The British Crown Jewels
Name: ______
Date: ______Period: _____
The British Crown Jewels
St. Edward's Crown
Made of gold, its design consists of four crosses pattee and four fleurs-de-lis, with two arches on top. Surmounting the arches is a jewelled cross pattee. The Crown includes 444 semi-precious stones. It is used through most of the coronation ceremony.
Imperial State Crown
The present Crown is made of gold and includes four crosses pattee and four fleurs-de-lis, with two arches on top, surmounted by a cross pattee. The Crown includes many jewels: 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and five rubies. Among the stones are several famous ones, including the Black Prince's Ruby (170 carats) and the Lesser Star of Africa diamond (317.40 carats). It is worn after the conclusion of the Coronation ceremony and also at the annual State Opening of Parliament.
Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross
This sceptre includes the Great Star of Africa diamond (530 carats), which is the largest cut diamond in the world. During the coronation, the monarch bears the Sceptre with the Cross in the right hand.
Sovereign’s Orb
This orb is a hollow golden sphere made in 1661. There is a band of jewels running along the centre, and a half-band on the top hemisphere. Surmounting the orb is a jewelled Cross representing the Sovereign's role as Defender of the Faith. For a part of the coronation, it is borne in the Sovereign's left hand.
The Crown Jewels have been kept at the Tower of London since 1303 after they were stolen from Westminster Abbey. The Crown Jewels have been stolen only once since…in 1673.
In deference to an ancient legend, a number of ravens are fed at the Tower at government expense; so long as the ravens remain at the Tower, England is safe from invasion. The names of the eight ravens currently in the tower are Gwylum, Thor, Hugine, Munin, Branwen, Bran, Gundulf, and Baldrick.
Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603)
Ø Born in 1533 (child of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn)
Ø When mother is executed, Elizabeth was three. Father died when she was 14.
Ø After her mother was executed, she was sent to live with Thomas Seymour who possibly sexually mollested her.
Ø She was, like her mother neurotic, glamorous, flirtatious, and charismatic. Elizabeth also inherited her mother's delicate bone structure, physique, facial features, and onyx black eyes, and petite girth. She did not inherit her father's enormous weight, but from him she inherited her red hair. She also knew six languages.
Ø Helped half-sister Mary seize power from Lady Jane Gray in 1544.
Ø Mary didn’t trust Protestant Elizabeth, sent her to the Tower of London after being linked to Wyatt’s Rebellion (1554).
Ø Became Queen in 1558 after Mary I dies.
Ø Act of Supremacy (1559)
Ø Possibly was in love with Robert Dudley, but was unable to marry him because of issues.
Ø Throwdown with cousin Mary (Stuart) the Queen of Scots – killed in 1587
o Married three times: King Francis II of France, Lord Darnley, James Hepburn
o Son: James Stuart
Ø Helped French Hugenots and Dutch Protestants in wars against Catholics
Ø Pays for privateers to steal from Spanish, leads to a confrentation with the Spanish in 1588 (Spanish Armada)
Ø Brings Ireland under full English control following a decade long conflict
Ø Begins settlement of British North America (Virginia was named in honor of her)