Philos of Cos, tutor of Ptolemy
Philadelphus, was a dwarf, as were Carachus, the friend of
Saladin; Alypius of Alexandria, who was only 2 feet high; Lucinus
Calvus, who was only 3 feet high, and aesop, the famous Greek
fabulist. Later in the Middle Ages and even to the last century
dwarfs were seen at every Court. Lady Montagu describes the
dwarfs at the Viennese Court as "devils bedaubed with diamonds."
They had succeeded the Court Jester and exercised some parts of
this ancient office. At this time the English ladies kept monkeys
for their amusement. The Court dwarfs were allowed unlimited
freedom of speech, and in order to get at truths other men were
afraid to utter one of the Kings of Denmark made one of his
dwarfs Prime Minister.
Charles IX in 1572 had nine dwarfs, of which four had been given
to him by King Sigismund-Augustus of Poland and three by
Maximilian II of Germany. Catherine de Medicis had three couples
of dwarfs at one time, and in 1579 she had still five pygmies,
named Merlin, Mandricart, Pelavine, Rodomont, and Majoski.
Probably the last dwarf in the Court of France was Balthazar
Simon, who died in 1662.
Sometimes many dwarfs were present at great and noble gatherings.
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