ilMilanese
Commoner
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2014
- Messages
- 18
- City
- Milano
- Country
- Italy
When Albania became a kingdom in 1928 the new king Zog I (1895-1961) decided to adopt the historical helmet of George Kastrioti Skanderbeg (1405-1468) as the national royal crown.
Skanderbeg, prince of Krujë, was an albanian national hero who fighted against the ottoman rule in the half of XV sec. He become the national emblem of the albanian freedom and indipendence.
After his death, his wife took refuge in Italy bringing with her the helmet.
A document certify that the helmet in 1590 was a property of the count Eolfang von Sturnbeng later sold to count of Tirolo Ferdinand II of Hasburg (1529-1595).
In 1806 the emperor of Austria Francis I (1768-1835) ordered to move the helmet of Skanderbeg to Vienna.
In 1931 king Zog I asked to the austrian government the return of the helmet, now the Albania's crown but in vain.
An heraldic golden helmet crowns the albanian eagle in the kingdom's flag and the royal coat of arms.
The crown of Albania was made in gold, steel, copper and bronze in 1460 approximately at Urbino (Italy). It weights about 3 kg.
The goat's head was the arms of Skanderbeg.
Around the crown can be read the monograms JN * PE * RA * TO * RE * BT, initials of the words Jhezus Nazarenus * Principi Emathie * Regi Albaniae * Terrori Osmanorum * Regi Epirotarum * Benedictat Te (Jesus of Nazareth bless you Prince of Mat, King of Albania, Terror of the Ottomans and King of Epirus).
Today the crown is at Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
Skanderbeg, prince of Krujë, was an albanian national hero who fighted against the ottoman rule in the half of XV sec. He become the national emblem of the albanian freedom and indipendence.
After his death, his wife took refuge in Italy bringing with her the helmet.
A document certify that the helmet in 1590 was a property of the count Eolfang von Sturnbeng later sold to count of Tirolo Ferdinand II of Hasburg (1529-1595).
In 1806 the emperor of Austria Francis I (1768-1835) ordered to move the helmet of Skanderbeg to Vienna.
In 1931 king Zog I asked to the austrian government the return of the helmet, now the Albania's crown but in vain.
An heraldic golden helmet crowns the albanian eagle in the kingdom's flag and the royal coat of arms.
The crown of Albania was made in gold, steel, copper and bronze in 1460 approximately at Urbino (Italy). It weights about 3 kg.
The goat's head was the arms of Skanderbeg.
Around the crown can be read the monograms JN * PE * RA * TO * RE * BT, initials of the words Jhezus Nazarenus * Principi Emathie * Regi Albaniae * Terrori Osmanorum * Regi Epirotarum * Benedictat Te (Jesus of Nazareth bless you Prince of Mat, King of Albania, Terror of the Ottomans and King of Epirus).
Today the crown is at Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
