{"id":20328,"date":"2025-06-30T16:42:57","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T14:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tourisme-en-champagne.com\/reims-and-the-coronation-of-the-kings-of-france\/"},"modified":"2025-11-28T16:01:19","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T15:01:19","slug":"reims-and-the-coronation-of-the-kings-of-france","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tourisme-en-champagne.com\/en\/activities-visits\/culture-heritage\/sites-and-monuments\/reims-and-the-coronation-of-the-kings-of-france\/","title":{"rendered":"Reims and the coronation of the Kings of France"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Thirty-three kings of France travelled to Reims to be crowned. The ceremony takes place in Reims Cathedral, and the Palais du Tau, the archiepiscopal palace of the diocese of Reims, is intimately linked to the ceremony. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Origins<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The baptism of Clovis<\/strong> by Saint Remi on Christmas Eve 498 in the ancient cathedral of Reims is at the origin of the tradition of the Sacres Royaux. Some thirty kings have been crowned in the city, including Charles VII, thanks to the efforts of Joan of Arc<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

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First crown<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The first king to be crowned at Reims was Louis the Pious, son of Charlemagne.He was crowned emperor on October 5, 816<\/strong> by Pope Stephen IV in the first cathedral built by Saint Nicaise<\/strong>. The prestige of the Holy Ampoule<\/strong> and the political power of the archbishops of Reims, in particular Archbishop Hincmar, led to the definitive location of the coronation in Reims from Henry I onwards (1027). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

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An unchanging ritual<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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From Charles the Simple in 893 to Charles X in 1825, no fewer than 33 pretenders to the throne <\/strong>were elevated to royal dignity, according to an immutable ritual that lasted… 5 hours. But 5 hours wasn’t too long for the Sainte-Ampoule to be transported under escort and with great care, the orations to be pronounced, the oath of coronation to be taken, the chrism and oil to be anointed, the silk slippers, satin tunic and velvet cloak with fleur-de-lys to be donned, the crown to be imposed and the sword, spurs, sceptre and rod to be handed over… The ceremony took place three times at Saint-Remi<\/g>, then at Reims Cathedral<\/g> from 1027 onwards. It ended with a feast in the great hall of today’s Palais du Tau<\/strong>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

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Since 1027, two kings have not been crowned in Reims: Louis VI was crowned in Orleans<\/strong> by the archbishop of Sens in 1108, and Henri IV was crowned in Chartres<\/strong> on February 27, 1594.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This last defection had a major historical impact: in 1594, Reims refused to accept Henri IV, a pale Catholic in his eyes.The latter, finally crowned in Chartres, made the city pay dearly for this affront: he preferred Ch\u00e2lons as the seat of the generality of Champagne<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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