The burial vault

On the night of April 25 to 26, 1931, the city of Vilnius was flooded by the river Wilia. Water poured into the underground chambers of the cathedral basilica. As the waters gradually receded, they revealed an astonishing treasure — a royal crypt, whose existence had been known, though its location remained a mystery. Inside Vilnius Cathedral, royal burials were discovered: those of Alexander Jagiellon, Elisabeth of Austria from the House of Habsburg, and Barbara Radziwiłł. Only the remains of Barbara were well preserved, thanks to having been buried in a mixture of lime and ash before being transported from Kraków to Vilnius.

The discovery of the royal tombs was considered the sensation of the century. Following the flood, a Cathedral Rescue Committee was immediately established, bringing together leading figures from the academic, ecclesiastical, administrative, architectural, and engineering communities. An account of the committee members' entry into the crypt — including that of Ferdynand Ruszczyc — was published in the Kurier Wileński in 1933.

It was an unforgettable moment. Through a dark opening and a narrow passage in the wall, we descended into a small, shadowy crypt. In the glow of our few candles, we saw before us what looked like a black shroud spread across the floor. From it protruded a crown — a golden royal crown. Tarnished, greened with age, resting on a skull bowed as if in sleep. Further on, toward the opposite wall, blackened bones came into view. Beside them, a lighter mass emerged, clearly shaped — the outline of a coffin still discernible. On the gold brocade lining was a silver plaque. Letters. The first legible ones: BR — already deeply suggestive — followed by a fragment: Regina… Augusti coniunx altera… The coats of arms: Eagle, Pogoń and the Radziwiłł Trąby — told the rest and confirmed it. We stood, bowed, before the coffin of Barbara Radziwiłł.

The identification of the buried monarchs was aided by the royal insignia found among the remains. Throughout the conservation and research work in the crypt, painters, graphic artists, and sculptors were continuously present, documenting this momentous discovery.

In 1933, a ceremonial reinterment of the royal remains took place in the Cathedral, transferring them to the mausoleum in the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary, formerly the Royal Chapel. The event was held with great solemnity. The chapel was adorned with banners and tapestries, and the coffins were placed on catafalques draped in red cloth bearing the white eagle. In front of the catafalque of King Alexander Jagiellon stood an urn containing the remains of King Władysław IV Vasa. Replicas of the royal regalia were placed on the coffins, while the originals were displayed in the cathedral sacristy alongside photographs, sketches, paintings, and sculptures created in the crypt by renowned artists: Ferdynand Ruszczyc, Ludomir Ślendziński, Kazimierz Kwiatkowski, Jerzy Hoppen, Bolesław Bałzukiewicz, and Jan Bułhak.

With the outbreak of World War II, the precious grave regalia were hidden. They were rediscovered on December 16, 2024