Story Highlights
- Historical event:
- 25 June 1741
- The most impressive act was at the end of the coronation, when the new ruler, in full regalia, rode on horseback up a hill constructed out of the soil and swung a sword towards all four corners of the world.
On this day, the grand coronation of Maria Theresa as the ruler of the Hungarian-Croatian kingdom was held.
Since it was thought that women are not fit to govern Hungary, Maria Theresa simply took the male title of “King”. It is interesting that she spent a few months prior to that practicing the equestrian skills needed for the coronation.
The coronation ceremony was held at St. Martin’s Cathedral in Pressburg (today Bratislava in Slovakia). It was the traditional coronation site of Hungarian and Croatian kings back since the time when the Ottoman Turks conquered Székesfehérvár (Slovak: Stoličný Belehrad), where coronations had taken place during the Middle Ages.
There was a special ceremonial ritual of the coronation for which the Holy Crown was of great importance since it unified the Hungarian and Croatian royal power.
Maria Theresa first had to take the royal oath. Then she had to prostrate herself before the altar, after which she was anointed. Next, she was given the royal sword, which she had to swing three times.
The Archbishop of Esztergom (Primate of Hungary) then placed the Holy Crown on her head, gave her the Scepter and the Orb.
The most impressive act was at the end of the coronation, when the new ruler, in full regalia, rode on horseback up a hill constructed out of the soil brought from all parts of the kingdom.
At the top of the hill the new “king” swung a sword towards all four corners of the world and swore to protect the kingdom and all its subjects.
