Sunday, July 13th, 1519

Aachen, Cathedral of Aix-La-Chapelle

Much had been afoot in the weeks since his official election as King of the Romans for the young Karl of Austria. He had never dictated so many letters, nor had to consider much. Peace negotiations had been afoot, and the business of his other coronations had taken much planning. However, the time for coronation had come. And as such, the quiet peace of Aachen had been overtaken with the slow hum of the requisite parts of a Roman Ritual. For the din of coronation was afoot, as the skies around Aachen had filled with the multi-coloured banners of so many princes; indeed, the flock of Germany had come to roost and watch. Kings, Dukes, Princes, Priests, Knights, Bishops, and so many others had flocked into the hallowed and storied city of Carolus Magnus.

It was a Sunday, the Lord’s day, as the so recently elected King of the Romans prepared to undertake communion, and thereupon coronation. He had been fasting the preceding week, and whilst the pangs of hunger had initially felt significant in the first few hours of the Wednesday, they had faded as he had recognised the importance of such an occasion. Indeed, the fasting over Friday and Saturday had brought the young man’s heart to rest. Yet, as it came to the early morning of the Sunday, the Lord’s day, his heart was restless. His wife, Anna, stood beside him for now. The young couple embraced, as they had done so many times since they had married and produced a young girl. Whilst it was not clear to all, another child was on the way for the young couple to celebrate; a young girl, yet they were unaware for now. And yet, the business of an heir was not the concern of the two. As the two hugged, kissed, and left each other, for the time being.

Young Karl would approach the church, dressed in the myriad vestments of an Imperial coronation, worn by so many hallowed men since the legendary Carolus Magnus had first donned the garb. He would be met by the Archbishops of Cologne, Mainz, and Trier, clothed in their surplice and robes, each bearing a mitre.

Entering the church, much was to be admired and noticed. The large altar of the cathedral shone, as the sword, crown, and sceptre waited patiently for their ancient role. Indeed, they stood, next to the Holy Oil, to be given to the future catechumen, Karl, and the silken garment to bind the and wipe the arm of the awaiting King-elect. Karl looked out, similarly, at the throne of Charlemagne, waiting for his presence, in due course.

After the entrance of the King-elect, as a hush had fallen over the Cathedralf, the Archbishop admonishes the King to be crowned, speaking.

"Since today through our hands, most excellent prince, who in this time are the ambassadors of Christ our Saviour, in this matter we are, albeit unworthy, to receive the sacred anointing and the insignia of the kingdom; it is well to warn you first of the burden to which you are destined. You receive the royal dignity today, and you take care of the faithful people committed to governing it. Truly a beautiful place among mortals, but full of danger, toil, and anxiety. But if you consider that all power is from the Lord God, through whom kings reign, and they decree just the framers of laws; you, too, are to give an account of the flock entrusted to you by God himself. First, you will keep piety, you will worship the Lord your God with your whole mind and pure heart; the Christian religion and the Catholic faith which you professed from your infancy you will keep it safe until the end, and you will defend it against all those who oppose it. You will show worthy reverence to the prelates of the churches and to the other priests. You will not trample on ecclesiastical freedom. Justice, without which no society can last long, will perform undisturbedly toward all, by rewarding the good rewards and the guilty with the wrongful punishment. You will defend widows, orphans, the poor, and the disabled from all oppression. To all who approach you will be kind, gentle, and courteous, you will show yourself according to your royal dignity. And you will behave in such a way that you seem to expect not on earth, but in heaven, to expect the reward of your benefactions, not for your own, but for the whole people. Which he deigns to perform, who lives and reigns God for ever and ever. Amen.”

Karl would approach the Archbishop, and before him, his head uncovered, he knelt. He would then, without looking up, makes this profession, saying

“I, with the approval of God, will profess to be King, and I promise before God and his angels hereafter the law, justice, and peace of the Church of God, and to the people subject to me to be able to and to know, to do and to observe, without prejudice to the equivalence of the mercy of God with respect, as I can find the best in the counsel of my faithful. to show worthy and canon honor to the chief priests of the churches of God; and to observe inviolably those things which have been conferred on the Churches by Emperors and Kings. It is a fitting honor to bestow upon my Abbots, Counts and Vasalies, according to the advice of my faithful.”

