Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
27 Mar 2004 12:36 PST
Hello bugbear-ga,
Nice to see you here, as always.
The story of Charles VIII and his extra toe (or perhaps, toes, as some
believe he had six toes on each foot) is widely repeated, and even
makes its way into an edition of George Eliot's novel, "Romola".
However, I could find no confirmation of this, and none of the formal
(e.g. encyclopedia) entries on Charles VIII make mention of his feet,
one way or the other.
I'm more inclined to think the real polydactyl was another 16th
century European monarch, as cited in this excerpt from the travel
journals of one Leo of Rozmital:
The Travels of Leo of Rozmital through Germany, Flanders England,
France Spain, Portugal and Italy, 1465-1467.
Malcolm Letts
University Press.
Cambridge,England, 1957
-----
Canta la Piedra is six miles from Medina del Campo...Four miles away
is a village beyond which is built a hut inhabited by a hermit. He is
said to be that king of Poland who was believed to have been killed by
the heathen, but I cannot confirm this.
...we set out for him, having first been warned that his hut was in
the woods and that if he saw us some way off he would at once go into
hiding...When we arrived at the hut the hermit came out to meet my
lord.
...There was then with us a certain Polish traveller who had
accompanied us...He desired my lord to ask the hermit to uncover his
feet, saying that if he had six toes on both feet he would be
established for certain as the king of Poland who had been defeated by
the barbarians. My lord made the request to the hermit, who for a long
time refused, but at last, persuaded by my lord's requests, he took
off his shoes. Then the Pole, seeing that he had six toes on his feet,
approached him and falling on his knees embraced the foot, exclaiming:
'You are our master and king who was overthrown by the heathen.' He
replying said: 'I am amazed that you should kneel to me and embrace my
feet, for you cannot be ignorant that I am unworthy of such honour. I
am a man guilty of many sins, whicn I have decided to expiate, if
Almighty God grants that I may continue in this purpose.' Having said
this, he withdrew weeping into his hut.
...When we had departed, the Pole said to my lord: 'You may know
certainly that the appearance and the sign which you saw on his feet
proclaim for certain that he is king of Poland. For I remember these
things from my earliest boyhood.'
-----
It seems unlikely that this Polish king could have influenced 16th
century shoe fashions, but who knows. Perhaps his condition gave a
toehold (Aaaargh!) to the story of the king with excess toes.
Let me know what you think.
