The Crowned Heads Of Europe

Ladislaus I, aka Saint Ladislaus (c. 1040-1095) was King of Hungary from 1077 and King of Croatia from 1091. Legends depict Ladislaus as a pious knight-king, "the incarnation of the late-medieval Hungarian ideal of chivalry." Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp depicting Saint Ladislaus, designed by Hungarian artist Lajos Márton (1891-1952), printed by photogravure, and issued by Hungary on May 16, 1938 as one of a set of stamps and a souvenir sheet commemorating the 34th International Eucharistic Congress, held in Budapest, Scott No. B92, plus an image of a painting of King Saint Ladislaus by Italian artist Simone Martini (c. 1284-1344).

- nethryk

Ferdinand VII (1784-1833) was twice King of Spain: in 1808 and again from 1813 to his death. "Cowardly, selfish, grasping, suspicious, and vengeful," Ferdinand was known to his supporters as el Deseado ("the Desired"), and to his detractors as el Rey Felón ("the Felon King"). Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of the controversial king, designed after a detail from a painting by Spanish artist Vicente López Portaña (1772-1850), engraved by Pablo Sampedro Molero (1935- ) (vignette) and Jesús Terriza de Coca (1929- ) (lettering and background), and issued by Spain on November 22, 1978, Scott No. 2128, Edifil No. 2501, plus an image of the original work of art.

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Charles IV (1316-1378) was the second King of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first King of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor. Here is an image of a stamp depicting a statue of Charles IV seated, designed by Austrian artist Auguste Böcskör, engraved by Wolfgang Seidel (1946- ), and issued by Luxembourg on May 18, 1978 as a EUROPA stamp, Scott No. 609, plus an image of another statue of the Emperor, created by German sculptor Ernst Julius Hähnel (1811-1891) in 1848, and located in Prague, Czech Republic.

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Here are images of the six semi-postal (charity) stamps in a set commemorating three notable kings of Hungary and Croatia, designed by György Konecsni (1908-1970), printed by photogravure, and issued by Hungary on December 21, 1942 to benefit war invalids and their families, Scott Nos. B151-B156.

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Saint Ladislaus (1046-1095), 900th anniversary of his birth.


Béla IV (1206-1270), 700th anniversary of the beginning of the country's reconstruction by him.


Lajos (Louis) the Great (1326-1382), 600th anniversary of his accession to the throne.

Here is an image of a stamp depicting Alfonso X (1221-1284), called the Wise, King of Castile, León and Galicia from 1252 until his death, engraved by Julián González de la Lastra (1954- ), and issued by Spain on June 20, 1984 to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the king's death, Scott No. 2374, Edifil No. 2759, plus an photo of a statue (1892) of Alfonso X in Madrid, created by Spanish sculptor José Alcoverro y Amorós (1835-1908). Note: King Alfonso X's fame extends to the preparation of the Alfonsine astronomical tables; because of this work, the lunar crater Alphonsus is named after him.

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Here is an image of an airmail stamp featuring portraits of of the Catholic Monarchs Queen Isabella I of Castile (1451-1504) and King Ferdinand II of Aragon (1452-1516), designed by Imre von Mosdóssy (1904-1995), combined engraved and printed by De La Rue de Colombia, and issued by Colombia on October 12, 1955 as one of a set of six stamps publicizing the 7th Congress of the Postal Union of the Americas and Spain, held in Bogotá, Scott No. C276. Bonuses: Husband and wife, coat of arms of the Catholic Monarchs.

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Saint Leopold III (1073-1136), known as Leopold the Good, was the Margrave of Austria from 1095 to his death in 1136, and is the patron saint of Austria. Here is an image of a stamp designed by Adalbert Pilch (1917-2004) after the St. Leopold stained glass window in Heiligenkreuz Abbey, near Vienna, combined engraved by Alfred Fischer (1926- ) and photogravure, and issued by Austria on November 15, 1967 (Saint Leopold's Feast Day), Scott No. 804, plus an image of the actual window.

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Here is an image of a stamp depicting Mieszko I (c. 930-992), Duke of Poland, designed by Stefan Malecki (1924-2012) after an imaginary portrait painted by Polish artist Jan Alojzy Matejko (1838-1893), engraved by Piotr Jerzy Naszarkowski (1952- ), and issued by Poland on December 4, 1986, Scott No. 2773, plus an image of Jan Matejko's original work of art.

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Belated Happy Birthday (November 17) to Astrid Sofia Lovisa Thyra of Sweden (1905-1935), Queen consort of the Belgians as the first wife of King Leopold III. Here is an image of a semi-postal (charity) stamp featuring a portrait of Queen Astrid, designed and combined engraved by Jean De Vos and photogravure, and issued by Belgium on December 8, 1962 to benefit tuberculosis relief and other welfare funds, Scott No. B728, plus an image of a photograph of Astrid in 1926.

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Since today is the day of the Three Kings, also known as the three Wise Men or Magi, I hope the crowned heads of Europe won't mind a short visit. Today is also the last of the twelve days of Christmas. Norway, 2007, Christmas stamp. (for traditions, look up Epiphany, holiday)

Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Saint Neagoe Basarab V (c. 1481-1521), Volvode (Prince) of Wallachia, designed by Ion Dumitrana (1923-1976) after a detail from a fresco in the Romanian Orthodox Cathedral of Curtea in Arges, printed by photogravure, and issued by Romania on September 20, 1971 to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the prince's death, Scott No. 2288, plus an image of the original work of art depicting Saint Neagoe Basarab and his wife, Milica Despina.

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Henryk IV Probus (Latin for "the Righteous") (c. 1258-1290) was Duke of Silesia at Wroclaw from 1266, and also from 1288 High Duke of the Polish Seniorate Province of Krakow until his death. Here is an image of a stamp depicting a tomb effigy of Duke Henryk, printed by photogravure, and issued by Poland on September 1, 1946, Scott No. 394, plus an image of a copper engraving of the duke by Polish engraver and illustrator Bartlomiej Strachowski (1693-1759).

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Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Pope Innocent IV (c. 1195-1254), born Sinibaldo Fieschi, and his coat of arms, designed by Teamoté, engraved by Martin Mörck (1955- ), and issued by Monaco on November 30, 1997 to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the 1247 Papal Bull establishing the Parish of Monaco, Scott No. 2066, plus an image of a book illustration portrait of Pope Innocent IV. Note: Innocent IV, who reigned from 1243 until his death, was probably the first pope who used personal arms.

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Luitpold II (12 March 1821 - 12 December 1912) was Prince Regent (de facto king) of Bavaria from 1886 until his death in 1912. He is depicted below on 2 stamps and 3 cinderellas.

From Wikipedia: "On 10 June 1886, Luitpold's nephew King Ludwig II was declared mentally incompetent and Luitpold was named Regent. Luitpold's part is still controversial. Following Ludwig II's mysterious death few days later, his brother Otto assumed the throne. However, Otto was likewise (or more so) mentally incapable of reigning, and Luitpold continued to serve as Regent. Prince Luitpold was even accused by some people of the murder of his nephew, but soon the decent and affable prince became one of Bavaria's most popular rulers."

Justinian I (c. 482-565), aka Saint Justinian the Great in the Eastern Orthodox Church, was the Eastern Roman emperor from 527 to 565. Here are images of the four airmail stamps in a set commemorating Justinian's Omnem reforms of 533 at the ancient law school of Beirut, printed by photogravure, and issued by Lebanon on May 10, 1968, Scott Nos. C556-C559.

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Emperor Saint Justinian


Justinian and a map of the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea region, highlighting the location of Beirut (Beyrouth).