Towards the end of the Middle Ages, something strange started happening across Europe. People started believing they were made from glass. They firmly believed that they could shatter if touched. This became known as the “glass delusion”, and most cases involved the rich and the powerful. But what caused this strange phenomenon? And why did it disappear almost as swiftly as it appeared? Here are 30 things you need to know if you want to understand the bizarre history of the glass delusion…
30. The Glass Delusion made even the most powerful feel fragile and powerless
As the absolute monarch, King Charles VI, was the most powerful man in all of France. He ruled over a kingdom of millions for 42 years, one of the longest reigns in French history. He led his armies into battle against the English during the Hundred Years War and played a key role in shaping the European political landscape of the time. However, Charles felt far from powerful. In fact, he truly believed he was made of glass and could shatter at any moment. And the truly weird thing? Charles wasn’t the only one to suffer from the “Glass Delusion”.