Coronation of French kings

The coronation of French kings was a ceremonial event marking the formal investiture and divine approval of a monarch's reign. It traditionally involved an elaborate religious service, often at a cathedral, where the king was anointed with holy oil, crowned with a crown, and presented with symbols of authority. The ritual reinforced the belief that the king's power was granted by God, emphasizing both religious legitimacy and political sovereignty. These ceremonies reinforced the unity of church and state, and served to legitimize the monarch’s rule in the eyes of the people and nobility.