The royal emblems of King Otto of Greece, the crown, the scepter and the sword, were located in the former summer palace of Tatoi during the documentation work of the cultural goods and movable objects by officials of the Ministry of Culture.
Otto, prince of Bavaria, of the house of Wittelsbach, reigned in Greece with the title of King of Greece, from 1832 to 1862.
Otto (Greek: Όθων)_ was 17 years old when he became the first King of Greece after its independence from the Ottoman empire. He ruled as King of Greece from the establishment of the monarchy on 27 May 1832, under the Convention of London, until he was deposed on 23 October 1862.
The construction of the emblems was commissioned by Ludwig of Bavaria, Otto’s father, in 1835, to be given to the young king upon his coronation, which would take place, the same year, upon his coming of age. However, the ship that carried them did not arrive in Greece in time and the coronation took place without them.
When Otto left Greece in 1862, he took the emblems of the throne with him, as he never accepted his eviction nor did he abdicate. Thus, the first emblems of the Greek state were since 1862 in the possession of the royal house of Bavaria.
The royal emblems, about which there has been much talk and much speculation – often fanciful – were found, in very good condition, well preserved and carefully packed.
Crown
Material: Gold and gilded metal, enamel, velvet. Dimensions: Height 25 cm., Max. Diameter 29 cm.
Inscription: Fossin et fils Joailliers du Roi à Paris.
The crown bears a wreath decorated with a floral band reminiscent of a laurel wreath. At this point there is an epithet with the signature of the artist. From there, eight arches start, decorated with ancient acanthus leaves and lion heads, from which grow respectively eight arched stems in the shape of palm branches. The whole composition is united in the center where the epitaph of the crown is formed with the globe, below the cross. Inside, the purple velvet is preserved, but shows extensive wear.
Scepter
Material: Gold and gilded metal, enamel
Dimensions: Height 78 cm, Max. Thickness 7.4 cm.
Inscription: Fossin et fils Joailliers du Roi à Paris.
Scepter consisting of three oblong stems joined by decorated knobs. On the epitaph he wears a crown with a hologlyph, which is decorated with enamel on the inside. On the upper cuboid connection knob alternates decoration, with the monogram of Otho and enamel with a white cross. The colors of the Bavarian flag can be seen at the junction of the antennae. This is followed by a stem, without decoration, and a button with corresponding decoration, where instead of the monogram of Otho, full-length facing lions are depicted. The central stem is entirely decorated with acanthus floral decoration. The lower stem ends in a sphere with floral decoration. The manufacturer’s inscription is engraved at this point.
Sword
Material: Gold and gilded metal, enamel, lapis lazuli
Dimensions: Height 92 cm, Width 12.7 cm.
Inscription: Manceaux Fabricant d’armes et Fossin et Fils Joailliers du Roi à Paris.
The sword has an elaborately decorated hilt and scabbard, dominated by plant and animal motifs. The handle is formed from a lazulite stone and ends in a knob, where two female figures are depicted in relief. The decoration continues on the cross formed by the horizontal stems of the thimble. The case bears the monogram of Otto in relief on the upper edge, followed by the coat of arms of Greece, in enamel. On the back side there is a partition with the manufacturer’s inscription. The holes for hanging the sword are formed by winding snakes. The whole composition is surrounded by a thin belt with lion heads. Near the base of the case is a representation of a female figure, probably Victory, surrounded by a medal in the shape of a palm tree, while war trophies can be seen in the background. In the lower decorative band of both sides, adjectival decoration with dolphins winding around tridents.
The last time the three emblems were presented together was in December 1959, at the ceremony of handing them over from the House of Wittelsbach to the then King of Greece, Paul. After diplomatic negotiations, the head of the House of Wittelsbach, Albert, offered the emblems of the throne back to Greece.
According to the Culture Ministry, once the maintenance of the emblems is completed, the objects are planned to be handed over to the Greek Parliament -Otto’s Palace- in order to be permanently displayed in the “Eleftherios Venizelos” Trophies Hall.