In the Vilnius Cathedral in Lithuania, archaeologists have discovered a literal royal treasure: crowns, scepters and other regalia of late medieval kings and queens of Poland and Lithuania. The unique objects were hidden in 1939 at the outbreak of the Second World War and have been searched for in vain ever since. It was not until December 2024 that an endoscope camera revealed the hiding place of the historically significant treasures.
The Vilnius Cathedral is one of the symbols of the Lithuanian capital, its history goes back to the 13th century. At that time, the Lithuanian Prince Mindaugas had the earliest version of this church built on the site of a previously pagan sanctuary after converting to Christianity. To this day, relics of pagan altars have been preserved in the cathedral’s crypt, which was only uncovered in 1985, and its colorfully painted walls are also unusual. In the Middle Ages, the cathedral was also the coronation site of the Lithuanian grand princes, and many nobles and rulers were buried in its crypt.
Hidden in the crypt
But valuable regalia of the Lithuanian grand princes and Polish kings were also traditionally kept in the crypt of the Vilnius Cathedral. Typically they were given a special crown, scepter and other insignia in the sarcophagus. This was also the case with the Lithuanian Grand Duke Alexander the Jagelion, who also ruled as King of Poland from 1501. After a flood in 1931, the graves of the high-ranking dead were partially destroyed and the valuable insignia were uncovered, but in 1939, after the start of the Second World War, they disappeared again: to protect them from the approaching German troops, they were placed in an unknown location hidden.
Despite decades of searching, archaeologists only found the hiding place of the valuable pieces in December 2024. With the help of an endoscope camera, the crown treasure was discovered in a bricked-up niche – wrapped in an old daily newspaper from September 1939. The finds include the crown of Alexander the Jagellion, as well as the crown, a chain, a medallion, a ring and a grave plaque of Elisabeth of Austria . This noblewoman from the Habsburg family was married to the Jagelion King Sigismund II of Poland in 1543, but died in 1545 at the age of 19. Also among the recovered treasures are the crown, scepter, royal apple and jewelry belonging to Sigismund II’s second wife, Queen Barbara Radziwiłł, famous for her beauty and intelligence.
“Priceless historical treasures”
“These regalia of the monarchs of Lithuania and Poland are priceless historical treasures and symbols of the long history of the Lithuanian state,” comments Gintaras Grušas, Archbishop of Vilna, to CNN. In addition, these finds are evidence of the magnificent work of medieval goldsmiths and the importance of Vilna as a capital. The unique medieval jewelry is currently being examined and restored by experts from the Episcopal Museum. When this is completed at the end of 2025, they will be presented to the public in the museum.
Source: Go Vilnius