Who Were Jesters?
Who were the colourful characters that entertained at palace parties and were adorned with motley costumes? Jesters have a rich history dating back to ancient times in Egypt, Rome, China, Russia, and throughout all of the Medieval period, but who exactly were they?
From the royal court to the crown’s personal jester to modern times, the jester is a trickster and fool who performed, entertained, and juggled for their keep. The poor jester was not always liked however, when a joke went too far or they poked fun at the wrong person, they sometimes found themselves out on the streets.
For those Medieval jesters who found themselves in a more luxurious position however, they did more than just tumbling and pantomimes. Some jesters even found themselves with the ear of the reigning king or queen, weighing in on important matters. Even in literature such as King Lear, the jester is seen to have an influential role in key decisions made in the royal courts.
Male & Female Jesters
Professional fools weren’t only men, female jesters also had their moment in the spotlight in the royal household and throughout the Middle Ages. When it comes to the Medieval jester, there was no set description for how these natural fools portrayed themselves.
Daniel Mytens | Hudson in the woods (circa 1627–30)
Famous Jesters
William Sommers, Jeffrey Hudson, and Samuel Johnson, there are some professional jesters that stand the test of time. From comic actors causing offense to royal jesters being the only ones to deliver bad news, there is a reason history remembers these famous jesters.
Types of Jesters
From the traveling fool to the royal court jester, history shows that the role of the jester was remarkably diverse. While we all imagine a jester with a fool’s hat who told jokes and juggled, there is more than one type of jester shown throughout history.
