Crowning Wisdom: King-Priest

The Imperial Crown of Austria, commissioned for Rudolf II but still used until the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s collapse in 1918, definitely has an eastern influence in its design. As well as having the standard circlet which fits about the head, and an arch (British crowns typically have two, continental crowns typically three or four), there is a third element to this headdress. It contains a bishop’s mitre, which are the two wings either side of the arch. Not only does this depict the concept of the divine right to rule, but of that monarchy’s allegiance to the Church of Rome, whose bishops the Crown supported.

The US constitution got something right when it separated church and state. The ancient Jewish kings were not permitted to be priests, and neither could the priesthood rule. Only the promised Christ would successfully combine both offices, along with that of prophet. The Austrian crown might point to a ruler-priest, but they who wore it never lived up to the job.