Victory Cross
Encyclopedia
The Victory Cross is an early 10th century Asturian
Christian ornamented processional cross, which was, as an inscription says, made in 908 in the Castle of Gauzón (Avilés
, Spain
). It is a crux gemmata
or jewelled cross, given by King Alfonso III of Asturias, who reigned from 848 to 910, to Cathedral of San Salvador (Oviedo)
. According to the legend, the wooden core was carried by King Pelagius of Asturias at the Battle of Covadonga
. The old oak wooden cross was covered with gold and precious stones in 908, under King Alfonso III
and donated to the dean of the Cathedral of San Salvador (Oviedo)
, where is still today.
Since December 1990, the flag
of modern Principality of Asturias bears the Victory Cross offset towards the hoist.
by King Pelagius of Asturias at the Battle of Covadonga
. The cross would later be kept by his son Favila of Asturias
in the Church of Santa Cruz de Cangas de Onís
erected by Favila and his wife Froiluba in 737and dedicated to True Cross
in Cangas de Onís
, the first capital of the Kingdom of Asturias
. The ornate casing, similar to that upon the Cross of the Angels
, was added later, and contains 152 gems and imitation gems. An inscription tells us that this casing was made at the Castle of Gauzón in Asturias
in 908. Alfonso III donated this important Pre-Romanesque gold artifact to Cathedral of Oviedo to commemorate a hundred years of the Asturian kingdom's victories and conquests.
During the Spanish Civil War
, the Cross, like the rest of the artifacts in the Cámara Sancta, suffered serious damages which required its restoration.
The Victoria Cross recovered its gems from 1942 on, thanks to popular donations for the acquisition and restoration of the relic. However, the work of goldsmiths Horacio Rivero Alvarez and Luis Aguilar did not consider the original design, altering the position of the medallion on both fronts. In 1971 new enamels were placed by German goldsmith Werner Henneberger, but here again the original design was not taken sufficiently into account.
On August 9, 1977, the Cross, together with Agate box
and the Cross of the Angels
, were stolen and suffered serious damage after the thieves torn their precious stones and gold plating. His current appearance is the result of careful reconstruction carried out in 1978.
Kingdom of Asturias
The Kingdom of Asturias was a Kingdom in the Iberian peninsula founded in 718 by Visigothic nobles under the leadership of Pelagius of Asturias. It was the first Christian political entity established following the collapse of the Visigothic kingdom after Islamic conquest of Hispania...
Christian ornamented processional cross, which was, as an inscription says, made in 908 in the Castle of Gauzón (Avilés
Avilés
Avilés is a city in Asturias, Spain. Avilés is with Oviedo and Gijón, one of the main towns in the Principality of Asturias.The town occupies the flattest land in the municipality, in a land that belonged to the sea, surrounded by small promontories, all of them having an altitude of less than...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
). It is a crux gemmata
Crux Gemmata
A crux gemmata is a form of cross typical of Early Christian and Early Medieval art, where the cross, or at least its front side, is principally decorated with jewels...
or jewelled cross, given by King Alfonso III of Asturias, who reigned from 848 to 910, to Cathedral of San Salvador (Oviedo)
Cathedral of San Salvador (Oviedo)
The Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour is a Roman Catholic cathedral and minor basilica in the centre of Oviedo, in the Asturias region of northern Spain....
. According to the legend, the wooden core was carried by King Pelagius of Asturias at the Battle of Covadonga
Battle of Covadonga
The Battle of Covadonga was the first major victory by a Christian military force in Iberia following the Muslim Moors' conquest of that region in 711...
. The old oak wooden cross was covered with gold and precious stones in 908, under King Alfonso III
Alfonso III of León
Alfonso III , called the Great, was the king of León, Galicia and Asturias from 866 until his death. He was the son and successor of Ordoño I. In later sources he is the earliest to be called "Emperor of Spain"...
and donated to the dean of the Cathedral of San Salvador (Oviedo)
Cathedral of San Salvador (Oviedo)
The Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour is a Roman Catholic cathedral and minor basilica in the centre of Oviedo, in the Asturias region of northern Spain....
