For the first time in nearly ninety years, royal burial regalia have been shown to the general public in Vilnius. These unique 16th-century artifacts were found in a secret niche beneath the Vilnius Cathedral, where they were hidden during World War II. The collection includes three crowns, a scepter, an orb, gold rings, chains, a medallion, and other precious items that were recently considered lost.

The History of the Discovery of Royal Tombs

The story of the find began in 1931. Following a flood, during repair works, archaeologists discovered royal tombs in the cathedral crypts. There lay the remains of the Polish King and Grand Duke of Lithuania, Alexander Jagiellon, as well as Queens Elizabeth of Austria and Barbara Radziwiłł.

Along with the remains, burial crowns, regalia, and personal ornaments were found. It is important to note that these crowns were not used during the monarchs' lifetimes — they were created exclusively for burial. Such artifacts rarely survive to our day, as they often became victims of looting or were melted down.

How the Regalia Disappeared from Sight

After the finds were studied, they were exhibited for some time, but with the onset of World War II, the clergy decided to hide the cathedral's most valuable relics. The royal regalia were wrapped in newspapers, placed in a metal chest, and hidden in a walled-up niche under the cathedral. It was assumed that they would be returned after the war, however, due to the change of power, occupation, and political events, information about the exact location of the vault was lost.

In 1985, during ventilation installation, workers accidentally found part of the church treasury, but the royal regalia were not found there. Over the following decades, there were numerous assumptions that they had been lost, stolen, or destroyed.

A Breakthrough in the Search: 2024

A breakthrough occurred only in 2024, when specialists compared interwar archival drawings with modern cathedral plans and eyewitness testimonies. An endoscopic camera was used to search for hidden cavities.

After several attempts, researchers discovered a walled-up niche behind a former staircase. The vault was officially opened on December 16, 2024.

What Was Found in the Vault

Inside were the burial crown of Alexander Jagiellon, as well as the crown, chain, ring, tombstone, and a unique medallion of Elizabeth of Austria.

The set of items belonging to Barbara Radziwiłł included a crown, scepter, orb, three gold rings, a chain, and two tombstones. Also found were six silver plates from the Chapel of Saint Casimir, episcopal regalia, earrings, small crosses, and other votive items.

Condition of Artifacts and Restoration

The artifacts had been in a humid environment for more than eight decades. Corrosion of the metal chest, remnants of newspaper, and the activity of microorganisms caused cracks, deformations, and signs of oxidation. Despite this, most items made of precious metals were successfully stabilized.

Particular attention from researchers was drawn to the medallion of Elizabeth of Austria. It was made from a gold coin with a denomination of ten ducats, minted in 1533 with images of Polish King Sigismund I the Old and Sigismund II Augustus. According to the organizers of the exhibition, no analogues of such a medallion are currently known.

The collection also contains four gold rings decorated with diamonds, emeralds, and precious stones. Some of them demonstrate techniques characteristic of Renaissance jewelers, where rock crystal or garnets were specially treated to create the effect of more expensive rubies.

Exhibition at the Museum of Church Heritage

Now all the found artifacts are presented at an exhibition at the Museum of Church Heritage in Vilnius. The exhibition will last until January 30, 2027.

Restorers consciously did not restore the original shine to most items. Some exhibits were left in almost the same condition in which they were found, so that visitors could see the traces of time, corrosion, and long-term stay in the secret vault under the cathedral.

Recall that it was previously reported that 3,400-year-old golden diadems were found in Cyprus.