Jesters played an important role in entertaining royal courts throughout Europe from the Middle Ages through the Renaissance — but their lives weren't always fun and games.
Historically, royal courts were made up of the lords, ladies, clergymen, bodyguards, and other nobility who attended kings and queens. However, there were other members of a monarch’s household who played an equally important role: jesters.
Court jesters entertained royals and their guests in various ways. From slapstick humor to philosophical conversations, these fools were multi-talented — and they were often rewarded handsomely for their dedicated service.
But of all the jesters throughout history, there are a few whose comedic exploits were so renowned that their names have gone down in the annals of comedy.
From Triboulet to Archy Armstrong, these are the most famous jesters of all time.
Roland The Farter, The Medieval Flatulist Of King Henry II
Public DomainFarting has been used for comedic effect since at least the 12th century.
Little is known about Roulandus le Fartere — also known as Roland the Farter — other than that he was certainly a real person, most likely worked as a jester for King Henry II of England, and received a hefty payment for his comedic services.
As author Valerie Allen detailed in her book On Farting: Language and Laughter in the Middle Ages, Roland the Farter provided entertainment for the English king Henry II. He likely worked for the monarch year-round, but his services were particularly in demand during the Christmas season.
It was during the winter holidays each year that Roland would perform his most famous feat: “unum saltum et siffletum et unum bumbulum” — a jump, a whistle, and a fart. The king and his honored guests found the jester’s routine so humorous that Henry rewarded Roland with a manor and 30 acres in Suffolk in 1159.
Roland’s lands were technically awarded to him as a “serjeanty,” meaning the gift was conditional upon him providing a specific service to the monarch. The unfortunate side of this was that if the king — or the king’s predecessor — decided that Roland was no longer upholding his end of the bargain, his manor could be taken from him.
However, Roland the Farter was so talented when it came to his specific skill set that he seems to have escaped this particular fate. Records show that after the fool’s death, Hemingstone Manor passed to his son, Hubert, and later on to his grandson, Jeffery.
As such, the flatulent jester certainly left behind an impressive legacy.
Triboulet, The Court Jester Whose Wit Saved His Life
Walker Art Library/Alamy Stock PhotoTriboulet was one of the most beloved court jesters of all time — until he slapped the King of France on the rear.
Triboulet was a jester known for his wit. Unfortunately, he may have been too witty for his own good.
Triboulet worked primarily for King Francis I of France during the early 16th century, and he sought to find humor in almost any situation. As a result, he had a tendency to take his jokes too far.
One tale about Triboulet’s time at court details his encounter with an aggressive nobleman. The jester was allegedly pestering the man so much that he threatened to beat Triboulet to death. The fool frantically told the king, who reassured him that the nobleman would be hanged within 15 minutes if he tried to harm him.
“Ah, Sir!” Triboulet replied. “Couldn’t you contrive to hang him a quarter of an hour previously?”
Triboulet’s sharp wit, however, nearly cost him his head when he slapped the king on his backside in front of a room full of courtiers. Francis offered him an out, however, if he could come up with an apology more offensive than the spanking.
“I’m so sorry, Your Majesty, that I didn’t recognize you!” Triboulet reportedly said. “I mistook you for the Queen!”
And on yet another occasion, after Triboulet had once again offended the king, Francis decided to mercifully allow the jester to choose the manner of his death. “Good sire,” Triboulet responded, “I choose to die from old age.”
The king found Triboulet’s answer so humorous that, in the end, he decided not to have him executed after all. He did still banish the jester, however, and Triboulet indeed died of old age in the French countryside.
