I
The Roman rite of the coronation of kings is based on the imperial rite, but at the same time owes much to the various national rites which had been in existence some time before the genesis of the Roman. The earliest known Roman rite of the coronation of a king is that contained in the Ordo Romanus of Hittorp[104], and is probably of the tenth or eleventh century.
It begins with the preliminary prayer Omn. semp. Deus qui famulum and the responsory Ecce mitto angelum and the prayer Deus qui scis humanum genus as the king enters the church. This is all purely Roman. The order begins with the prayer Omn. semp. Deus caelestium terrestriumque, which is first found here, after which is said the Litany, another Roman feature. The oath is put to the king in interrogatory form, Vis sanctam fidem, etc., Vis sanctis ecclesiis, etc., Vis regnum, etc., and the king answers Volo. The people are then asked whether they will accept the king, and they answer Fiat, fiat.
The consecration of the king is preceded by a benediction, Benedic Domine hunc regem, and two alternative forms of consecration are given.
(1) Omn. aeterne Deus creator omnium, which is found in the rite by which Louis II was crowned in 877, and after this is said by another bishop Deus inenarrabilis, after which the king is anointed on head, breast, shoulders, and bends of arms with the form Ungo te in regem de oleo sanctificato in nomine, etc., and finally on the hands, Unguantur manus. Then is said Prospice Omnipotens, which appears in the earliest form of the imperial rite and in the Milanese rite of the ninth century[105].
(2) The alternative consecration consists of the prayers Deus qui es iustorum gloria, a Roman prayer, and Sursum corda, Preface, and the Deus creator omnium of the first alternative.
The investitures follow; the Sword with the form Accipe gladium per manus episcoporum; the Ring with the form Accipe regiae dignitatis anulum, both these forms occurring here for the first time; the Verge with the form, found in all orders but that of ‘Egbert,’ Accipe virgam virtutis; and lastly the Crown with the form, here first occurring, Accipe coronam regni. The three benedictions which follow the investitures, Benedicat tibi, Clerum ac populum, and Quatenus divinis, also appear for the first time in this order. After the responsory Desiderium animae the king is enthroned with the Sta et retine, which is found with variations in all orders except that of ‘Egbert,’ the metropolitan gives the king the kiss of peace, and finally Te Deum is sung.
At the consecration of the queen, after the prayers Omn. aet. Deus fons et origo, and Deus qui solus habes immortalitatem, she is anointed with the form Spiritus Sancti gratia, and she is then crowned with the form Officio indignitatis.
The Mass prayers are not specified.
There is a large number of Roman orders varying in places, but in general agreement with the Ordo of Hittorp.