ABSTRACT

The imperial coronation of Charles V on 24 February 1530 was the last coronation of an emperor by a pope. For the coronation, the so-called 'Iron Crown' had been fetched specially from the cathedral treasury in Monza. According to tradition, the coronation should have taken place in Pavia, Monza or Milan, presided over by the archbishop of Milan, because 'Italy' as a geopolitical entity referred to the former Kingdom of the Lombards, meaning Northern Italy and Tuscany. Both coronations had been undertaken by Pope Nicolas V in Rome. Biagio da Cesena as master of ceremonies organized both coronations. Besides various reports of the two coronations in Bologna, there are two sources which could be counted as early forms of festival books. The source describing the royal coronation differs from later festival books in that it is not printed but manuscript, and thus not intended for circulation.