Who Are The Face Cards? - A History of the Court Cards

Did you know that the Jack of Spades is meant to be Lancelot? Did you know that original idea for royal cards came from Egypt? Join me down the rabbit hole and discover the unusual history of Face Cards!
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By Christopher Cannucciari
www.cannucciari.com
www.dynmcrange.com
All Rights: Dynamic Range 2021
0:00 Exciting Intro
0:22 How did the Face Cards get so basic?
1:52 The Oldest deck of Cards
3:48 The First Picture Cards
5:07 The Royals on the Face Cards
5:35 Kings
6:17 Queens
7:52 Jacks
9:20 Suicide King
10:19 You are great!

[@averyross3341]

I don't know how you don't have more subscribers. Just discovered your content (and got into cards) and it's super interesting. Please keep it coming!

[@Play-In-Games]

Thanks! Cards are magical. I believe in quality over click bait, and I think quality videos will endure like the great card games. Thanks for being early to the channel!

[@averyross3341]

@@Play-In-Games Anytime! Can I ask you a quick question? I'm super interested in your Italian deck videos, but have no idea where I can get one (or which I should order online if need be, I'm Canadian) do you have like a brand or something you recommend?

[@Play-In-Games]

@@averyross3341 Hello. The two major makers of Italian cards are Modiano and Dal Negro. The simplest place to find these decks (if you're outside of Italy) is on Amazon. It's really difficult to find them elsewhere, especially the rarer regions, trust me. The most popular regional types are Piacentine and Napolitano and my favorite, Siciliane. I'll be uploading reviews of each very soon. Good luck and thanks for watching!

[@averyross3341]

@@Play-In-Games Snagged myself a deck of Napoletane cards! Thanks! I'll be sure to watch your videos and learn how to use them!

[@ecraines]

I recently went to Minori to visit relatives and one of my elders knew how to play briscola. I was so happy to be able to play with him. Thank you for telling everyone about it in your other video. This is really educational and I really appreciate it.

[@Play-In-Games]

Amazing! I’m so glad to hear they generations are still coming together over these games! Thanks for watching.

[@ttwedell]

So Judith, The Queen of Hearts, is famous for beheading? I have to believe there's where Lewis Carroll got the inspiration to make his Queen of Hearts famous for the same violent act. "OFF with their heads!" Great video, really enjoyed the info and humor!

[@Play-In-Games]

Oh wow, what a great observation, I wish I had thought of that!

[@Grayson_Phoenix]

Except that Judith's NAME is on the Q of DIAMONDS card... [ 7:05 ] . . . O_O .. and Rachel's name is on the Q of HEARTS card... [ 7:22 ] . . . -_-'

[@iammraat3059]

​@@Grayson_Phoenix?

[@abfall8619]

Regina is a Catholic name for Mary, who is Queen of Heaven (Ref: song: Ave Regina). If they used Rachel and Judith from the Bible, it may be that Regina is referencing Mary, Queen of Heaven. Just something that made me go...Hmmm?

[@Play-In-Games]

Interesting theory, I suppose we’d have to know the French publishers views on Catholicism 🤔. Either way it’s too bad they weren’t more explicit so we’d have a concrete figure rather than an anagram. The mystery continues… Thanks for watching!

[@AndrewPepperstone]

I enjoy your dry wit and humorous throw away lines. And learning about playing cards!

[@Play-In-Games]

Thanks so much!

[@elijahgodbout678]

Truly enjoyed the break down. A bit funny and excellent historical backdrop for what is now, or rather has been for centuries, a classic staple

[@Play-In-Games]

Thank you!

[@andamaria]

I’m loving these videos! You are brilliant! 🤗

[@Play-In-Games]

Thank you, much appreciated!

[@DivineBunch]

every friend group needs this guy 😂🙌

[@lametafisicaconariyana2185]

Finally! More info on this topic😊 Thank you 👍

[@Play-In-Games]

You’re welcome!

[@cophater298]

great video love all the historical pictures

[@timothyeldridge6822]

I loved this video! Thanks for sharing!

[@Play-In-Games]

Thank you, I really appreciated it!

[@GooberGaryy]

Great video! Shout out to the during team, the video looked great!

