Mary of Modena's State Crown (Queen Consort to James II)

This crown, which was made in 1685 for Mary of Modena for the coronation of James II, was dressed with hired jewels, as was common practice at that time: 38 very large diamonds, 523 great and small diamonds and 129 large pearls. It is set now with rock crystals and cultured pearls.

The circlet of gold, set with pearls at both edges, is decorated with 20 large diamonds. 4 crosses and 4 fleurs-de-lys, all made of diamonds, alternate above the upper row of pearls. The 2 vaulted arches above the crosses repeat the design of the circlet in reverse: one row of pearls on each arch is framed on both sides by two rows of diamonds. A globe set with large diamonds rests in a shallow depression at the vertex of the arches. The globe supports a cross formed out of 5 diamonds and 3 pearls. The globe and the cross symbolize temporal power in the service of God.

The heir to the throne James, Duke of York (later James II), had converted to Catholicism, and as a widower had married the Catholic princess Maria Beatrix d'Este from the Duchy of Modena - a provocation for the Anglican (protestant) powers in the country, who from now on had to fear a Catholic succession. When he was king, James pursued an increasingly Catholic policy; however, his opponents in England allied themselves with the Stadholder of the Netherlands and leader of the Protestant camp in Europe, William of Orange, who finally landed in England with his army in November 1688 and forced the royal couple into exile in France, together with their newborn heir to the throne. William, both the King's nephew and son-in-law (he was married to Mary, the King's daughter by his first marriage, who had been brought up as a Protestant), ascended the throne jointly with her: two sovereign rulers, Mary II and William III, a peculiarity within England's monarchy. Mary left Westminster Abbey on 11th April, 1689, wearing precisely this Crown made for Mary of Modena, her step-mother. The succeeding queens, Anne and Caroline and, as a male exception, King George I also wore this crown.

(Günter Szynkarek, translated by Hugh Langridge M.A.)