The problem is that the Middle Ages lasted a long time and rites and traditions could change over the centuries within the same kingdom. Anyway, for example in the case of the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon, we know some details thanks to the
Libro de Coronación de los Reyes de Castilla y Aragón. That said, they are relatively late (14th century).
Culture, state or individual involved:
Iberian (Castile and Aragon).
Description of the coronation process:
Crown of Castile:
1) Propagandistic and public parade: it was common that during festivities in a city (therefore not only during coronations), the urban centre was decorated with tapestries, candles, carpets, etc. and the atmosphere was accompanied by aromatic herbs and music. Royal and noble retinues took advantage of the occasion to display luxurious attire, ceremonial weapons, horses, personal banners, etc. during the coronation day. The coronation parade of (surely) Alfonso XI concluded with the royal treasurer distributing money to the crowd for charity (common practice during coronations and funerals). Finally, the procession arrived at the temple to begin the coronation rite.
2) Ritual celebrated inside a temple: it is addressed to the elite of the kingdom and confers legitimacy and the ecclesiastical members were witnesses to the monarch's commitment to defend religion and the church. Some rites before the monarch was crowned included the greeting between the king and the bishop at the entrance of the temple, the placing of heraldic mantles, the anointing on the shoulder with the holy oils, the genuflection around the altar and the enthronement of the monarchs on a balcony-stratum.
3) Festive celebration: the ceremony was moved to the palace prepared for the occasion, again with expensive fabrics, draperies, etc. It was also the perfect space for the owner of the palace to show off his treasures (this could easily be represented in CK3 as we already have a mechanic for this). As an example, during the coronation of Peter IV of Aragon, his court goldsmith (Pere Berneç) adorned the hilt of his sword with the enamelled images of all his predecessors.
Crown of Aragon:
We do not know details about coronation rites before Peter II. In theory, surely the kings of Aragon were not crowned during the two first centuries of their history (their first kings appear represented in the coins without crowns). Since 1204, the situation changed (due to politica reasons) and Peter II was crowned in Rome. Some important aspects about the Aragonese coronations are:
-Oath to respect the Fueros (regional charters).
-Aragon became a vassal kingdom of the Pope (since 1068), but the papal bull of 1205 (after the coronation of Peter II) allowed the Aragonese kings to be crowned in La Seo de Saragossa at the hands of the archbishop of Tarragona.
-After the coronation of Peter III (1276), the role of the archbishop was reduced to the sacred anointing with the chrismal oil and the king arrogated to himself the right to crown himself and to take the royal insignia (the sword, crown, sceptre and golden globe).
-From 1318 onwards, it was the archbishop of Saragossa who celebrated the coronation ritual without needing the Pope's permission.
The Chronicle of Ramon Muntaner records the Aragonese coronation rite, which was already fully developed in the time of Alfonso IV. The coronation is described in detail:
1) The monarch and his family reside in the palace of the Aljafería, where representatives of the territories of the Crown (Aragonese, Catalan, Valencian, Sardinian, etc.) attended.
2) Processional parade: from the royal palace, the monarch and his entourage were taken to the cathedral. The procession was perfectly organised: first, on horseback, were the sons of those who were to be knighted, followed by wagons filled with huge candles. Then came the rich Aragonese man Ramon Cornel carrying the king's sword, and then the monarch, alone, mounted on his white horse beautifully harnessed for the occasion and followed by the representatives of the estates of the Crown.
3) After arriving at La Seo, the king remained in vigil, keeping watch over his weapons, and at dawn, after attending 2 masses, the monarch was knighted, girding himself with his sword, which he placed on the altar, offering it to God. Alfonso IV was then anointed with chrismal oil by the archbishop.
4) Then, after a third mass, the monarch was crowned (he himself placed the crown on his head) while the clergy (archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors) sang the Te Deum laudamus. Finally, the king took the royal insignia (the sceptre in his right hand, the pommel in his left, and the ring, etc.) and he then ascended the throne.
5) After the ceremony, the retinue returns to the Aljafería, this time with the monarch wearing a rich crown full of precious stones, the sceptre and the pommel.
6) The ceremony ended with a great banquet.
Bibliography:
Pérez Monzón, Olga (2010): Ceremonias Regias en la Castilla Medieval. A proposito del llamado libro de la coronación de los reyes de Castilla y Aragón. Archivo español del arte, LXXXIII, 332, pp. 317-334.
Corral Lafuente, Jose Luis (2022): Con esta magnificencia y magestad. Espectáculo, símbolos y arte en la coronación de los Reyes de Aragón. Artigrama, núm. 37, pp. 51-68.
