Buzz
Although the jester is often viewed as a figure of little cultural or political weight, they have held remarkable sway in royal courts over the centuries. In many cases, the wisdom they impart in their unique role has proven to be more profound than the advice offered by all the other courtiers combined.
10. Rahere (Rayer)
According to 12th-century records, Rayer was a young man with great ambition who ingratiated himself with the right people, particularly the noble class. Despite his humble origins, he maximized the one resource he possessed in abundance: his sharp wit.
Rayer became infamous for his mocking of anyone who wasn’t part of the conversation, much to the amusement of those present. A source of scandalous gossip and rumors, he also carried out clerical duties while serving as the jester for Henry I. He was especially beloved by servants and children, especially when he adopted the persona of an 'ydiotte.'
After completing a pilgrimage to Rome, Rayer returned to London where he founded one of the city's oldest medical institutions: St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. He established the hospital as a sanctuary for the 'fonnysch and febill,' those less fortunate than himself.
9. Shen Jiangao
Shen Jiangao, also known as Gradually Stretching Taller, served as the 10th-century jester to the Southern Tang emperor Liezu. During a severe drought that plagued the kingdom, the jester joked that even the rain feared being taxed and refused to fall on the land. The emperor, amused, reduced taxes, and supposedly, rain poured that very night.
The jester was also credited with saving the emperor’s life. Aware that Liezu could not win a war against Zhou Ben, the emperor invited his enemy to a banquet. However, Ben poisoned a wine goblet before offering it to Liezu, accompanied by well wishes for long life and a request for unity through drinking together.
Shen Jiangao seized the poisoned goblet, drank from it, and swiftly fled the room, giving the emperor a chance to escape the perilous situation, though at the cost of his own life. After fleeing the banquet and receiving ineffective antidotes, his brain burst.
8. Perkeo
Perkeo is a renowned figure in Heidelberg, Germany. He was brought to the royal court in the early 18th century as a jester and quickly became a sensation. Originally from Italy, the dwarf was given another important role: keeper of the Tun. Perkeo’s wooden statue continues to stand guard over the Heidelberg Tun at Heidelberg Castle.
The Heidelberg Tun holds the distinction of being the world’s largest wine barrel. With a capacity of over 220,000 liters (58,000 gallons), it was a fitting responsibility for the jester. Although it is now empty, it was initially used to collect wine paid as taxes.
Perkeo was said to have an extraordinary capacity for drinking vast quantities of wine, which was his only beverage. At nearly 80 years old, he fell ill and was convinced to drink a glass of water. He died that very night.
7. Jamie Fleeman
Jamie Fleeman served as the jester to Countess Mary Hay, an 18th-century Scottish noblewoman whose remarkable life made her a legend. She married after defeating her intended husband in a duel (disguised as a man) and went on to become the 14th Lord High Chancellor of Scotland. In the 1740s, she made the controversial decision to conscript numerous men to fight for Prince Charles, and one of the few people she could trust in those turbulent times was her jester.
A hired fool of almost superhuman strength, Fleeman often carried out tasks for the countess, such as delivering messages and keeping her informed on the political schemes that surrounded her. Employed by the nearby Laird Udny as well, Fleeman may have used his position as a fool to mask his true motives, all while the countess relied on him to navigate a precarious situation.
6. Stanczyk
Stanczyk (1480–1560) was the jester for three Polish kings. Known for his sharp humor at the expense of royal courtiers, he ultimately became a national icon representing both skepticism and wisdom.
In Renaissance art and literature, the jester is often depicted as a sagacious figure struggling to make his king recognize his wisdom. He sees the Polish nobility as a shadow of their former selves, with warriors more concerned with appearances than defense. He also witnesses his fellow countrymen forgetting their tumultuous history and heritage.
The fictional version of Stanczyk has been used in numerous works to criticize the Polish nobility. One of Jan Matejko’s most iconic paintings features Stanczyk, who is shown grieving over the loss of Smolensk while his royal masters dance the night away.
5. Tom Skelton
Muncaster Castle in England still holds an annual competition to crown its jester, but it wasn’t always a cheerful affair. The castle was once home to Tom Skelton, who is believed to have inspired Shakespeare’s fool in King Lear.
In 1825, former newspaper editor John Briggs published a chilling account of Skelton’s life. In addition to his role as a fool, Skelton was also a hired murderer.
When a local knight discovered that the daughter of the castle lord was rejecting his advances in favor of a carpenter’s son, he hired Skelton to handle the matter. Skelton, believing the carpenter’s son had stolen from him, was more than eager to oblige.
Although Skelton was undeniably a real historical figure, the accuracy of this particular tale remains a subject of debate.
4. Jane the Foole
Once a fool in the courts of Anne Boleyn, Princess Mary, and Katherine Parr, Jane the Foole appears in the only surviving family portrait of Henry VIII’s court. While the 1545 painting depicts Jane as part of Henry’s “ideal family,” very little is known about her life.
Court records reveal that Jane received considerable attention from the royal household, which included gifts for her suitors on Valentine’s Day, provisions for her horse, and regular deliveries of food. Every six months, she was supplied with 12 pairs of shoes, and her head was shaved regularly, likely to distinguish her from other ladies of the court.
Mary, known for her exceptionally innocent nature, likely benefited from Jane’s playful nature. Jane is thought to have entertained by telling riddles and singing ballads. Letters from Catherine of Aragon also suggest that Jane’s role extended to improving the young princess’s health through the therapeutic power of laughter.
3. Archy Armstrong
By all accounts, Archy Armstrong possessed the same arrogant demeanor as the very courtiers he mocked. He also took advantage of his role as the king's favorite jester, accepting bribes from those seeking royal access.
Armstrong's career was full of incidents—such as his irreverent remarks to the Archbishop of Canterbury—where he exploited his position to say whatever he pleased. Ultimately, his fate caught up with him when he made a comment about a Scottish rebellion. Strangely, his punishment was simply having his coat pulled over his head and being dismissed from his position.
By the time of his death on April 1, 1646, Armstrong had accumulated enough wealth to live comfortably. However, in his final years, he wrote a scathing condemnation of the archbishop, who eventually met his downfall.
2. Claus Narr
Beginning in the 1480s, Claus Narr embarked on a 50-year journey as a jester across Saxony. A prolific figure in literature, he became the embodiment of the fool who was both wise and innocent.
Even Martin Luther shared tales about him. One German author compiled 627 stories, which were marketed as moral lessons and Christian teachings. Every story about Claus Narr was turned into a life lesson, even one in which he failed to chase away a painted bird, a story that became a warning to guests never to overstay their welcome.
Claus Narr was also known for his supposed ability to foresee the future. When asked whether Martin Luther’s Reformation would succeed, he predicted it would continue but with his own clothes becoming worse. His reputation led to the belief that fools should be seen as creations of God.
1. Sexton
Cardinal Wolsey had long held a delicate position in Henry VIII’s court. When accusations of treason were leveled against him, he turned to his favorite fool in an attempt to regain the king’s favor. Wolsey offered the king Hampton Court Palace and a ‘natural fool’ by the name of Sexton.
Though details about Sexton’s life are scarce, one fact is certain: he was not eager to enter the English court. It took six men to carry the tall and powerful fool from his home to the royal palace.
It’s believed that Sexton might have originally gone by the name ‘Patch.’ According to one tale, the king granted the fool a decree to collect a tax of one egg from every man dissatisfied with his wife. Without missing a beat, the fool replied that it was the king who owed the first egg.
