What was It Actually Like to Be a Court Jester in Medieval Times?

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Although you might assume that being made to wear a stupid costume, be mocked, and act like an idiot for the entertainment of fatuous rulers would be a job nobody would want- like the position of Groom of the Stool (a job which initially consisted of directly supplying the necessaries to facilitate a good and clean bowel movement to the King, as well as to monitor said fecal matter and make dietary recommendations based on what you saw there)- the position of court jester was actually an enviable one due to it involving spending so much time with those in power. And as you were often putting them in good humor and otherwise making them happy, it was a position that came with a whole slew of perks. So what was life actually like as a court jester?

Sources:

[AkireraStraberri]

"How do you want to die?"

"Old age"

Best answer ever.

[Nick.Elliott]

"Good Sire, they are revolting!"
"Whom? The peasants?"
"Nay, your wife's teeth me Lord!"

[depressedweeb]

"I choose to die from old age."
_Medieval problems require medieval solutions._

[Cozmk]

Comedians: Ima insult myself for laughs
Jesters: Ima insult my kingdom for death

[shaneelhinds]

The part where the jester told the king I wanted to die of old age 😭 and the king just banished him 💀 just imagine the king looking at the queen like baby my guy really is funny

[billtafalla]

Licensed Fool. Oh I really like the sound of that

[netherlillyarts]

Being a jester only to become the kings most trusted advisor and throwing milk in someone's face and not being yelled at for it seems like a dream job hahaha

[TheMuseSway]

So court Jesters basically had to have balls of steel, wit, and good luck.

[grumpycentaur]

Imagine making a joke so good people talk about it hundreds of years later.

[petalpockets]

Hot take: Medieval humor is basically internet humor but with fancier language

[GoldKitsuneBrony]

Fool: I choose to die of old age.
King: ...I'll allow it.

[Whitelightnin]

Imagine getting to live with royalty because of your quality shitposting

[shesaknitter]

I have a cartoon with two court jesters hanging in chains in the castle dungeon. The one says to the other: "Everything was going great until I mentioned the queen's mustache."

[HandlingYou]

“At least the pay is good”

“Well if I tell a bad joke they take a huge cut.”

“Out of your paycheck?”

“No, out of my neck”

[WhatsYourGhostStory]

I could easily see a "Game of Thrones" or "The Great" style series, focused entirely on the fools/jesters. It'd be a blast to watch or write for and a dream acting role for whomever got the main roles.

[caseyhullfish]

oh, to be a court jester in medieval times, getting paid to act like a fool instead of getting kicked out of wendy's

[Golden_Flute]

Lady: "I don't like the fool sitting on my right side."

Fool: *switches sides* "I don't mind at all."
Brutally fantastic. Lol!

[kan]

On the thumbnail is "Stańczyk" a painting that shows the court Jester after hearing that the city theyre in ( Smolensk) is going to be besieged by russian army .. he told this to the King who didnt believe him so he sits in a alone room deep in thought while the rest of the nobles party after capturing the city

[lektik]

"Alright, I'm going to need you to come back once a year and fart in my house."

[technocore]

A Jester unemployed, is nobody's fool.