, where is still today.
Since December 1990, the flag
Flag of Asturias
250px|thumb|right|Flag of AsturiasThe flag of Asturias shows the "Cruz de la Victoria" in gold over blue ....
of modern Principality of Asturias bears the Victory Cross offset towards the hoist.
History
Tradition says that the primitive, undecorated wooden core of this cross was carried against the Muslims of al-AndalusMoors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
by King Pelagius of Asturias at the Battle of Covadonga
Battle of Covadonga
The Battle of Covadonga was the first major victory by a Christian military force in Iberia following the Muslim Moors' conquest of that region in 711...
. The cross would later be kept by his son Favila of Asturias
Favila of Asturias
Fafila, Favila, or Favilac was the second King of Asturias from 737 until his death. He was the only son and successor of Pelagius, the first Asturian monarch. In 737 he founded the church of Santa Cruz, probably in his capital of Cangas de Onís, but aside from this, nothing else about his reign...
in the Church of Santa Cruz de Cangas de Onís
Santa Cruz de Cangas de Onís
Santa Cruz de Cangas de Onís is a small Roman Catholic chapel in Cangas de Onís, the first capital of the Kingdom of Asturias, in what is now northern Spain. It was founded on an artificial mound by Favila, second king of Asturias, and his queen, Froiliuba...
erected by Favila and his wife Froiluba in 737and dedicated to True Cross
True Cross
The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a...
in Cangas de Onís
Cangas de Onis
Cangas de Onís is a municipality in the eastern part of the province and autonomous community of Asturias in the northwest of Spain. The capital of the municipality is also Cangas de Onís....
, the first capital of the Kingdom of Asturias
Kingdom of Asturias
The Kingdom of Asturias was a Kingdom in the Iberian peninsula founded in 718 by Visigothic nobles under the leadership of Pelagius of Asturias. It was the first Christian political entity established following the collapse of the Visigothic kingdom after Islamic conquest of Hispania...
. The ornate casing, similar to that upon the Cross of the Angels
Cross of the Angels
The Cross of the Angels is a pre-romanesque Asturian reliquary donated by Alfonso II of Asturias in the year 808 to the Church of San Salvador in Oviedo, Asturias. The Cross of the Angels is the symbol of the city of Oviedo...
, was added later, and contains 152 gems and imitation gems. An inscription tells us that this casing was made at the Castle of Gauzón in Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
in 908. Alfonso III donated this important Pre-Romanesque gold artifact to Cathedral of Oviedo to commemorate a hundred years of the Asturian kingdom's victories and conquests.
During the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, the Cross, like the rest of the artifacts in the Cámara Sancta, suffered serious damages which required its restoration.
The Victoria Cross recovered its gems from 1942 on, thanks to popular donations for the acquisition and restoration of the relic. However, the work of goldsmiths Horacio Rivero Alvarez and Luis Aguilar did not consider the original design, altering the position of the medallion on both fronts. In 1971 new enamels were placed by German goldsmith Werner Henneberger, but here again the original design was not taken sufficiently into account.
On August 9, 1977, the Cross, together with Agate box
Agate box
The Agate Casket of Oviedo is an elaborately decorated box, casket or small chest given by King Fruela II of Asturias and his wife Nunila to the Cathedral of San Salvador, Oviedo, Spain...
and the Cross of the Angels
Cross of the Angels
The Cross of the Angels is a pre-romanesque Asturian reliquary donated by Alfonso II of Asturias in the year 808 to the Church of San Salvador in Oviedo, Asturias. The Cross of the Angels is the symbol of the city of Oviedo...
, were stolen and suffered serious damage after the thieves torn their precious stones and gold plating. His current appearance is the result of careful reconstruction carried out in 1978.