Charles is king of the pack. Anyone can tell that just by looking at him. His golden crown fits snugly atop his head. He wears a royal robe, brilliantly colored and elaborately designed. In his left hand he holds a mighty sword above his head. Though once vast, Charles’ kingdom now numbers only 51. He ruled supreme until an upstart known as ‘Ace’ took charge.
You may know Charles by one of his more familiar nicknames: the King of Hearts. The King of Hearts is named for King Charles I, or Charlemagne, after the great emperor who ruled most of Europe in the 700s. On some cards, his robe is lined with fur to indicate he is first among kings.
In fact, all playing cards that show a person on them have names. These cards are called court cards or face cards. During the 1400s playing cards became very popular in Europe. French manufacturers made more cards than any other nation. It was their idea to name the face cards. They are named for four of the greatest kings in the history of the ancient world.
The King of Spades is David, after the biblical King David. Long ago David ruled the kingdom of Israel. According to the Bible, as a young man David defeated the giant Goliath with a simple slingshot. Once he became king, David captured the city of Jerusalem and made it his capital.
The King of Clubs is named for Alexander the Great. More than two thousand years ago Alexander was king of Macedonia, a country near Greece. He conquered most of the known world before his death at age 33. Look carefully at the King of Clubs and you will usually find a ball-like object, or orb, somewhere in the design. The orb represents the world that Alexander ruled.
All of the kings in a pack of cards are holding swords except for the King of Diamonds. Instead of a sword, he is holding an axe. The King of Diamonds represents Julius Caesar, a general and leader of the mighty Roman Empire. The month of July is named for him. The words ‘kaiser’ and ‘tsar’, both meaning a type of king or great leader of people, come from the word ‘Caesar’.
The ladies of the pack were not overlooked. The Queen of Hearts was known as Judith. Judith lived during biblical times. She was a hero to her people after she killed the leader of an enemy army. Her story was very popular during medieval times, when playing-cards became popular in Europe. Another popular figure was Rachel, biblical wife of Jacob. People loved this couple’s romantic love story. The Queen of Diamonds is named for her.
The Queen of Clubs was a mystery figure named Argine. No one knows who Argine was. Some think her name is a word puzzle, for if you rearrange the letters they spell regina, which is the Latin word for ‘queen’. The Queen of Spades is called Pallas after the Greek goddess of war. Sometimes called Athena, she appears in Greek stories fighting bravely alongside her generals, giving them wise advice and leading by example. She was one of the most popular gods in the ancient Greek religion.
No royal court is without its servants. In ancient times the king’s man was called a knave. Knave could mean anything from a young servant boy, to a soldier, to a prince. Sometimes it even meant scoundrel or villain. In a deck of cards, ‘knaves’ are now known as ‘jacks’. Charlemagne’s knave, the Jack of Hearts, was known as La Hire. La Hire was a French soldier who lived during Charlemagne’s time. He served with the French heroine Joan of Arc when she led her people in war against the English. He was known for his heroic exploits. The Jack of Hearts carries a battle axe as his weapon. Charlemagne’s cousin Ogier is more familiar to us as the Jack of Spades. Ogier was known for his skills with a sword, as shown on his card. The Jacks of Hearts and Spades are the only two face cards that are shown in profile. They are looking to the side and we only see half of their faces. For this reason they are sometimes called the ‘one-eyed jacks’.
The Jack of Diamonds was once known as Roland, a member of Charlemagne’s court. Later this card was renamed Hector. Some think it was named for Hector of Troy, a mighty warrior of that ancient kingdom. Others think he was Ector, another noble figure and half-brother to Lancelot of the King Arthur legend. Speaking of Lancelot, he was the Jack of Clubs. According to legend, Lancelot was a skilled archer. This is why the Jack of Clubs carries an arrow.
Named court cards gradually faded in popularity. Today they are known simply as kings, queens and jacks. But if you know where to look, you can dig deeper into the secrets of the pack. Grab a deck and pull out the face cards. Look hard for clues to their identity. Orbs, arrows and swords are more than fancy decorations. They are hints to what’s in the cards.
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