Incredible Royal crown from 500-years-ago discovered bricked up in crypt after being hidden from Nazis in WW2
A GORGEOUS The royal crown was found in a hidden underground chamber, hidden from the Nazis, together with a cache of medieval riches.
for decades of being concealed from fascist plunder, the collection of royal wealth has been sought for by historians. Last month, long, flexible cameras were able to locate it underneath a loose stone.
The amazing find, which was found beneath Lithuania’s biggest Catholic cathedral, contains artifacts from more than 500 years ago’s Lithuanian and Polish monarchs.
The discovery was hailed as one of the greatest in the history of modern cultural protection by Vidmantas Bezaras, Director of Lithuania’s Department of Cultural cultural (KPD).
“What has been envisioned by generations of historians and heritage enthusiasts has now materialized,” he continued.
Alexander Jagiellon’s funeral crown, which he wore from 1492 until 1501 as Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, is one of the prize pieces.
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Sceptres, royal orbs, necklaces, medallions, rings, and more crowns were among the 59 pieces in the trove; each was expertly crafted to the greatest standards of the era.
“The found burial regalia of Lithuanian and Polish rulers are priceless historical treasures, symbols of Lithuania’s long tradition of statehood, markers of Vilnius as its capital, and magnificent works of goldsmithing and jewelry,” stated Gintaras Gru, Archbishop of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.
He clarified that the artifacts were made especially to be buried with the kings, not used by them while they were alive.
When the cathedral was being repaired after a devastating flood in 1931, the vault of the monarchs was first found.
To prevent plunder by the raging Nazi soldiers in 1939, the clergy concealed the wealth in hidden chambers.
The director of the Grand Dukes’ museum, Vydas Dolinskas, stated: The royal insignia and the liturgical objects were discovered wrapped in newspapers dated September 7, 1939, indicating that both sections of the treasury were concealed almost simultaneously, during the early stages of the conflict.
The Soviet Russians converted the church into a picture gallery after the war.
Although evidence of potential hiding spots in the cracks and crevices of the cathedral walls was found during an inspection on November 4 of last year, a breakthrough didn’t come until December 16.
A loose brick was discovered in the corridor between the Middle Crypt and the Chapter Crypt during an examination using long, thin cameras.
When it was removed, a hidden chamber full with valuables was shown, along with a gap big enough for a hand to reach inside.
The items were meticulously taken out that same day, recorded, and taken to a safe place for security reasons.
The involvement of an art scholar who was found guilty of buying stolen goods through Black Archaeology caused some controversy around the hunt.
In August 2024, Saulius Poderis claimed to have discovered the hidden room, and acting on his information sparked ethical questions.
The KPD proceeded with a formal investigation in spite of the objections and found the products.
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Prior to being displayed in future public displays, the royal relics will undergo restoration and polishing.
The riches of Barbara Radziwill, Queen Consort of Poland and Grand Duchess Consort of Lithuania, and Elizabeth of Austria, Queen Consort of Poland and Grand Duchess Consort of Lithuania, were discovered.
Nazi Looting
The systematic theft of wealth and artwork by the Nazi party during its rampage through European nations was known as NAZI plunder.
The practice of looting Jewish property started in 1933 and persisted in other countries that the Nazis seized throughout World War II.
High-value items, including gold and silver, were taken along with culturally significant items like books, ceramics, paintings, and sculptures.
Following the war, the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives program (MFAA) of the Allies recovered and returned some of the looted goods.
Nevertheless, a large number of objects remain unaccounted for or were returned to their place of origin without the rightful owner.
Among the most well-known looted goods are:
Portrait of a Young Man: In 1939, the Germans stole this Raphael painting from the Czartoryski Museum in Poland. It hasn’t been found yet.
Jan or Hubert van Eyck painted The Just Judges, the lower left panel of the Ghent Altarpiece, in 1430–1432.
Michelangelo’s Madonna and Child sculpture was taken from the Church of Notre Dame in 1944.
Bord de Mer by Claude Monet: In 2024, the heirs of a Jewish couple reclaimed a pastel painting that had been stolen during World War II.
The Ghent Altarpiece: During World War II, the Nazis took this piece of art by Hubert and Jan van Eyck, which is regarded by some as the most stolen in history.
Additionally, 16,000 paintings from German public institutions that the Nazis deemed to be “degenerate” were seized.