How historical figures became the faces of modern playing cards
In short: The standard deck of cards we use today has surprising origins. This video explores how early French royal cards were modeled after real historical figures, including Caesar and Alexander the Great.
The development of the modern playing card deck contains unexpected historical connections. In early French decks, the 'royal' cards were not merely generic figures but were modeled after actual historical people. This video examines how these cards served as a reflection of historical figures, such as David, Caesar, Alexander, and Charlemagne.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: David, Caesar, Alexander and Charlemagne: The Playing Card Kings
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