The Ceremony of Homage

a coronation without a crown

The archducal hat is donated along with a document which states that the only occasion where the hat may leave the monastery is the Ceremony of Homage by the Estates. When a Hapsburg member assumes power over the dynasty’s home territories after the death of a predecessor, there is no coronation as such.

Rather the new ruler is instated with a ceremony of homage. What occurs is a kind of mutual agreement between ruler and country, represented by the estates, which stand for the political and social layers of government. They pay homage to the new ruler and take an oath of allegiance. In return the ruler assures the continuation of ancient privileges and rights of territories and estates.

The last Hapsburg member to undergo such a ceremony is Ferdinand I. in 1835.