triregnum

triregnum, triple crown that was either worn by or carried in front of the pope—the leader of the Roman Catholic Church—at ceremonies such as papal coronations and at nonliturgical functions such as processions. From about the 12th century to the mid-20th century each pope was presented with at least one triregnum, and many popes had more than one. Some triregnums were unique to their pope, while others were used for the coronation of several popes. Generally shaped like a beehive and ending with an ogive (roundly tapered end), triregnums were typically made of silver or gold material, with three gold diadems (royal headbands) and two lappets (streamers) hanging from the back. Some triregnums also had a small cross projecting from the top.

Practice and uses of the triregnum

The practice of wearing or using a triregnum during certain occasions was abandoned during the papacy of Paul VI (reigned 1963–78), who issued the motu proprio Pontificalis domus (1968), which reformed the papal court into the “Papal Household” and abolished the office of Custodian of the Sacred Tiara. Because of this reform, succeeding popes have instead worn a miter at solemn and ceremonial occasions. However, a triregnum is still used to crown the bronze statue of St. Peter (considered to be the first pope of the Roman Catholic Church) in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29). The triregnum also appears in the insignia of Vatican City and the Holy See, which shows the triple crown along with two crossed keys, signifying the authority traditionally believed to have been given by Christ to Peter as the first bishop of Rome.

Development and design

The triregnum probably developed from the Phrygian cap, or frigium, a tall conical headdress that was worn in the Greco-Roman era and by popes beginning in the 4th century ce. It is not certain when the first crown was added to the base of the cap. Papal coins from the 10th century bearing the image of Sergius III (reigned 904–911) and Benedict VII (reigned 974–983) depict them wearing a head covering with an ornamental strip around the lower edge, but it is unclear if this strip is a diadem or merely a decorative trimming. The second crown was added during the reign of Boniface VII, who is regarded by some historians as an antipope. (He was briefly installed as pope by the powerful Crescentii family in 974, then expelled by the Holy Roman emperor Otto II, and then reinstalled by the Crescentii in 984 before being murdered the following year by a mob in Rome.) Boniface was also the first to adorn the tiara with gemstones.

Discover how ordinary objects work, and expand your understanding of the familiar.

SIGN UP

" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">

Thank you for signing up!"

Back to homepage

By clicking "Sign Up", you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Britannica Quiz

Christianity Quiz

The lappets had been introduced by the 13th century, as is seen in frescoes and sculptures from that time. These artworks show that the lappets were customarily made from embroidered black cloth rather than the gold or silver cloth of later centuries. By the 14th century and the reign of Clement V in 1305–14, the tiara had been ornamented with three crowns, and it was thereafter often referred to as the triregnum. A small globe at the top of the triregnum, with a cross surmounting it, was introduced in the 16th century, possibly during the reign of Julius II in 1503–13. This detail featured on many subsequent triregnums. The tiaras of Renaissance popes were especially ornate and precious, but the amount of ornamentation varied. During World War I, Pope Benedict XV (reigned 1914–22) removed the jewels from the papal tiara given to Pius VII (reigned 1800–23) by Napoleon and donated them for the care of wounded veterans. Another variation was the shape, as some tiaras were more round than conical.

Meaning and last official use of the triregnum

As a ceremonial piece, the triregnum signified the triple pontifical power as expressed during a pope’s coronation: father of kings, governor of the world, and vicar of Christ. According to tradition, the triregnum also represents the three states of the Roman Catholic Church: the church militant (which refers to the church on Earth), the church penitent (also called the church suffering or the church expectant, referring to the souls in purgatory), and the church triumphant (which refers to the saints in heaven). Between 1877 and 1958 the same triregnum—the Palatine tiara, so called because it was a gift from the Palatine Honor Guard—was used at papal coronations, although many popes who reigned during this time received other tiaras. In 1959 John XXIII (reigned 1958–63) was given a new triregnum that, by his request, was much simpler than the one originally planned for him, with fewer jewels.

The last time a triregnum was used to coronate a pope was in 1963, after Paul VI was elected to the papacy. Paul’s triregnum, designed by the Scuola Beato Angelico in Milan, measures 16 inches (41 cm) in height, weighs about 10 pounds (4.5 kg), and is bullet-shaped, with comparably few gemstones. After a solemn mass in 1964, during which he placed his coronation tiara on the church altar as a donation to the poor, Paul chose to wear a miter at all ensuing solemn occasions. His tiara was accepted by Cardinal Francis Spellman of the archdiocese of New York and used in the United States to raise funds for a Roman Catholic charity. It is on display in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Papal tiaras were also presented to John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis as gifts, but these were never used ceremonially.