Then with both hands, Karl reached out, touching the book of the Gospels, which the Archbishop held open before him.

“Thus God help me, and these are the holy Gospels of God.”

The Archbishop’s hand would be extended as the last syllable exited Karl’s mouth. Indeed, these words were spoken by the King-Elect, Karl would embrace his lips to the hand of the Archbishop most reverently.

While Karl knelt, waiting for the next step of the ceremony, the Archbishop obliged.

Having put off the miter, he slowly arose, and, standing facing Karl, who still knelt, to say with a competent voice the following Prayer.

Such a prayer would be spoken similarly by all the prepared Pontiffs also say, standing in like manner without a mitre; they also say all other concerns about the blessing and the coronation itself, in a low voice, but in all respecting and imitating the Archbishop.

“We pray. Almighty and everlasting God, Creator of all, Emperor of Angels, King of kings and Lord of Lords, who made Abraham your faithful servant to triumph over the enemies of Moses and Joshua to your people, you have given manifold victory over your superiors, and you have raised your humble servant David to the height of your kingdom, and Solomon in wisdom and peace. you have enriched yourself with an ineffable gift, look down, we beseech Thee, O Lord, at the prayers of our humility, and over this servant Karl, whom we have chosen as King with a humble devotion, multiply well the gifts of your words, and surround him with the power of your right hand always and everywhere; inasmuch as he is strengthened by the fidelity of the aforesaid Abraham, relying on the meekness of Moses, fortified by Joshua's fortitude, David exalted in humility, and adorned with the wisdom of Solomon, let him please you in all things, and always walk in the path of justice without stumbling in steps; protected also by the helmet of your protection, and continually protected by an insurmountable shield, and surrounded with heavenly arms, let him obtain happily the triumph of the victory of the holy cross of Christ from the enemy, and bring him on to them the terror of his own power, and joyfully bring back peace to you while fighting. Through Christ our Lord, who by the power of the holy cross destroyed the hell, and, conquering the kingdom of the devil, ascended victoriously to the heavens, in whom all power and victory of the kingdom consists, which is the glory of the humble and the life and health of the people, God who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen”

After this, the Metropolitan leant forward. Upon seeing this, Charles prostrates himself on the ground at his left, while other prelates, having been prepared likewise, prostrate in front of their seats. Then the singers begin, and follow the Litany, with the chorus corresponding.

After this, the Archbishop sat, and Karl knelt before him; and the Prelates standing by, prepared with their mitres like a crown, the Archbishop dipped the thumb of his right hand into the oil. Anointing his right arm in the form of a cross between the hand and the elbow joint, and between the shoulders, he spoke this prayer:

Deus, Dei Filius, Jesus Christus Dominus noster, qui a Patre oleo exsultationis unctus est prae participibus suis, ipse per praesentem sanctae unctionis infusionem, Spiritus Paracliti super caput tuum benedictionem infundat, eademque usque ad interiora cordis tui penetrare faciat; quatenus hoc visibili et tractabili oleo, dona invisibilia percipere, et temporali regno justis moderationibus peracto, aeternaliter cum eo regnare merearis, qui solus sine peccato Rex regum vivit, et gloriatur cum Deo Patre in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

After such a prayer, Mass was spoken that day. Such a ceremony flew by for the young King, who had gone to many in his time. Frankly, he was too worried of the future ordaining to think much of the ceremony, as his mind raced to ensure he did not falter.

After the Mass was sung, the Archbishop sat at the altar, waiting for Karl to approach. Indeed, approach Karl would, associated with him by his superiors, and he knelt, once again, in front of the Archbishop.

