The History of the Medieval Jester

Jesters held a special place in medieval history. They were considered "insiders" in the court, chosen for their sense of humor or sense of the absurd to provide entertainment for their king and other royalty. Because jesters were given leeway to say anything in "jest," they sometimes were the only members of the court able to voice an honest opinion about local situations.

Varied beginnings

Jesters might come from any walk of life, but often were young members of poor rural families who were known as the "class clowns" in their community. The king or members of his court might stumble across these funny guys in their travels and recruit them to work for the king. Sometimes a future jester, with his nonsensical ways, was a burden to his family, who gladly sent him off to live in the royal palace. Some were women, some were recruited as children, and some were dwarfs or hunchbacks--people with physical anomalies that added to their "humorous" appearance.

Jokesters

Often, jesters had acting or musical skills, and sometimes they were also trained in gymnastics. They wore colorful costumes and entertained royalty by dancing, juggling, singing, and performing acrobatics. Their bottom line was always humor. Jesters would do anything, and were allowed to do anything, to make their monarchs laugh.

Confidants

Jesters were sometimes trusted confidants of the king. While others in the court fawned over the king and flattered him, the jester was encouraged to speak the truth. Because of the jester's lower social status, he would not pose a threat to the king's power. And because he was not part of the political intrigue of the court--and was considered a fool--a king might feel it was safe to confide in a jester.

Advocates

Because most jesters came from the common people rather than from royalty, they often were sympathetic to the plight of the king's subjects. Through using wit, jesters were sometimes able to persuade a king to take actions to help his subjects. This gave some jesters the status of folk heroes in their local communities.

Superstars

Some jesters were "household names" in their day, the equivalent of popular TV comedians. Their jokes would be shared and repeated around the kingdom. They lived in the luxury of the palace, dining with the king and frequently receiving gifts from the queen or visiting dignitaries. But their lives could also be perilous. Jesters were allowed to insult royalty as part of their acts, but had to tread a careful line. Although many kings were fiercely loyal to their jesters, occasionally jesters were banished, or even executed, for crossing the line and offending the king with their jibes.

References

• Medieval European Jesters & Fools
• Fools Are Everywhere
• Fools & Jesters at the English Court; John Southworth; 2003