The cross and the presence or lack of Christian influences

[-JKP-]

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There are three (?) crosses in the manuscript. Two are placed on top of crowns, symbols of monarchy.

Yes. In the 14th and early 15th centuries, in central Europe in particular, a cross on a rounded crown typically represented the Holy Roman Emperor. Pointed crowns and rounded crowns without crosses were usually kings and other higher nobility, and the three-tiered peaked crown was the pope. As one radiates out from this region, the crown designs gradually change so that the exact same design conventions don't always apply, but the general idea often does.

There have always been "crown wars" to assert one's dominance. By the 17th and 18th century many of the higher nobility were wearing the kind of crown that was reserved for the Emperor in earlier centuries, and it becomes more difficult, after the 16th century, to associate a specific crown style with a specific level of royalty.

In JKP's latest You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view., he explains the use of the cross-pole. One of the images he linked I found particularly interesting, since it also includes a set of wavy lines:


The gentlemen are using a sighting tube and astrolabe respectively, but what is the thing all the way on the left? It also appears to include a cross shape. Might it be some kind of armilary sphere with ecliptic and equator?


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I'm not sure either. My best guess so far is also an armillary sphere, mostly based on that inner "bar" being at an angle compared to the one that is drawn on over it, and there are examples of images with people holding them in other manuscripts, but I'm not 100% sure.