8. Charles King VI of France became obsessed with the idea that he was made of glass – and his people were ordered to keep their distance
King Charles VI of France wasn’t born “mad”. In fact, he was only given that nickname when he was in his 20s. These days, of course, the monarch would have benefitted from the help of mental health professionals. But 14th century France was different. When the King started to lose his mind, his strange obsessions were largely indulged, including his number one preoccupation – that he was actually made of glass and might shatter if he was touched.
Interestingly, Charles wasn’t the only one to seriously believe he was made of glass. For around 200 years, from the 14th century onward, the so-called ‘glass delusion’ was relatively widespread across the whole of Europe. Sufferers genuinely feared that, since they were made of glass, they would shatter if they exerted themselves too much. The French King, therefore, took special measures to keep himself safe. According to some contemporary accounts, he had metal rods sewn into his trousers for extra protection. Additionally, people at the Court were banned from touching the King lest he break into small pieces.