The Deep History of British Coronations

Although we commonly refer to the coronation as one big event there are actually 2:

• The actual coronation, meaning the placement of the crown on the head of the king. This symbolises political and military power, similar to the anticent roman title
• The anointment, using holy oil. This private ceremony symbolises spiritual authority as the Holy Spirit is said to flow into the ruler.

The crown was not a tradition in the old Saxony. It is believed to come from the old Roman emperors, from the 3rd century onwards, who used a diadem as a Sun inspired symbol.

For hundreds of years, during the Republic and even early Empire, romans had a disdain for kings. But the crown was immortalised as a ritual through coins and paintings.

Pepin, the Frankish unifier, who established the Carolingian dynasty, used holy oil to legitimise his rule by connecting himself to old Jewish kings like Solomon and David. 

His better known successor, Charlemagne, famously had the pope place the crown on his head, thus crating a connection to the Roman empire.

Considering the ties with the continent, it is very probable this inspired old Saxon kings. And the tradition was obviously continued after the conquest of England by William the Conqueror, king of Normandy, in 1066.