[@christinecardoza7253]

Great video. Loved the dry humor 😎😻💃♠️♦️♣️❤️

[@Play-In-Games]

Thank you 🙏

[@julionovais6225]

That was awesome! Thank you very much for your work!

[@Play-In-Games]

Thanks for watching!

[@nashiki4792]

Very instructive video 😊

[@jacklinscott8865]

I'm reading a book by Brad Meltzer, titled "The Fifth Assassin", which delves into a very similar history of playing cards. That is what prompted me to find your interesting video. Previously, i had never given much thought to the topic. I find it all very interesting. Thank you!!

[@Play-In-Games]

Thanks for watching and the recommendation too!

[@melodysmith696]

So interesting! And entertaining!

[@Play-In-Games]

Thank you!

[@heatherrocchi6232]

Lovely video, thank you! The pattern we looked at today is an Anglo-American "standard," loosely meaning the pattern was official and got a tax stamp. It comes from Rouen, France, likely early or middle XVI century. Rouen manufacturers made another pattern at the same time, but unlike the cards used by the market they exported to, had the names discussed printed on them (just as the "Paris pattern" does today).

[@Play-In-Games]

Thanks for the nice comment and thanks for sharing what you know!

[@akstotia9192]

this video is underrated, editing, riset you put in here is amazing broo

[@Play-In-Games]

Thank you 🙏

[@sampawlvtodap3168]

Great job

[@belindadelorenzo7602]

Very interesting! Thank you!

[@Play-In-Games]

Your welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@MStefano]

This warranted many a chuckle, haha

[@Play-In-Games]

👍

[@bluesdudebassist]

Fantastic video, thank you so much. I watched your videos on Scopa and purchased a Neapolitan deck. I never realised til then that “spades” comes from “spade” (Italian for swords)!

[@Play-In-Games]

Thanks so much for the nice compliment! Yes, there really is so much history wrapped up in playing cards.

[@stefanofrazzi2799]

Interesting video

[@thomasfed1]

Nice video. All red face cards look left (viewer side) & all black face cards look right except king & queen of clubs.

[@junker154]

Mario and Mohammed wouldn't be able to play the same game 😂 love these

[@Play-In-Games]

Never underestimate the power of a good alliteration! Thanks for watching!

[@Amfortas]

Islamic laws on depicting the Prophet were a lot looser before the Wahabists took over and went schizo

[@jasonbuffington5304]

Lol 🤣 show you right!

[@card-addiction8353]

Great Video!

[@Play-In-Games]

Thank you!

[@leon.s.kennedy8295]

Thx alot,

[@drohegda]

Fantastic video im a new subscriber glad i came across your channel it look great a lot of videos to catch up on, Excelent

[@Play-In-Games]

Welcome to the channel! Thanks so much for the kind words and for watching!

[@brrien1692]

wow best research i found so far

[@Play-In-Games]

Thank you!

[@trevonrondel]

Very awesome video. hi from the Caribbean

[@Play-In-Games]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@kirilvelinov7774]

Girl groups like Little Mix are also split into corresponding suits:Jade(clubs),Leigh Anne(spades),Perrie(diamonds) and Jesy(hearts)

[@getgreased5064]

Great video you deserve more subscribers

[@Play-In-Games]

Thank you!

[@asmrjackunboxinggames4328]

I'm your 100th subscriber

[@Play-In-Games]

Thank you!!!

[@warwagontppowercarrestorat1456]

good video

[@user-fu7mu2bs5y]

I don’t think anyone specific person can be attributed to the king queen and Jack, because they are more so archetypal functions of cosmos then a person

[@kirilvelinov7774]

Pussycat Dolls has Nicole(stars),Carmit(spades),Jessica(diamonds),Melody(clubs),Ashley(hearts) and Kimberly(moons)

[@kirilvelinov7774]

I used 2NE1 members for queens Spade:CL Heart:Bom Diam:Dara Club:Minzy

[@JohnPaul-wt8ik]

Top notchhhhhh

[@Play-In-Games]

Grazie!

[@perrykynaston4373]

Any idea why 2 of the jacks, Hearts and Spades, are looking sideways- "one-eyed Jacks" whereas the other 2 look forward?

