Coronation: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

A coronation is a ceremony in which a monarch is crowned. In some kingdoms, the coronation is a highly religious ceremony in which anointing with holy oil, followed by ratification as the proper occupant of the throne, are important parts. This is particularly the case in Britain, one of the few nations that have not abolished coronation, and was true for the historical monarchies of France, and many other former Kingdoms, Empires.

From 1305 to 1963 the Popes were crowned with the triple Papal Tiara in a coronation ceremony ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Following the decision of the last crowned Pope Paul VI to lay the Papal tiara on the high altar of the basilica in a symbol of humility, the last two popes have declined to wear it, and have thus had an ceremony of inauguration rather than coronation, as the placing of a crown or coronet of some description upon the head is a requisite of a coronation ceremony.

Coronations were often centuries-old ceremonies with a great deal of formal and solemn traditions. Usually the climax of the coronation ceremony is the monarch's recital of a special oath, followed by a religious leader placing a special crown on the monarch's head. Some monarchs have crowned themselves: this was the custom of the Shahs in Iran, the Tsars of Russia and the Bonaparte Emperors of France.

The crown, is not the only item bestowed on a sovereign at coronation, usually there is an orb and sceptre and depending on the country other items from the crown jewels. All highly charged with historic, religious, and territorial symbolism.

The ceremony usually takes place in the premier Cathedral, or most holy basilica of a country. In Britain the monarch is crowned in Westminster Abbey seated on the ancient St. Edward's Chair, the French monarchs were crowned at Notre-Dame de Reims. See also Coronation of the British monarch. The reason that a coronation ceremony is generally religious, is that from the earliest time it was believed that monarchs were chosen by God, in accordance with the Divine Right of Kings, hence the crown was bestowed by God himself. While this belief is now not generally held, many sovereigns are still proclaimed as Monarch 'By Grace of God'. Before 1917 many Russian peasants, unofficially, prayed to God and the Tsar; while in Japan the Emperor was believed to be a God until 1945. Hence the concept of monarch, coronation and God are inexorably linked

A monarch does not have to undergo the ceremony of coronation, to ascend a throne and execute the duties of the office. King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom, for example, did not reign long enough for a coronation ceremony to be planned, before he abdicated, yet he was unquestionably the King of the United Kingdom and Emperor of India during his brief reign. This is because in Great Britain, the law is 'The King is dead - long live the King'. It is interesting to note that the reason for his abdication was that his desired wife, because of her divorced status was considered by the church and state to be unfit for such a holy ceremony as coronation. Nearly 70 years later the only country still employing coronation still debates the issue of a possible future Queen's suitability for coronation on moral grounds. Which demonstrates the revered holy status in which coronation is still held.

The British King is usually proclaimed King within hours of the death of his predecessor, this occurs in an outdoor ceremony at Whitehall although the crown passes to the heir at the exact moment of the death of his predecessor. In France the new monarch ascended the throne when the coffin of the previous monarch descended into the vault at Saint Denis Basilica, and the Duke of Uzes proclaimed 'Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi'.

Many European monarchies have dispensed with the ceremony of coronation altogether, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands had a oath taking, and induction ceremony rather than a coronation, and In Sweden, no king has been crowned since Oscar II in 1873. While in Spain, the crown is present and evident at the ceremony, it is never actually placed on the monarch's head.

One of the last truly splendid coronation ceremonies the World saw was that of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran in the late 1960s.

Coronation (Spanish Coronación) is a 2000 movie by Chilean filmmaker Silvio Caiozzi