Crowning ceremonies have existed since Ancient Times and are even described in detail in two books of the Bible, Kings II and Chronicles II. It wasn’t until the Middle Ages that the coronations became commonplace as the the Kings were seen as ordained by God.
Perhaps one of the most famous Christmas Day Coronations is the coronation of Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne. Charlemagne was crowned by Pope Leo III and the crowning ceremony changed it from a secular nature to one of divine right.
Here is a list of Christmas Day coronations:
Holy Roman Emperor
- 800: Charlemagne (Charles I the Great)
- 967: Otto II
- 1046: Henry III
England
- 855: Edmund the Martyr
- 1013: Sweyn Forkbeard
- 1135: Stephen (*Honorable Mention, Stephen missed it by one day, his coronation was on 26 Dec)
- 1066: William the Conqueror
Continental Europe and the East
- 1100: Baldwin I, King of Jerusalem
- 1119: Baldwin II, King of Jerusalem
- 1130: Roger II, King of Sicily
- 1259: Eric V, King of Denmark
- 1405: John II, King of Castile
