The self-coronation of Peter the Ceremonious (1336): historical, liturgical, and iconographical representations

Abstract

Everything was ready for the solemn rite of the anointing and crowning of Peter IV of Aragon (1336–87). The ceremony was set for 14 April 1336 in Zaragoza's San Salvador Cathedral. The celebrant was to be the archbishop of Zaragoza, Pedro López de Luna y Ximénez de Urrea (1318–45), to whom the honor fell as metropolitan of the kingdom's capital. However, that spring morning there was a heated discussion in the vestry shortly before the start of proceedings. The king and the archbishop could not agree on who should place the crown on the new monarch's head. As a result the liturgy was delayed, to the consternation of the assembled throng packing Zaragoza Cathedral.