The Archbishop took the sword of Carolus Magnus, which one of the ministers draws to him from the altar, and hands it drawn in the hand of young Karl, saying:

“Take the sword taken from the altar by our hands, though undeserved, yet once again, and consecrated by the authority of the holy apostles, royally granted to you, and to our well-ordered office of speech for the defense of the holy Church of God. In this you may exercise the same force of justice, you might powerfully destroy the mass of iniquity, and defend and protect the holy Church of God and its faithful; and no less under false faith, than you would curse and disperse the enemies of the Christian name; kindly assist and defend widows and orphans; you will preserve the desolate; in so far as he did these things, glorious in the triumph of his virtues, and an outstanding admirer of justice, when you deserve to reign without end, the Savior of the world. Who lives and reigns with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.”

Unencumbered by these, the sword was then placed in the scabbard by the officers, and Archbishop girded Karl with his sword, saying:

“Gird your sword upon your thigh, O most powerful man; and take heed that the saints conquered kingdoms not by the sword, but by faith.”

Karl, upon hearing these words, felt his body move, for his rehearsed movements became natural quickly. He stood, and brandished his sword like the King he was, before wiping it over his left arm, and placing it within its gilded scabbard once more, and knelt once again.

Upon his knees touching the cool floor, the Crown was placed upon him, and the following prayer was spoken.

“Accept the crown of the kingdom, which, though unworthy of bishops, is placed on your head. In the name of Patris, and Filii, and the Holy Spirit, which you may understand to symbolize the glory of holiness, the honor, and the work of fortitude, and by this you will not be ignorant that you are a participant in our ministry. So that just as we are understood in the interior as pastors and rulers of souls, so in the outer world you too are a worshiper of God and vigorous defender of the Church of Christ against all adversity you appear always to be a useful executor of a committed, and a profitable ruler; that among the glorious athletes, adorned with the gems of virtue, and crowned with the reward of eternal happiness, with our Redeemer and Savior Jesus Christ, whose name and place you are believed to bear, you may boast without end. Who lives and commands God with the Father and by the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.”

Afterwards the Archbishop gave Karl the scepter while still knelt, saying:

“Receive the rod of virtue and truth, by which you may understand that you are obnoxious to soothe the pious, to frighten the reprobate, to teach the way to those who are in error, to reach out to the fallen, to destroy the proud, and to reveal the humble; and let Jesus Christ our Lord open the door for you, who says of himself, I am the door; if anyone enters through me, he will be saved. who is the key of David, and the scepter of the house of Israel, who opens and no one shuts; it closes, and no one opens. And let him be your guide, who leads the prisoner out of the prison house, sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death. love him, love justice, and hate iniquity because for this reason, your God, your God, has anointed you, and the example of him whom he had anointed before the ages with the oil of joy, above his fellow-partners, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with him God, forever and ever. Amen.”

Then the king gets up, the sword is girdled, and in its sheath is given to someone who carries him immediately before the king.

After he stood, the Archbishop, with the other Prelates being prepared, draws the King, the scepter in his hand, and the crown bearing on his head, saying,

“Stand up and hold on to the place delegated to you by God, through the authority of Almighty God, and through our present tradition, that of all the bishops and other servants of God.”

This coronation finished, and would be repeated for the coronation of Queen Anna, but undertaken by the Archbishops of Mainz and Trier as the leaders, rather than that of Cologne.

Such a coronation would end, and much celebration would be undertaken in the coming months, before Karl’s resting and subsequent coronations in Spain and Hungary, which would come in the new year.

Karl, later that night, would think to himself of his Grandfather, and the ceremony that they had both gone through. He thought of the coronation in Rome, that he had been told so much about from his Aunt Margaret when he was so small. He would need to discuss such a coronation once again, for he was unsure how to react in the days following. Yet, twelve years after his Grandfather’s coronation as Emperor, he held the mantle of King of the Romans too. There was a dark road through a similarly dark wood that he would have to walk; its treachery unknown, yet familiar to his blood. He could rest, now, as he embraced his wife, the Queen of the Romans, as she slept peacefully beside him.