Museums

Thüringer Landesmuseum Heidecksburg - Decorated collar Gustav II Adolf of Sweden

Already in 1919, the banquet and living rooms of the Heidecksburg castle were opened to the public. Since 1919, the Rudolstadt Antiquity Museum was located in the rooms of the north and west wings. Certified experts were in charge of maintaining the collection on an honorary basis. These collections were combined with that of the Museum of Natural History in 1950 to form the "Heidecksburg State Museum" which has been called the "Thuringian State Museum Heidecksburg" since 1991.

Next to the banquet and living rooms of today, Heidecksburg Castle hosts the pictures and porcelain galleries, an exhibition on the cultural history of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, the weapon collection "Schwarzburger Zeughaus", the exhibition of natural history specimens, and the "Deep Well" ("Tiefer Brunnen"). For alternating special exhibitions, the "Court Kitchen" ("Hofkueche") and the graphics room are available.

Pictures shown by kind courtesy of Thüringer Landesmuseum Heidecksburg, Waffensammlung "Schwarzburger Zeughaus".
Adress: Schlossbezirk 1, Rudolstadt / www.heidecksburg.de

 

Description:

This collar, usually worn with armour, is made of black iron. It has a length of 36 cm. The beautiful poured and gilded ornaments are placed upon the iron. In the centre is a brass piece with the image of a crowned lion, standing up. Around the lion is written:

'IUSTUS EST DOMINUS 1632'
('My Lord is just 1632')

 

Written around this ornament, on the collar:

'GUSTA . ADOL . R . S. G. V'
'Gustavus Adolphus Rex Suecorum Gothorum Vandalorumque'
('Gustav Adolph King of Sweden, of the Goths and Vandals')

 

Above it is the divine name carried by 2 angels:

"IEHOVA"

 

On the bottom is an image of St. George, killing the dragon. The characters "S" and"G" are referring to him. The edges are decorated with black staples.


 

 

On the backside is an image of the sun, a half moon and stars. Above it is written 'V D M I E' meaning 'Verbum Domini Manet In AEternum' ('Gods word exists to eternity').

It is commonly accepted that the collar belonged to the great King Gustav II Adolf. The ornaments were possibly placed after his death. King Gustav II Adolf died during the Battle of Lützen - November 6, 1632.

Gustav II Adolf
1594 - 1632

 

 

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