The Cap of Monomakh
The Cap of Monomakh is the oldest crown among the crown jewels of Russia. An ancient symbol of Russian autocracy, the crown consists of an onion shaped skullcap manufactured from eight joined panels of filigreed gold which sit on top of a wide sable brim. The crown is ornamented with large cabochon jewels and smaller pearls. It is topped by a cross with a pearl at each end (which was added centuries after the cap was originally made). It was worn by the grand princes of Moscow and then by the first Czars up until Peter the Great, who commissioned a new crown when he styled himself as an Emperor.
The cap of Monomakh was probably manufactured by Central Asian goldsmiths of the late 13th or early 14th century. Some Russian historians have theorized that the cap was a gift to the grand prince of Moscow from Uzbeg Khan who reigned over the Golden Horde from 1313–1341. If such is the case, the crown probably represented Moscow’s political subjugation to the Khan, however, the crown’s true origins are lost in the puzzling depths of Russian history.
The Golden Horde in Action!
During the 15th century a story was confabulated that the cap was a present from the Byzantine emperor Constantine Monomachus to Vladimir Monomakh, prince of Kiev, in the 12th century. The legend was probably engendered to give credence to the Russian monarchs’ assertion that the Tsars were the heirs to the Caesars and that Moscow was a “third Rome” (with Constantinople being the second). Today the cap of Monomakh can be found under heavy guard at the other great onion shaped symbol of Russian autocracy, the Kremlin (along with the other crown jewels of the Russian monarchy).
The Cap of Monomakh today in the Kremlin armory
ferrebeekeeper 
4 comments
Comments feed for this article
October 11, 2010 at 10:53 PM
jenny
OK, so now you’ve reminded me of a funny story:
There is (and has been for years) a well-worn Russian expression that an uninvited guest is worse than a Tatar.
After the collapse of the Soviet empire, something vaguely resembling sensitivity to ethnic minorities began to set in, and somebody complained that this expression is insulting to ethnic Tatars.
After some discussion, it was decided that a change must be made: An univited guest is not worse than a Tatar.
Cheers!
October 12, 2010 at 4:12 PM
Hieronymo
I love the circular non-logic of Russian jokes.
My favorite concerns two guards who were standing in front of an official building. One of the guards cautiously leaned over toward the other and asked “Comrade, what do you think of these current policies?”
Alarmed, the second guard quickly responded “Why, the same as you do comrade!”
The first guard stiffened and said, “In that case, I’m afraid I must place you under arrest.”
October 16, 2010 at 7:10 PM
jenny
Ha! Your joke reminds me of Mormon joke (I lived in Utah for a number of years):
Why do you take two Mormons with you when you go fishing?
Because if you only take one, he’ll drink all your beer.
Totally from the same world as the Soviet jokes.
So, what is your interest in crowns?
October 20, 2010 at 5:21 PM
Hieronymo
I like the Mormon joke! I find crowns interesting because, in their day, they were so deeply desired. People have literally murdered their kin to acquire them…and yet there is something ludicrous and mundane about their actual existence as headdresses. Just describing their history hints at the rootlessness of history and the silliness of monarchy. I’ll see if I can explain it better in a future post.