The World of Playing Cards Logo
Published April 12, 2013 Updated July 15, 2022

Corona Ferrea

Trumps depict historical scenes primarily of the political period known as the Holy Roman Empire from the 6th to 16th century.

1844 Italy Gumppenberg Solleone Tarocco Add to Collection

Tarocco della “Corona Ferrea”, c.1844

Gumppenberg of Milan was responsible for this magnificent non-standard tarot which is inspired by the history of the Lombard Iron Crown or “Corona Ferrea”. The Trumps depict historical scenes primarily of the political period known as the Holy Roman Empire from the 6th to 16th century. For example, in Trump II Teodolinda, widowed by her husband King Autari, chooses the young duke of Turin, Agilulfo, to be her next husband. In Trump XII Ludwig the Bavarian refuses the crown of Germany after Henry V's death in 1313. In Trump XVI we see Ludwig stricken with an apoplectic stroke while hunting. The court cards are named: the Queen of Hearts depicts Teodolinda, now married to Agilulfo, etc.  see below for full descriptions.

Tarocco della “Corona Ferrea”, first published by Ferdinando Gumppenberg, Milan, c.1830 and reproduced by Edizioni del Solleone, Lissone, 1979

Above: Tarocco della “Corona Ferrea”. The deck is believed to have been originally issued in the 1830s by Ferdinando Gumppenberg whose name still appears on the Ace of Diamonds. A second edition was issued by his successor, Lattanzio Lamperti in c.1844 (see date on Jack of Diamonds). This facsimile edition by Edizioni del Solleone, Lissone, 1979.

The scenes on the Trump cards (not all shown here) include: Excuse with wings and wearing stocking cap, Trump I is a motley figure in blackface with cards strewn on the ground, II Teodolinda, widowed by her husband, King Autari, chooses the young duke of Turin, Agilulfo, to be her next husband, III liberation of Italian subjects after Agilulfo pays a large ransom in gold, IV Queen Teodolinda examining plans for Monza Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, V Teodolinda and Agilulfo offering gifts to the church, VI Queen Teodolinda in the last moments of her life, her son at her bedside, VII King Desiderius of Lombardy is delivered in 774 into the hands of Charlemagne, VIII Charlemagne persuading the warrior king of the Saxons to be baptized, IX Coronation of Charlemagne on Christmas Day in 800 as emperor of the West by Pope Leo III in St. Peter's Cathedral of Rome, X Charlemagne founding a public school in Pavia, XI Charlemagne in his old age sharing the throne of emperor with his only surviving son, Louis, XII Ludwig the Bavarian refusing the crown of Germany after Henry V's death in 1313

Trump XIII (right) relates the story that after Ludwig defeated Frederick of Austria, the only provision to refresh the soldiers was eggs, one for each man, but there was one extra egg which Ludwig declared in the presence of all should go to the valiant general Schwepperman, XIV Ludwig freeing Frederick, XV Ludwig and his wife, Margaret on their way to St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome where he was crowned with the Iron Crown and she with the golden one, XVI Ludwig stricken with an apoplectic stroke while hunting, XVII Charles V being appointed emperor in 1519, XVIII Carlo V receiving the Iron Crown in 1530 at the papal palace in Bologna, XIX Titan painting the portrait of Charles V, XX portrays Charles V's opposition to the doctrines of Luther which led him to ride through the streets of Main wearing his imperial robes as a show of his power and Catholic belief, XXI shows Charles V synchronizing two clocks. The double-ended court cards portray rulers and soldiers of the times and include on the King of Spades, Carlo Magno (Charlemagne) receiving in 775 the Iron Crown of the Lombard kings, his wife, Ermengarda on the queen of spades, and a cavalier and valet of the 8th century on the remaining two court cards. The King of Hearts depicts Agilulfo and the Queen of Hearts is his wife, Teodolinda, and a cavalier and valet from the 6th century. The King of Clubs is Ludwig of Bavaria and on the Queen is his wife, Margaret, and a cavalier and valet from the 14th century, and the King of Diamonds depicts Charles V and on the Queen is his wife, Eleonora, and a cavalier and valet from the 16th century.


Images on this page are from the collection of Rod Starling, author of "The Art and Pleasures of Playing Cards".

• See also: Wikipedia article: Iron Crown of Lombardy

“Tarocco Neoclassico” c.1810“Tarocchino Lombardo” c.1835

avatar
94 Articles

By Rod Starling

Member since January 09, 2013

Rod Starling was one of the founding members of the 52 Plus Joker card collectors club. He authored many articles for the club's quarterly newsletter, Clear the Decks. His collection encompasses both foreign and American decks. Rod also authored a book titled The Art and Pleasures of Playing Cards.


Related Articles

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Hearts

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Hearts 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs

Woodblock and Stencil Queen of Clubs

A limited edition art print of the Queen of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

Woodblock and Stencil Jack of Clubs

A limited edition art print of the Jack of Clubs 1984 woodblock joker.

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

Woodblock and Stencil Joker

A limited edition art print of the 1984 woodblock joker.

1977 Lo Stampatore

Lo Stampatore

‘Lo Stampatore’ linocut images created by Sergio Favret, published as a deck of cards by Editions So...

2015 Leonardo collection

Leonardo collection

Leonardo collection playing cards with drawings from his notebooks.

1981 Lo Cartescacco / Chess playing cards

Lo Cartescacco / Chess playing cards

Playing cards designed by F. Romagnoli bringing together Chess and Bridge, Italy, c. 1981.

1989 Il Vostro Destino

Il Vostro Destino

Italian fortune-telling pack produced by Viassone and later by Masenghini.

