![]() ![]() ![]() The enduring social need for humor was found in all cultures across time. “The evidence,” writes Otto, “points to his having existed across the globe and across history, in most of the major civilizations of the world and many of the minor ones” (p. Often the sparkling wit of the jester appealed to the common need throughout history to humanize power. In China the magisterial aloof emperor was often chided, mocked, or ridiculed by a jester figure just as were the rulers of Europe. ![]() For the services of the jester, often the monarch was prepared to pay handsomely with honors, gifts, titles, lands, and positions of influence.Ī unique aspect of this study was that it compared jesters in great detail both Europe and China, and Otto commented that she had been awestruck at the similarities between jesters in China and those better known in Europe. The jester offers a monarch a salable commodity-laughter, entertainment, wit, and insight-that eases political tensions at court and allows the ruler to see himself as the poor, downtrodden, and often disadvantaged individuals view him. The jester pokes “jest” or fun at important political figures such as kings and emperors, allowing them to laugh at themselves and be humanized thereby. Otto stated her thesis: “I argue that is very much a universal character, more or less interchangeable regardless of the time or culture in which he happens to cavort-the same techniques, the same functions, the same license” (p. She concludes that the court jester was a universal phenomenon appearing across time and place as jesters were examined in Europe, China, India, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. Otto in this fascinating cross cultural study Fools Are Everywhere. ![]() Mathurine is noted for the last time in the court of Louis XIII in 1627.One of the world’s oldest historical figures-the court jester-was researched and explained by Beatrice K. She was however able to prove her innocence and was welcomed back to her position at court. “Devil take that fool with her tricks,” cried his Majesty… Mathurine sprang to the door, and barring the passage, prevented the escape of the King’s assailant." ĭespite this the king, well aware of her Catholic sympathies, had her arrested as a suspected accomplice. This youth, who had glided into the apartment unperceived, struck at the King with his dagger. " Mathurine it was who arrested the youth who attempted to assassinate Henri IV, on the 28th of December. She was present in 1594 when Henry IV was wounded by the assassin Jean Châtel, and arrested him herself: She is mentioned by a contemporary author, who noted her along with the court jesters Maitre Guillaume and Angoulevent and stated that they were all fervent Catholics just because they knew that the Reformers would abolish the jester-profession if they came to power. Mathurine was known for being a fervent Catholic, and was said to employ her comical talent to convert Huguenots back to Catholicism by their laughter. One of them was an occasion, in which a lady in waiting complained that she did not like having a fool at her right side, upon which Mathurine jumped to the lady's other side and announced: “I don’t mind it at all.” She was famous for her sharp wit, and there were many anecdotes about it. She was known for her extravagant costume as an Amazonian warrior, complete with shield, armor, and a wooden sword. After his death, she was transferred to the employ of his successor Henry IV. She is first noted at the court of Henry III. She was an employee of the court as a whole rather than of a particular person. She is the most known of these female jesters. Mathurine is noted in the registers of the court with the position Plaisante, which was the title of female jesters of the court in 16th-century France, of which there were evidently several, such as Mademoiselle Sevin, the jester of the queen of Navarre. She was the jester of the court of French kings Henry III, Henry IV and Louis XIII, successively. Mathurine de Vallois, also known as Mathurine la Folle ('Mathurine the Fool') ( fl. ![]()
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