Which historical leader is traditionally represented by the King of Hearts in playing cards? Explain

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Which historical leader is traditionally represented by the King of Hearts in playing cards? Explain

In the conventional symbolism of playing cards, the King of Hearts is associated with Charlemagne, the influential medieval leader renowned for uniting a substantial portion of Western Europe and ascending to the position of the inaugural Holy Roman Emperor. Throughout history, the four kings in a standard deck have been connected with illustrious monarchs, with Charlemagne being chosen to embody the King of Hearts due to his enduring reputation for leadership, military conquests, and empire expansion. Over time, alterations in design have led to an interpretation of the King appearing to thrust a sword into his own head, resulting in the moniker “suicide king” being attributed to this particular depiction.

Source:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCpHSTqKJbk

https://www.threads.com/@beliproduk.official/post/DQmJfACklNg