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2.Roger of Sicily’s Coronation Mantle 1134

It was made in the Royal Workshop in Palermo and finished in 1134, four years after
the coronation. It is made of red silk, gold embroidery and thousands of pearls, and
weighs 11 kilos. Its decorations include a palm tree with dangling fruit, possibly
symbolic of the tree of life, lions leaping on downed camels, possibly symbolic of
Norman dominance over the Saracens (Muslims), and rosettes representing stars
forming the constellation of Leo, possibly symbolic of the celestial nature of kingship.

Around the edge it says in Arabic, “This mantle was worked in the most magnificent
royal clothing workshop and is connected with the desire for fortune, respect,
splendour, perfection, might, superiority, approval, prosperity, magnanimity, beauty,
the fulfillment of all desires and hopes, felicitous days and nights without cease or
change, with authority, with honour and felicity, assurance of trust, reverent care,
protection, good destiny, freedom from harm, triumph and livelihood in the capital
city of Sicily in the year 528.” (528 is the Islamic Hegira year, 1133-4 in the Christian
calendar).

Historians think that the Emperor Frederick II took the Mantle and made it part of the
Imperial Regalia (or Insignia) of the Holy Roman Emperors, now kept in the Imperial
Treasury of the Hofburg palace, in Vienna, Austria. They are the only completely
preserved regalia from the Middle Ages. They include: Imperial Crown ( originally
with The Orphan stone, a big and prominent opal with an exceptionally brilliant red
fire, since replaced by a triangular blue sapphire); Coronation Vestments (including

Roger’s Mantle); Imperial Orb (globus cruciger); Imperial Sceptre; Imperial Sword;
Ceremonial Sword; Imperial Cross; Holy Lance; St. Stephen's Purse; Imperial Bible;
Sabre of Charlemagne; several reliquaries, one containing a shaving from Christ’s
crib, one a tooth of John the Baptist; a fragment of table-cloth from the Last Supper.
Possessing the regalia was important proof of legality for an emperor. They were