When it comes to kings and queens, their preferences aka love for sins, are frequently overlooked. Not every textbook explains how the Tudor dynasty’s king nearly emptied the bell tower of London’s oldest cathedral, where Nixon got campaign funds, and what Marie Antoinette learnt from her mother.
Since we’re mostly going to touch on the subjest of the Middle Ages, it is fair to point out that the rulers didn’t have the option of TonyBet mobile app download, otherwise they would have lost even more. We dug deep into history to find the few of the most gambling people among the ruling elites of the past.
Henry VIII: Bells of Gambling
Henry VIII was a hot-headed and indecisive ruler. Despite being a devoted gambler himself, he twice deserted the Roman Church, killed two wives, and outlawed gaming institutions. The monarch claimed to be England’s finest gambler, which is somewhat true: he played practically every gambling game available. Cards, dice, and backgammon were the most popular. Lady fortune was not on his side, as his debts grew at a rapid rate.
Some believe that the monarch did not flaunt his rank during the games and even played with commoners. This does not, however, imply that he valued his subjects: frequent jousting games, feasts, and balls devastated peasants. Henry VIII once placed the bells from St. Paul’s Cathedral in the Tower of London and then lost them with a single toss of the dice. The winner, on the other hand, did not have time to enjoy his prize. The bells remained in the cathedral after he was hanged for high treason.
Charles II: From Europe with Passion
Charles II was fifteen years old at the time of the English Revolution. The monarchy was overthrown, the king was assassinated, and a hefty reward was set for his successor’s head. For over eight years, Charles II had to hide in France. The youthful heir to the kingdom found gambling during his exile. Charles II rose to the English throne when the monarchy was restored during the Restoration. He introduced gambling to England, which was legalized throughout the kingdom and quickly became a popular pastime among the nobility.
Louis XIV
Louis XIV was an absolute ruler, and it showed in everything he did, even his gambling addiction. Gambling became a costly habit for the French elite thanks to the “sun king.” Moralists were concerned that they would not supress other forms of amusement, thus cards became the Palace of Versailles’ primary occupation. The royal rooms were open for card gatherings at least three times a week, but the courtiers needed more, so they set up extra meetings. The autocrat and his wife frequently performed as croupiers to amuse the visitors.
Marie Antoinette
Let us stay in Versaillesm but the next half-century. Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI’s wife, was a controversial and fascinating lady. She was a foreigner in France, descended from the Austrian royal dynasty. The courtiers despised Marie Antoinette, and the queen was seeking methods to divert her attention and relax as a result. She spent her time attending balls, hunting, and horse races, but largely she spent her time playing. Marie Antoinette was introduced to cards as a kid by her mother, who was persuaded that without this talent, it was simple to go broke.
The stakes in Vienna were far higher than in Versailles, therefore Marie Antoinette emerged as a daring player. As a result, she quickly became encumbered by gambling debts. To preserve the treasury from his wife’s expenditure, Louis XVI prohibited her from playing. She pleaded with her husband in every way she could to let her play one final time. Persuasion worked on the monarch, and he finally let his wife sit at the card table for the last time. The last game lasted three days.
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