Napoleon I receive the keys of the city of Antwerp, by Ingres The surrender of Breda, by Velázquez
The use of the keys of a city to a frost dates from the Middle Ages. By handing over the keys of the city gates, the city executives indicated that they were no longer the highest authority in the city, but that the prince was this. The handing over of the keys thus had an important symbolic meaning, namely the recognition of the ruler's authority. When he left the city, the princess returned the keys, as they would otherwise become unpredictable.
The key was usually laid on a pillow and offered by a delegation of the bourgeoisie, often accompanied by priests and soldiers, outside the city gates. When the city gates were no longer closed, the handing over of the keys was merely symbolic.
Groningen still had gold plated silver keys in 1810 to offer it to Napoleon. Napoleon has offered the keys of Berlin, Amsterdam and Vienna, among others. The very self-conscious emperor used to use the keys to sit on his white mold. When he stood for Moscow in 1812, he was surprised that he did not meet the government's deputation to offer the keys to the Russian capital.
The Orans have occasionally received keys from cities. It was used to return the keys to the mayor again.
Keys are stored in many urban treasures and museums. For example, the copper keys from Rotterdam were kept in 1809. Carnival
In several cities, Prince Carnival, at the beginning of the carnival, gets the keys of the city and thus symbolically also the authority.
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