal donation and name the figures, while the text written in verse interprets the images. These are among the first written documents left to us by the Hungarians. The composition of the mantle is organized into subordinated stripes, reminiscent of the Holy hierarchy.
The many figures and scenes of the complex imagery (61 small and larger figures, 52 smaller half-length portraits, feather and fur animals, floral patterns and architectural forms) are based on liturgical texts. A Y-shaped, forked cross is the axis of the composition.
The figure of Christ is situated in the oval frame above the arms of the cross, treading on a dragon and a lion, which symbolises the victory of good above evil. On one side of the cross there is the figure of the Saviour surrounded by angels, on the other, there is the image of the Virgin Mary.
Pictures of prophets of the Old Testament are under the arms of the cross, while the 12 apostles are under the ornate arches below the statement of donation.
In the centre, the Pantocrator (the judgmental Christ) is depicted. The round medallions of the bottom row contain images of martyr saints, while on the two sides of the rear axis the royal couple is portrayed.
The King and Queen are easy to identifyby the embroidered names: "S(t)EPHANUS REX", "GISLA REGINA".
The depiction is unique for three reasons: first of all it is the only remaining contemporary depiction of the royal couple Saint Stephen and Giselle. Secondly, the manner of depiction is unusual: unlike other donators usually shown as small, kneeling, humble figures, the King and Queen are of the same size as the martyrs.
Finally, the King is depicted with the royal insignia: he is wearing the banded crown and holding the flagged stagger and the orb with the Latin cross in his hands. In a smaller medallion, between Saint Stephen and Giselle there is a figure of a young man, possibly their short-lived son, Prince Emeric.
At that time royal donations to churches were common. However, the chasuble which was later remade into a coronation mantle was not a usual gift: 1031 had been an important year in the life of the first Hungarian King.
It wasthe 30th anniversary of his coronation, which also meant the 30th year of the establishment of Christian Hungary. This chasuble was an expression of gratuity to God, as well as a request for future support.
The mantle as part of the royal insignia is first mentioned in a description of the coronation ceremony of Andrew III in 1290: "The king wore a robe already worn by Saint Stephen". This noble piece of clothing had been worn by our kings on their coronation ceremonies 25 times.
The last such occasion was the coronation of Charles IV in 1916. The mantle, as the othernelements of the Crown Jewels had been returned to Hungary from the United States of America 30 years after the end of Second World War, in 1978.
Since then, the mantle has been kept in the Hungarian National Museum in special light, humidity and security conditions."
Source: Hungarian National Museum
Address: 1088 Budapest Múzeum körút 14-16.
Phone nr.: 06 1 338-2122
21.02.2012