Video: Thumb-boy: a court dwarf who went from jester to captain of the cavalry
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
Several centuries ago it was very popular to keep dwarfs at royal courts. Due to their non-standard stature, people of short stature amused the monarchs and aristocrats. Some of them managed to leave their mark on history. For example, the dwarf of Queen Henrietta Mary Jeffrey Hudson with a height of just over a meter, he was named the smallest man in England. Many trials fell to his lot, ranging from the role of the court jester and the queen's favorite, and ending with complete poverty.
Jeffrey Hudson (Jeffrey hudson) was born into a butcher family. When he was only seven years old, the boy was brought to the Duchess of Buckingham and presented as a "wonder of nature." Surprisingly, with an exceptionally small stature (45 cm), the body of the dwarf was very proportional.
Soon, the Duchess hosted a dinner party, which was attended by King Charles I of England and his wife Henrientta Maria of France. The hostess decided to surprise the distinguished guests. In the midst of the holiday, a huge cake was served to the king and queen, from which a little man, dressed in tiny knightly armor, jumped out. Henrientta Maria liked Jeffrey Hudson so much that she decided to take him with her to the royal palace. The Duchess of Buckingham was only happy to serve and gave the boy away.
Usually at royal courts, dwarfs were treated like pets. Jeffrey was quite calm about the ridicule and mockery of the courtiers. In addition, he managed to gain the Queen's trust and carry out her assignments. They called him "Lord Minimus."
In 1630, while pregnant, Henrietta Maria sent the dwarf as part of the embassy to France to bring a midwife from there. On the way back, the ship was captured by the Dunker pirates, who were robbing English ships. Geoffrey had to pay off and pay 2,5 thousand francs.
The energetic dwarf distinguished himself during the War of the Three Kingdoms in the 1640s, when England, Scotland and Ireland were in conflict. Jeffrey Hudson was appointed captain of the cavalry. In general, the people around made fun of the little man on horseback, but he took his service very seriously.
When the queen was forced to leave England and go to France, Geoffrey followed her. He no longer wanted to put up with the position of court jester, so everyone introduced himself as "Captain Geoffrey Hudson", which, however, amused those around him even more.
In 1644, one of the Crofts courtiers, with his ridicule, drove the dwarf to the point that he challenged the man to a duel. Crofts thought it was another joke, and came to the duel, taking an enema bag instead of a pistol. Jeffrey shot the insolent man.
Dueling at that time was forbidden at the royal court, and the reprisal against the courtier was considered an Englishman's disrespect for French hospitality. The dwarf was threatened with prison, but Henrietta Maria managed to mitigate the punishment for her pet: he had to leave Paris.
But the adventures of a small but proud man did not end there. The ship on which he sailed was captured by Turkish pirates. The dwarf was sold into slavery in North Africa, where he stayed for 25 years. It is not known how exactly he managed to free himself, but in 1669 Geoffrey Hudson reappeared in England. The Duke of Buckingham gave him financial aid. The dwarf refused to return to the court again.
In 1676, when the persecution of Catholics began, the dwarf was sent to prison, where he spent four years. After his release, Hudson found himself in complete poverty. The dwarf died in 1682.
The story of another dwarf is no less interesting. Charles Sherwood Stratton was a world-class star in the 19th century, but his growth at 4 years remained the same as at 6 months.
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