[@warwagontppowercarrestorat1456]

Are you going to make any more videos?

[@Play-In-Games]

Yes! I’m working on the next batch now. Thanks for watching!

[@SmokeTemple]

in old european card games the joker is often worth more than the king

[@Play-In-Games]

Very interesting. I've been planing on doing a video about him. Thanks for the lead!

[@kirilvelinov7774]

TXT playing cards Five suits:Huening Kai(hearts),Soobin(clubs),Beomgyu(diamonds),Yeonjun(spades) and Taehyun(pentacles)

[@HUNRockman35]

5:39 The other possible choice is Charles VII French King.

[@Play-In-Games]

Nice, that makes a lot of sense given the time period. Thanks!

[@EinonvanTassel]

7:36 No qualms? I heard he was pretty mad about it 🤣 The unfortunate fool got tricked by her dad into working for him for 7 years only to hear "Oh you meant THAT daughter. You can marry her too if you work another 7 years."

[@Grayson_Phoenix]

Hello! Great vid, thanks. I came here off the back of some "cartomancy" vid, explaining the Ace of Clubs, and I was curious to hear about the Face cards, the "Court" cards. I really enjoyed your video, including your touch of humour (yes, British). ;] PLEASE may I clarify something... 6:38 - So the Queens were .. Judith [Diamonds shown] and Rachel [Hearts shown], both from the Bible ... 6:42 - That's Diamonds and Hearts, respectively . . . .. but .. 7:05 - And who is Judith? [_Hearts_ shown, Judith's name on the card] 7:22 - Rachel's story .. [_Diamonds_ shown, Rachel's name on the card] isn't nearly as exciting. I will presume that the cards shown WITH names on them .. are the "right" cards? Are they the historic ones? OR is that just the result of some simple image editing, for the convenience of the viewers? :) Ultimately, then, which way around is it "supposed" to be, please? :D Thanks v much! I will be looking forward to more of your work.

[@Play-In-Games]

Hey, thanks for the nice words! It’s been a while but I think the cards you are referencing are in fact historically labeled, at least I don’t think I have that font for labeling them as much as I’d like to claim the photoshop wizardry.

[@benjaminwoodman]

I love your dry humor dude. 😂 and I love this kind of history. As someone who grew up during the rise of video games (ps1 era-present) and a big part of the boom was Japanese/Foreign games and American games were all sharing their games world wide and we got an awesome melting pot of ideas. I’m a Christian but just because someone of a different faith made a particular game does not mean I cannot enjoy that game. As long as it’s not blasphemous or outright shows favor to another religion. Imagine if they had that mentality

[@Play-In-Games]

Thank you! KZbin has been such a great way for us all to learn from one another. I think we're just beginning to open up our traditions to one another and the best games are yet to come. Thanks for watching!

[@kirilvelinov7774]

Morning Musume decks use the members themselves on the face cards lol Suits:diamond,clover,heart,star K☆ Ikuta Erina K{} Ishida Ayumi K♡ Fukumura Mizuki K♧ Oda Sakura Q☆ Yokoyama Reina Q{} Haga Akane Q♡ Makino Maria Q♧ Nonaka Miki J☆ Sakurai Rio J{} Yamazaki Mei J♡ Okamura Homare J♧ Kitagawa Rio The stars are used to represent spades!

[@matthewsteele99]

Didn't the Knight retain in some decks other than tarot with the C (cavalier) symbol?

[@Play-In-Games]

Interesting, I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll definitely do some research. My guess is it would have been either German or pre Paris pattern French, but I don’t really know.

[@matthewsteele99]

@@Play-In-Games Héron French tarot, I may have been mistaken

[@Play-In-Games]

@@matthewsteele99 great find, I'm sure there's a 52 card deck out there with a C for the Horseman as well.

[@matthewsteele99]

@@Play-In-Games i found a custom made deck with additional Duke and Princess cards on Etsy lol

[@mike-cc3dd]

4:44. Just ask your mother. [How's that for a hot take?]

