Monument to the Royal Stuarts facts for kids
The Monument to the Royal Stuarts is a special memorial found in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. It honors the last three members of the Royal House of Stuart. These were James Francis Edward Stuart (who died in 1766), his older son Charles Edward Stuart (who died in 1788), and his younger son, Henry Benedict Stuart (who died in 1807). A group called the Jacobites believed these three men were the true kings of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
The monument is made of marble and was created by Antonio Canova. He was a very famous Italian sculptor of his time. It was put up in 1819.
What the Monument Looks Like
The monument is shaped like a tall, pointed pillar called an obelisk, but its top is cut off. It has carved pictures of the three exiled princes' faces on it.
It also has a special message written in Latin:
Below this message, you can see two angels who look like they are crying. These angels show the lost hopes of the Stuart family, who were forced to live away from their home country.
Monsignor Angelo Cesarini first asked for this monument to be built. He was in charge of Henry Benedict Stuart's money after he died. Surprisingly, King George IV also helped pay for it. He admired the Stuarts once they were no longer a threat to his own throne.
You can find the monument at the back of the basilica. It is on the left side, across from a door where people exit from the dome. People who are fans of the Stuarts often place flowers there.
Where the Stuarts Are Buried
This monument is actually a cenotaph. This means it's a memorial, but the people it honors are not buried inside it. The three Stuart family members are buried in the crypt below the basilica. A crypt is an underground burial place.
James Francis Edward Stuart was buried there when he died in 1766. When his son, Charles Edward Stuart, died in 1788, he was first buried in Frascati. But when his brother, Henry Benedict Stuart, died in 1807, both brothers were moved. They were laid to rest next to their father in the crypt of St. Peter's. At first, there were three separate tombstones for them.
In 1938, the bodies of the three Stuarts were moved slightly. This was to make space for the tomb of Pius XI. In 1939, a single stone coffin, called a sarcophagus, was placed over their three graves. On top of the sarcophagus, there is a bronze pillow with a bronze crown on it. The front of the sarcophagus has the same message as the monument above.
Other Royal Monuments
Across from the Stuart monument in St. Peter's Basilica, there is another memorial. This one is for Maria Clementina Sobieska. She was the wife of James Francis Edward Stuart and the mother of Charles Edward and Henry Benedict. Her monument has an inscription that says:
Queen Christina of Sweden is the only other queen with a memorial in the church. She is also buried in the crypt below the basilica, near the Royal Stuarts. She gave up her throne in 1654 to become Catholic.
See also
- Index of Vatican City-related articles
