Page "Crown jewels" Paragraph 230

The ruby which adorns the centre of the Imperial Crown of State has a rich and dramatic history.

It once belonged to a Sultan of Granada, who was murdered by Pedro the Cruel, King of Castille.

He presented it to Edward, the Black Prince, in gratitude for his military assistance at the Battle of Navaretto in 1367.

It was inherited by Edward's son, Richard II of England.

Richard had it in his possession when he surrendered to his cousin, the future Henry IV of England in Wales in 1399.

Henry later usurped the throne and Richard was murdered.

Henry's son, Henry V of England, wore this ruby in the crown he wore around his helmet at the Battle of Agincourt, a bejewelled gold fleuron was struck of this same crown during the battle and lost.

The ruby was similarly worn in the crown of Richard III of England at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

When Richard was killed during the fighting it famously rolled under a hawthorn bush to be retrieved by Lord Stanley and placed on the head of the victorious Henry Tudor, later Henry VII of England.

The Imperial Crown of State also contains pearls worn as earrings by Queen Elizabeth I of England, these are suspended from the arches of the crown.