[@chrystiecastillo293]

You look like Chris Canucciari, grandson of Clara! Ringer

[@Play-In-Games]

I wish! That guy has the best Nana! 😂

[@HattoriDenzo]

I’m gonna take a gander mountain and bet all my chips that these playing cards started off as gifted tarot cards until someone forgot the rules and the new player was like, how about we just make up new rules instead lol

[@Play-In-Games]

That's a good a theory as any!

[@maazrodi]

Hi!

[@Play-In-Games]

👋

[@thecongressguy5325]

The makers of cards long ago didn’t keep records so theories abound. None of them can be proven nor disproven.

[@gamingmode9859]

It's cool but what about the Joker

[@Play-In-Games]

Absolutely, he deserves his own episode. I wrote one, but getting through the filming and editing, well I’ll do my best. Thanks for watching!

[@krasimirstoimenov4923]

i hurt that Queen of hearts was Elizabeth I of england

[@heatherrocchi6232]

The pattern in question is older than her reign, and probably older than her birth by a few decades. There is a pattern from her time that does feature her.

[@kirilvelinov7774]

Playing cards in kpop Blackpink(Queens): Clubs Jisoo Diamonds Rose Hearts Jennie Spades Lisa BTS(Kings,vocal line only): Clubs Jin/Jimin??? Diamonds V/Jin??? Hearts Jimin/V??? Spades Jungkook

[@kirilvelinov7774]

If Spades=Jungkook Hearts=Taehyung Clubs=Seokjin Diamonds=Jimin

[@cyruscheng499]

Hi ok

[@videepvenkatesha803]

Hi

[@Play-In-Games]

Hello!

[@fearlish5065]

What about the theory that the queen of spades murders tge king of heart.

[@Play-In-Games]

I had not heard this. What's the theory? Is it based on real events? Thanks for checking the video out!

[@heatherrocchi6232]

Fun but modern idea. The cuff of the hand matches because of updating centuries old patterns.

[@markherron1407]

King JESUS is THE ORIGINAL KING OF HEARTS 💜EPHESIANS 3 17 Blessings and HUGS! 👑💜

[@faubourgdaily4911]

Add a comment

[@azzamandreas862]

Lol Jacob only had 2 wives and those wives had handmaidens who would seroget for them carry and give birth before drugs were readily available during their sibling rivalry with each other one of the wives were steril for a long time Jacob made an oath onto his father in-law not to marry anyone over his daughters

[@Play-In-Games]

Interesting that's not an interpretation I'm familiar with. The original title given to Jacobs two slave wives, Bilhah and Zilpah, was לְאִשָּׁה (le-ishah): "as a wife". The word "wife" here is indeed a form of marital relationship acknowledged in the cultural and legal contexts of the time. That said the Bible has many unverifiable folk stories and little if any secondary sources, so from a historians pov, anything is possible. From a religion pov, many leaps of faith must be made and it's best to stick with the original text if you want to align yourself with the document. I tend to view it as a game of telephone with a mix of truth and a mix of mythology, but that's just my own view... You Do You! No judgments from me! Thanks for watching.

[@edwinboden2541]

If You Have A 500 Year Old Deck Of Cards Drop Your Contact Info Ill Take Them Of Your Hands ... Was That A Joke?

[@Play-In-Games]

If you want to donate priceless decks of cards, I will gladly accept them! No Joke!

[@kenknight6201]

Slew

[@Amfortas]

The Catholic church never banned meat... Very cool video otherwise! 🃏

[@Play-In-Games]

Let me introduce you to my little friend, named Lent…🚫 🍖! It felt like a ban to me, anyways. Maybe I’m just splitting hairs though. Thanks for watching!

[@rainblaze.]

Lancelot is not an english knight. There was no such thing as england at the time of Arthurion legend.

[@gabenorth-harney9349]

Super interesting. And keep up the bad pronunciation because it’s bloody hilarious!

[@FavianShields]

It bugs me that he spreads the cards the wrong way 😖.

[@Play-In-Games]

Weird, I kind of like the way he spreads the cards. Maybe you've been doing it wrong? 😂

[@thomasfed1]

Nice video. All red face cards look left (viewer side) & all black face cards look right except king & queen of clubs.

[@samuelsnowbarger2052]

Hi

[@Play-In-Games]

Hello!

[@rafaelag.z.180]

Hi

[@Play-In-Games]

Hi!