Warsaw Tour Guide, Ela Rudniak

Yesterday, I accidentally became Queen of Poland. Very briefly though. 👑

This photo was taken beside a replica of the funeral crown of Władysław IV Vasa currently displayed at the temporary exhibition at the Royal Castle in Warsaw. The original regalia were discovered in the king’s coffin in 1840 together with royal orbs and a sceptre (NB The king died in 1648). What makes them fascinating is that Władysław IV was buried with double regalia - a symbolic reminder that he was both the hereditary ruler of Sweden and the elected king of Poland.

The crown itself carried a powerful meaning. The king’s motto was: „Honour as a reward for virtue.” The crown symbolised that honour.

And Władysław IV certainly dreamed on a grand scale. Despite serious illness and political setbacks, he imagined himself leading a crusade against the Ottoman Empire and entering Constantinople in triumph. History, however, had other plans. When the Sejm blocked his war ambitions in 1646, theatre became his escape - a world of spectacle, costumes and performance where, for a moment, he could still control the script.

There is something wonderfully theatrical about this crown too. It is not only a royal object but also a prop in a larger story about power, ambition, identity and illusion. What a splendid topic for a guide, isn’t it?

The exhibition THE GREAT PLAY: LADISLAV IV AND HIS OPERA THEATRE is now open at the Royal Castle in Warsaw.