Richard II

The crown is both a physical object and a symbol, a visual sign of the king’s status that possesses an almost sacred quality. Richard twice refers to the “golden” crown (3.2.59; 4.1.184), and he means it in part literally: The crown was made of gold, and in addition had inlaid rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and freshwater pearls (according to “Richard II’s Treasure”).

As a symbol, the crown represents the office of kingship, which is considered to be part of the natural, harmonious order of things that cannot be questioned. Kingship was instituted by God, and the king is God’s deputy, as the Bishop of Carlisle states: “the figure of God’s majesty / His captain, steward, deputy elect / Anointed, crowned, planted many years” (4.1.125-27). John of Gaunt also uses the term in a symbolic context, telling Richard that “A thousand flatterers sit within thy crown, / Whose compass is no bigger than thy head” (2.1.100-101), as does Richard, who tells Northumberland that God will punish those that raise “their vassal hands against my head / And threat the glory of my precious crown” (3.3.89-90).