Crown of the Queens of Bavaria (1806)

In 1806 the Duchy of Bavaria was promoted to 'Kingdom' by Napoleon Bonaparte and the ruling Duke became Maximilian I, King of Bavaria. Befitting his new status, the King ordered a magnificent set of regalia which included the Crown of Bavaria, the Bavarian State Sword, Royal Orb and Sceptre and this crown, made for his Queen, Caroline Frederika of Baden.

This crown is made with pearls of extraordinary quality, superb large brilliant diamonds, and a band decorated with precious gems,

The crown was re-set for Duchess Sophia of Bavaria, cousin and fiancée of Ludwig II, who came to the throne in 1864. He had given her the Wagnerian name Elsa, often had Wagner's operas staged exclusively for the two of them and in general behaved so strangely that the betrothal had to be broken off. Poor Sophie, who was never to wear the Crown of Bavaria, dies many years later in a fire.

The crown, together with other items of Bavarian Coronation regalia, can be seen today in the Treasury at The Residenz Palace in Munich.