1978 San Paolo Shakespeare

San Paolo Shakespeare

San Paolo Shakespeare, Italy, 1978

1993 Le Carte di Forattini

Le Carte di Forattini

Political caricatures by Giorgio Forattini published by Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, Italy, 1993.

1983 San Paolo Chekhov

San Paolo Chekhov

Characters from Chekhov’s plays designed by Paolo Fresu for San Paolo Istituto Bancario, Italy, c.19...

Storia del Fascismo - gioco di carte

Storia del Fascismo - gioco di carte

‘Storia del Fascismo’ playing cards depicting persons, symbols and artifacts associated with Italian...

2003 The Lovers playing cards

The Lovers playing cards

Reproductions of old postcards with romantic messages for Valentine’s Day.

1985 I Gatti Originali di Evelyne Nicod

I Gatti Originali di Evelyne Nicod

Etchings of cats on a set of major arcana created by Evelyne Nicod.

1978 Carte Osteologiche

Carte Osteologiche

Skulls and bones of all descriptions have become the suits and pips in this 40-card pack from Italy....

1973 Marcello Morandini

Marcello Morandini

Modern designs by Italian artist Marcello Morandini using the simplest of forms and colours.

1989 Storia del Fascismo

Storia del Fascismo

Published by Il Meneghello, this pack provides a visual history of Fascism in Italy between 1919 and...

2021 Jack-O’-Lantern Tarot

Jack-O’-Lantern Tarot

Giuliano Costa's Jack-O’-Lantern tarot blends Rider-Waite symbolism with the rich and atmospheric th...

1984 Schwarze Katze (or Gioco del Gatto Nero)

Schwarze Katze (or Gioco del Gatto Nero)

Reproduction of a 40-card transformation pack with designs by “WS”, adapted for the game of Black Ca...

2006 Hot-Air Balloons & Co.

Hot-Air Balloons & Co.

Hot-air balloons and airships from the early days to 1988, with designs by S. Baraldi and F. Tacconi...

2000 Carte da Gioco Mongolfiere

Carte da Gioco Mongolfiere

Various hot-air balloons on a pack from a small Florentine publisher.

1975 Mercante in Fiera di Jacovitti

Mercante in Fiera di Jacovitti

Traditional Italian card game with comic designs by Benito Jacovitti.

1981 Le Nuove Minchiate di Firenze

Le Nuove Minchiate di Firenze

Costante Costantini's second Minchiate deck, “Le Nuove Minchiate di Firenze”, was published by Solle...

1906 Bolognese pattern

Bolognese pattern

Standard Bolognese pattern pack by Murari of Bari.

1980 Minchiate Fiorentine

Minchiate Fiorentine

Minchiate Fiorentine created by Costante Costantini, published by Edizioni del Solleone.

1995 I Tarocchi del Cinema (di Sesar)

I Tarocchi del Cinema (di Sesar)

A set of Tarot trumps on the subject of the cinema, with designs by Sergio Sarri.

1975 Le carte della Fortuna

Le carte della Fortuna

Modern Italian fortune-telling pack from 1975, with designs by Sergio Ruffolo.

2007 Art Nouveau Oracle

Art Nouveau Oracle

A Lenormand-type fortune-telling pack in the Art Nouveau style.

1979 Tarocco Indovino

Tarocco Indovino

Sergio Ruffolo’s “Tarocco Indovino” is an expanded version of his “Lo Zodiaco” cartomancy deck.

1986 Il Mercante in Fiera del Solleone

Il Mercante in Fiera del Solleone

Traditional Italian card game with bold designs by Costante Costantini.

1985 Venus et Cupidon

Venus et Cupidon

“Venus et Cupidon” from Costante Costantini in his distinctive woodcut style.

1970 Italia playing cards

Italia playing cards

Small, narrow cards designed by Osvaldo Menegazzi, bearing a strong resemblance to a Swedish pattern...

1971 Napoleone playing cards

Napoleone playing cards

Long, narrow cards designed by Osvaldo Menegazzi, featuring Napoleon, Josephine and various soldiers...

1976 Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico

Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico

Promotional pack for Chianti Classico wine, with designs by Costante Costantini.

1981 Burgdorf Abschreckhärtetechnik

Burgdorf Abschreckhärtetechnik

Promotional pack for a German steel hardening business, with designs by Costante Costantini.

P. Buscaglia: Spanish-suited cards

P. Buscaglia: Spanish-suited cards

Spanish-suited cards published by P. Buscaglia, Mele & Genova.

2023 Carte Bolognesi

Carte Bolognesi

New designs reinforcing Bologna’s reputation as the gastronomic capital of Italy.

2017 Le carte di Tex

Le carte di Tex

Characters from the famous Italian comic book series, Tex, created by Gian Luigi Bonelli and Aurelio...

1870 Florentine pattern variant

Florentine pattern variant

Non-standard designs by Chiari of Florence with some of the features of a traditional Florentine pat...

Natural History Tarocchi

Natural History Tarocchi

Natural History Tarocchi by Ferdinando Gumppenberg, Milan.

1951 Carte da gioco anticomuniste del Comitato civico

Carte da gioco anticomuniste del Comitato civico

Anti-Communist propaganda pack with satirical designs by Benito Jacovitti.

1973 Alessandro Manzoni Centenary

Alessandro Manzoni Centenary

Issued to mark the centenary of the death of Alessandro Manzoni, one of Italy’s greatest writers.

2004 Baudelaire playing card collection

Baudelaire playing card collection

Baudelaire playing card collection illustrated by Alméry Lobel-Riche and published by Lo Scarabeo in...

1996 Diabolik Poker

Diabolik Poker

Characters from the Italian comic series Diabolik, with designs by Paolo and Sergio Zaniboni.