Cards History. Part 4

Although in some packs Alexander of Macedon changed Jules Caesar in Hearts. In other cases this king became the hairy Esau, Constantine, Charles I, Victor Hugo or Boulanger, French military man and politician. It should be noted that Boulanger`s portrait was present on cards only till his suicide in 1891. The most popular image of the spades belonged to Charlemagne, who managed to fight all less famous competitors.

The king-superman who had become immortal during his life ruled Europe almost half a century. Contemporary image retains his traits unchanged: wise knight in ermine cloak (symbol of wealth). He has a sword (a hatchet) in his hand - symbol of courage and power.

Initially the image of David was decorated with a harp to remind about the king`s talent in music. Nowadays, only French cards retained this detail. In the times of Napoleon wars the king of spades acquired the appearance of Napoleon in France and the duke of Wellington in Prussia. Later David took his usual place among the monarchs.

Jules Caesar has never been a king, though he is called a king of Rome in French legends and "father of Christianity" in spite of the fact that he died in the year of 44 B.C. He was painted in profile; furthermore on some ancient Italian and French cards he stretched the hand as if he had wanted to grab something. This means traditionally people identified him with money and wealth. Stretched hand exists at the present time. In France the king of diamonds is called sometimes Caesar.

Alexander of Macedon (the king idealized in the Medieval Age and the Renaissance) is the only monarch with a symbol of monarchy in his hand. Such a detail can be seen on modern cards as well as on ancient cards of clubs. But it was stylized and is hardly recognized now. The king`s appearance was also the subject of great changes: black-skinned hero with sharp eyes and fine head of hair turned into pale creature with sensitive lips, styled beard and neatly moustache. Nevertheless, this is Alexander the Great.

Queens from the pack have nothing in common with real dames of Charlemagne or other historic characters. Helen of Troy became the first queen of hearts. Saint Helen (Constantine the Great`s mother), Dido who founded Carthage, Joan of Arc, Elisabeth I, Roxana, Rachel and Fausta have also been in this role. But Judith, the heroine of biblical legend, survived them all. Starting from Medieval Ages when apocryphal writings were immensely popular, the image Judith is present in the packs. In the majority of Latin countries the queen of spades exists in the image of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and war (or in the image of Minerva). Teutons and Scandinavians preferred their own mythical characters embodying war. In France Joan of Arc or Bathsheba became the queen of spades. But neither former nor latter managed to win players` love.