▲

When we think of the royal dynasties in European history, we think of kings and queens with absolute power ruling over vast empires, living in unchecked luxury. Many of the palaces they built are still some of the most impressive architectural wonders in existence. From the French Palace of Versailles to London’s Kensington Palace, tourists walk the halls and marvel at the beauty and grandeur of these royal homes.

However, these restored palaces leave out a few key details. When they were first built and actually hosted royal courts, they were worse than pigsties! Visitors of the Louvre Palace today are spared the harsh realities of centuries gone by: ungodly smells, rat infestations, and piles of human feces littering the floor. Click through the gallery to find out what it was really like to live in a royal palace of the past.

▲

In the past, the lack of plumbing posed a significant problem for royal palaces. Flushable toilets and running water were absent, and instead, chamber pots were placed throughout the premises and regularly cleared by the servants. Collected waste was subsequently stored in vast underground chambers, which required eventual emptying.

▲

The unfortunates tasked with this job were known as "gong farmers" or "gong scourers." Their work was comparably arduous to cleaning horse stables, albeit on a significantly larger scale. According to a historical account, after four weeks of serving the court, these chambers would be filled up beyond head height.

▲

Sadly, many courtiers wouldn't even make the effort to locate a chamber pot. Sometimes, they simply dropped their britches wherever they found a moment of privacy, like in a hallway, on a staircase, or in a fireplace, and relieved themselves directly onto the floor.

▲

A visitor at the magnificent Louvre Palace in Paris in 1675 gave this account of the situation: “on the grand staircases” and “behind the doors and almost everywhere one sees there a mass of excrement, one smells a thousand unbearable stenches caused by calls of nature which everyone goes to do there every day.”

▲

King Henry VIII's court was larger than most, leading to more mess. Unlike other European royals, he prioritized cleanliness. Unfortunately, he was fighting a losing battle.

▲

Henry VIII and his court comprised nearly one thousand individuals, a considerable number of unclean bodies congregating in one palace simultaneously. This was especially noteworthy, given the absence of running water and plumbing systems.

▲

Henry VIII primarily resided in Hampton Court Palace in London, yet he frequently traveled between his 60 opulent properties across the nation with his entourage. Termed as "royal tours," these expeditions were hailed for instilling loyalty among his subjects, but their true purpose was to provide respite from the filth they had created and give ample time for the palace staff to clean it up.

▲

During royal events, it was common to encounter significant chaos, including piles of human waste that needed to be removed. As a solution, the king and court would temporarily vacate the premises and transfer to a new palace, allowing for the restoration of the surrounding farmland and livestock that had been depleted due to extravagant feasting.

▲

According to historical sources, it is noted that a foul odor would begin to develop shortly after the court's arrival at a new palace. This unpleasant smell can be attributed to the accumulation of food waste on the floor, animal excrement, inadequate personal hygiene of the inhabitants, and the increasing quantities of human waste stored in underground chambers.

▲

Rooms and hallways would also be filled with soot and stains due to the frequent fires lit for heating the palace. The large number of people in Henry's court made it impossible for the palace staff to clean efficiently until they departed. It is widely believed that the royal palaces were much dirtier than a typical individual's humble cabin during that era.

▲

It is said that Henry VIII provided clear instructions to his kitchen staff. He prohibited working naked or in disgustingly dirty clothes, as they had previously done. Additionally, he ordered them to cease the practice of sleeping in the kitchen. You'd think that would all go without saying...

▲

Courtiers were instructed not to dispose of dirty dishes in hallways after meals, yet they disregarded these orders. To his outrage, the ruler occasionally discovered dishes abandoned on his bed.

▲

Alongside leaving their excrement on the floor, it seems that visitors at the court resorted to using the precious tapestries adorning the walls as a means to clean their hands. To address this issue, Henry was compelled to issue a warning, stating that those who committed such acts “might be hurted” for their crimes.

▲

To safeguard against the palaces' pervasive pests during his slumber, Henry would sleep surrounded by thick animal furs.

▲

British royals have always been renowned for their love for animals. King Charles II, in particular, gained fame for his affection towards his cherished spaniels, which were eventually named Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. His bedroom would often accommodate several flea-infested dogs resting peacefully each night.

▲

According to a 17th-century historian, this caused the bed chambers to become “very offensive and indeed made the whole Court nasty and stinking.”

▲

Royal palaces, unable to achieve true cleanliness, opted to conceal the unpleasant odor instead. They adorned palaces with fragrant plants and flowers while courtiers used perfumes and scented sachets to mask their personal stench as they went about their duties.

▲

Catherine the Great, the renowned empress of Russia, hailed from Germany. She relocated to Russia during her teenage years for her union with Peter III. She was astounded by the dirtiness of the Russian palace in contrast to her native German abode, which, while still unclean, appeared significantly cleaner in comparison.

▲

She recorded some of the strange things she observed upon her arrival in Russia. “It’s not rare to see coming from an immense courtyard full of mire and filth that belongs to a hovel of rotten wood, a lady covered in jewels and superbly dressed, in a magnificent carriage, pulled by six old nags, and with badly combed valets.” The juxtaposition of luxury and squalor was shocking to the future empress.

▲

The Palace of Versailles is now a symbol of opulence and splendor, attracting millions of visitors annually. Nonetheless, if tourists were to visit during Marie Antoinette's time, they might faint due to the unpleasant odor permeating the halls.

▲

Cleanliness was not a top priority at the French royal court, just like the other palaces of Europe. Women would elevate their skirts to relieve themselves wherever they pleased, while chamber pots were carelessly discarded out of windows. In fact, Marie Antoinette herself was once hit by human waste that was thrown from a window while she was walking in the courtyard.

▲

Latrines were present in the palace, however, they were poorly maintained and heavily utilized resulting in leakage into the bedrooms below. The corrosion of pipes compounded the issue, leading to widespread problems throughout the palace. Historian Tony Spawforth highlights the severity of the situation, noting that the leaked waste would occasionally contaminate Marie Antoinette's kitchen and even posed a threat to the safety of the royal children's rooms.

▲

A few generations ago, King Louis XIV established a rule stating that the halls of Versailles should be cleaned once a week to remove feces and dirt. At that time, this may have seemed excessive, although it appears rather modest by today's standards.

▲

The reason for this "excellent" level of cleanliness could be attributed to Louis XIV's departure from tradition by choosing to permanently reside with his court in the Palace of Versailles. As a result, the palace was never granted any breaks for a thorough cleaning. At any given moment, there could be up to 10,000 inhabitants living in Versailles.

▲

During the Middle Ages, it was commonly advised in Western Europe to minimize bathing. This belief stemmed from the notion that excessive cleansing of the skin would leave the pores vulnerable to toxins and disease, following numerous catastrophic plagues. Consequently, people were encouraged to limit their bathing as much as possible, in adherence to the prevailing medical advice.

▲

Ironically, the bubonic plague was spread by fleas that resided on rats. The prevalence of rats was directly correlated to the poor hygiene practices during that period.

▲

King Henry VIII was among the rare monarchs who chose to bathe regularly, going against medical advice. Marie Antoinette supposedly took a bath once a month, and there are rumors that Louis XIV only bathed two times in his entire lifetime.

▲

According to historical accounts, King James I of England, allegedly, refrained from bathing completely. As a consequence, the rooms he frequented reportedly became infested with lice due to his constant presence.

▲

The exact number of royals and noblemen who perished due to the appalling living conditions of their palaces remains uncertain. Progress in infrastructure and knowledge about hygiene and disease only occurred in the 19th century, finally lifting Europe out of the Middle Ages.

Sources: (History) (HistoryExtra)