The Crown of Napoleon (1804)

The Napoleon crowned himself Emperor of the French on 2nd December 1804. He was anxious to associate the new Imperial title with the name of Charlemagne and a new set of regalia - to which the name of Charlemagne was attached - was provided. It was made by the court goldsmith Biennais and is an idealised historical reconstruction in which numerous Roman cameos are set. They come from the bust of St.. Benedict, which was once stored at St. Denis and destroyed in 1793. The crown was not used for the actual crowning; Napoleon crowned himself with a gold laurel wreath instead. But the crown was carried throughout the ceremony. The new crown is now kept in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Napoleon planned his coronation with as much care as he did his wars.

At 9.00am the papal procession set out from the Pavillion de Flore at Tuileries in Paris. Pope Pius VII rode to the coronation in gaily decorated coaches pulled by horses of great beauty. The Papal procession was led by a bishop on a mule bearing aloft the papal crucifix. Napoleon's royal coach ornamented with gold and emblazoned with a capital 'N' was drawn by 8 horses. Inside, the Emperor was dressed in purple velvet embroidered with gems and gold and with him was Josephine robed in silk and sparkling gems. It took an hour for all the carriages to reach the Notre Dame cathedral.

As each group reached the Cathedral they took their places. Pope Pius VII took his place on his throne at the left of the altar. After arriving at the cathedral Napoleon and Josephine changed into their red coronation robes. Napoleon took his place on a throne at the right of the alter with Josephine on a smaller throne five steps below.