Schoolchildren can be cruel , picking out the worst parts of your appearance or personality and running away with it. However, what happens when you are royalty and your attributes (such as physical features) becomes the title that your subjects most associate with you. In this article, you will learn about some of the former rulers of France, as well as interesting tidbits of information on the sexually charged Augustus II.
Don’t Pick on These Names”¦
When it comes to funny names”¦consider some of the colorful names associated with former rulers of France, which include Charles the Bald, as well as his grandson named Charles the Simple.
Funny Laws and Rules of the Past
Talk about funny rules and regulations”¦ Catherine the First of Russia enacted a rule that no man could get drunk before 9:00 while attending one of her get-togethers. Another law passed of significance was of Queen Elizabeth I’s doing. She forced her subjects to wear a flat cap on Sundays except for the wealthy. In Russia, it is thought a criminal offence to drive about town in a dirty car.
Interesting Facts Concerning Augustus II
The Elector of Saxony and King of Poland (Augustus II) embraced a rather healthy sexual thirst, as he was known to have fathered hundreds of illegitimate children throughout his life. In addition to leaving behind enough kids to spread his legacy, he also earned a reputation for possessing great physical strength. This is why some text refers to Augustus as “the Strong,” “Iron Hand,” or “the Saxon Hercules.” One of his favorite pastimes was proving this strength, which he accomplished by breaking horseshoes with his bare hands. This apparently was an attribute that ran in the family. One of his ancestors (Cymburgis of Masovia) was also known for her strength.
When it came to titles, Augustus II was known as “Augustus II, by the grace of God, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Livonia, Kyiv, Volhynia, Podolia, Smolensk, Severia, and Chernihiv, and Hereditary Duke and Prince-Elector of Saxony””¦.and so forth. Interestingly, when he died , his heart was buried in Dresden at Hofkirche and his body was entered at Wawel Cathedral in Krakow.
Extreme Religious Beliefs
During the Middle Ages, it was the thought of moral purists that believed that the ears of a woman should be covered up because the Virgin Mary supposedly conceived a child through them.
Cheaters Never Prosper?
While attending Harvard University, Edward Kennedy was actually suspended for cheating on an exam. The subject? Spanish.
Talk About an Un-Winnable War
One time, the Emperor Caligula decided that he wanted to start a war with Poseidon (the Roman God of the sea). He ordered his soldier to travel into to the water and toss their spear into it.