“History in the Court Cards” game

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 10 May 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Sentient	10 May 2005
I was recently looking up some historical information on the web, and thought of an idea for a new game. If it’s not a new game, I hope someone will tell me (I apologize in advance if this is the case). The goal is to come up with one historical (not literary) figure that you feel best exemplifies one of the Rider-Waite (or similar decks’) court cards. Give a one or two sentence biography, and then list a few of the significant elements of that person’s life that you feel really captures the meaning of card you chose. Because most lives have a number of court card aspects, try and pick a figure that you feel is a good archetype for the card in question. Others should feel free to ask questions or contribute relevant facts about that person’s life, and debate whether the personage chosen really matches the card. Ideally we’ll have an opportunity to learn a little more about both the Tarot and history. After a suitable number of posts, the thread originator should encourage someone who would like to try their hand at it to start a new thread. That’s it. Would love to hear any feedback – positive or negative. If someone would like, they can start things off. Or, if people would like, I have someone in mind. Cheers, Sentient

Inana	19 May 2005
I'm just bumping this thread cause i think it's a good idea for a game. But it's no easy since real people are very mixed... I will try to think about some historical figures and see what courts can fit them. Hey, Sentient! Why don't you start yourself?

Semiramis	21 May 2005
Okay, I'll bite.. Napoleon... King of Wands Rx

Sentient	21 May 2005
Semiramis - very interesting choice. Why don't you tell us why you feel Napoleon exemplifies the King of Wands [r]?

Inana	25 May 2005
Seramis, good suggestion! Jeanne d'Arc - Knight of Cups This card suits mainly because of her idealism and actions, and also for her strong religiosity. Anyway, really hard to chose only a card, since each person has a lot of different aspects.

squeakmo9	30 May 2005
Queen of Cups for Princess Diana. This is someone who seemed highly emotional. Looking for love in all the wrong places, finding it and becoming disillusioned in the process.

Emeraldgirl	31 May 2005
Eleanor of Aquatine - Queen of Wands when young and I think she grew into a Queen of Pentacles. She was a woman who ruled and ruled well but towards the end of her life all she wanted was to settle and enjoy the fruits of her labours having outlived 2 husbands (King Louis of France [not sure which one] & King Henry II of England) and most of her children (including Richard I of England). She was a true warrior queen on behalf of her family and herself.

Emeraldgirl	31 May 2005
Queen Victoria of England - Queen of Swords she just seems so cold and critical and practical.

Emeraldgirl	31 May 2005
Emperor Nero - King Cups Rx his emotions all out of control with terrible results.

Fudugazi	31 May 2005
Napoleon - King of Wands Upright. Because he was autocratic, but an excellent general, a unifier, someone whose men and officers were ready to die for (this was amply shown during the 100 days with his huge army of volunteers), and someone who claimed to bring the ideals of the Revolution to the rest of Europe. The fact the populations of the rest of Europe liked the Revolution but were not 100% about Napoleon (and much less about his troops!) was one of the King of Wands' side-effects (collateral damage...). He overreached himself (should not have touched Russia), but the fact remains that Europe would never have moved politically without his brazen personality and actions. He effectively forced the patricians to modernise and give up a lot of power - and opened the era of fight for democratic rights and for unity in most countries of the continent. So, I don't think reversed at all! (except once he was defeated and kicking his heels in St Helena)

Emeraldgirl	03 Jun 2005
Jim Morrison - Knight of Cups. Poetic and emotional and he couldn't keep it in his pants so maybe he was a bit Knight of Cup Rx as well })

Emeraldgirl	03 Jun 2005
Marie Antoinette - Queen Pentacles. She was an eartyh mother as much as she was allowed. She also had a much documented love of the finer things in life.

Inana	03 Jun 2005
Emeraldgirl wrote: Jim Morrison - Knight of Cups. Poetic and emotional and he couldn't keep it in his pants so maybe he was a bit Knight of Cup Rx as well }) Totally agree on this one!! Reversed becasue all the addictions with drugs and alcohol too...

wizzle	05 Jun 2005
I love history and this is a great game. King of Pentacles - Peter the Great of Russia Because he was a down to earth guy who just happened to be born a king. He used his position to drag his rather backward compatriots into the 18th century. He got down to such rudimentary items as making them shave off their beards and hop into the clothing of the rest of western Europe. But most of all, he introduced such practical matters as shipbuilding, modern agriculture, etc. into Russia. And he was so modest as to never build a grand palace for himself and wed a pretty common gal. Knight of Wands Charles X (I think) of Sweden. He was Peter's great opponent and a wonderful character in his own right. He loved war but didn't do a heck of a lot for Sweden which is why I rate him a Knight rather than the king he was. He "won" at least one battle by walking up to the gate of his opponent's castle and they surrendered. After numerous contests with Peter, he finally lost. For those who are interested, Peter's life is most entertainingly recounted in Raymond Massie's book "Peter the Great." IMHO Massie is currently the best biographer around.

wizzle	05 Jun 2005
I nominate the last Czar of Russia, Nicolas as the King of Cups. Nice guy, but totally inept when it came to power politics. He is about as wishy washy as you can be in general. And, perhaps more importantly, he let his monarchy get a bad name due to the influence....or perceived influence....of that notorious mystic, Rasputin. Another Knight of Wands type for me is Alexander the Great. He could have been a king if he ever settled down, but he always wanted to conquer something new. I guess, then, that Julius Ceasar has to be the King of Wands. A brilliant tactitian but with a politcal Achilles heal.

rcb30872	06 Jun 2005
Nostradamus - Queen of Swords OK, I know that he is not female, but that doesn't matter does it!! To me he has written the quatrains partly because he didn't like what he saw and that he felt disappointed that is ideal of a better, fairer and more civilized way for the human race to evolve was not apparent in his visions. Also, to me the Queen of Swords, reminds me of Aquarius, and to me that means that the person is ahead of their time!! Bec

rcb30872	06 Jun 2005
I could be totally wrong, but Hugh Grant and the Queen of Pentacles. I was thinking about the time that he got caught in the car with the prostiute!!!!

Emeraldgirl	07 Jun 2005
Stephen I of England as King of cups. He was too soft and emotional for his time. He also couldn't stand firm on anything to save himself.

The “History in the Court Cards” game thread was originally posted on 10 May 2005 in the Tarot Games & Fun board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Games & Fun, or read more archived threads.