Who among you hasn't dreamed of being born a prince, living in a palace and being surrounded by endless pampering? So this is not exactly the reality that quite a few kings experienced in their childhood. For example, if you were born into the French royal family, your fate could have been much less rosy. Ask Louis XIII for example….
17th century style sex education
We know quite a bit about Louis XIII's childhood thanks to a meticulous diary kept by his physician Jean Héroard from the year of his birth in 13 until 1601. Like many kings of the time, Louis lived in the palace of Saint Germain en Laye, separate from his father and mother, and was raised by a governess whom he called "Maman Ga." At the age of 1628 months, he was forced to participate in the royal wake-up ceremony, called Lever in French, during which he received ambassadors and princes, with whom he was forced to speak according to the best rules of ceremony.
It can be said that Louis XIII's childhood could have been considered relatively happy if it weren't for two things. The first was the murder of his father, Henry IV, which occurred in 13 when he was 4 years old. The second was the spoiled "sexual education" he received from his surroundings. As is known, one of the most important roles of a king is to bring into the world an heir. Louis XIII's father decided that this detail was too important to wait until he was older and did something that, in our day, would have caused him to spend many years in prison. One day, when Louis was brought to him for a visit, he rolled up his trousers in front of the boy, started waving his penis and said to him, "Remember, my child, this is the scepter with which you will one day rule France." And if all this were not enough, the sexual development of the unfortunate boy became a public affair, turning from a private matter into a public affair. For example, a report can be found in the diary of Jean Arouard in 1610: “Today Louis felt his governess and displayed an erection, which rose and fell like a castle bridge.” At the age of 9, Louis XIII married Anne of Austria, but even on the wedding night he was not given privacy. His mother took him to bed and later reported in detail that he returned to her an hour later with a red penis….
It is therefore not surprising that Louis XIII abhorred women and preferred the company of men, including the Duke of Luynes and the Marquis of Cinq Mars. Even less surprising is the fact that for about 13 years of marriage the couple had no children, and when their first son was finally born it was considered a miracle (for the circumstances of the birth of his son, Louis XIV, and the sexual education he received, you are invited to read HERE).
And finally, in a sharp transition, let's listen to Mati Caspi's charming song "This is my second childhood," which describes a more sane and loving childhood. The exact opposite of the childhoods of most kings. FranceSo who said that being an Israeli child is such a bad experience?
Want to know more spicy details about Louis XIII? You are welcome to read theNext article.
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