History is chock-full of rulers who believed they were untouchable, and one French king took that idea to the extreme. King Charles VI, who ruled from 1380 to 1422, became convinced his body was made entirely of glass. The medieval monarch believed he could shatter at any moment, avoiding contact that might crack him, and even reinforcing his clothes for extra protection. You might say this king had a rather fragile relationship with reality, but he was not the only glass man. THE TRANSPARENT THRONE The king’s crystal conviction started when he was about 24. Though historians don’t know why he believed his body changed so dramatically, his affliction was forged in flames, not unlike actual glass. Just weeks before he had his royal tailor sew iron rods into his clothes, a tragedy struck. The king and a group of his companions, dressed as wild men for a celebration, were set ablaze by a spark from the fire. Going down in history as “the Dance of Burning Men,” the event killed four of his nobles and left him scarred. From that point on, he did everything he could to protect his body. AN AGE OF FRAGILITY His strange belief wasn’t his only act of madness. Months before the fire, he killed four of his own knights in a fit of paranoia. While his tumultuous life may explain King Charles’ delusion, it doesn’t explain all the other glass men of the age. During the 15th and 16th centuries, tales were told of others who believed they were made of the delicate material. One was afraid to sit because he thought his backside would shatter. Another wanted to fling himself into a kiln to be transformed into a goblet. Medieval medicine claimed that melancholia, caused by black bile in the body, gave sufferers a glassy sheen. Paintings of the age often featured glass as a symbol of fragility, and glassmakers were viewed as alchemists. Historians believe that all the sparkling symbolism may have influenced the beliefs of these unusual men. Cracks in the Crown THE GLASS KING’S FRAGILE HISTORY
WHAT ARE YOU GIVING UP TO KEEP THINGS CALM? WHEN KEEPING THE PEACE KEEPS YOU STUCK Have you ever kept quiet just because you didn’t want to ruin the moment, or agreed to something unfair even though you would rather push back? “Keeping the peace” can feel like an easier path, one that could protect you or your loved ones from facing conflict. For many people considering a divorce, the idea of rocking the boat can feel worse than staying put, even if that boat has been taking on water for years. When keeping the peace becomes a pattern of putting off what you know isn’t working, it can end up just keeping you stuck. MINIMIZING YOU While compromise is important in marriage, it shouldn’t just be you making accommodations at the expense of your own needs. Putting your own feelings on the back burner may prevent immediate tension or a fight, but it can cause deeper struggles in the long term. The concerns you keep to yourself can become emotional weights you end up carrying alone. You may find yourself agreeing to things you’re not really comfortable with. It doesn’t cause the problems to go away just because you let them slide. Over time, resentment can build up when you constantly feel like your needs are overlooked and undervalued. NOT GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVE When you get into a pattern of being the peacemaker, it can impact the way you see yourself and the decisions you make. You may know your relationship is no longer healthy and happy, but you begin to second-guess yourself or hesitate to take the steps to move forward. Stuffing down your feelings, concerns, or wants can lead you to base your choices around simply ending the discomfort, rather than finding a resolution you truly deserve. You could wind up missing out on opportunities, bear an inequitable amount of responsibilities, or even stay in an unhappy situation for much longer. Difficult conflicts in your relationship may make you feel like you need to silence yourself to protect your peace or even your children’s. But you deserve real peace and a voice. If you’re looking for resources on approaching these conversations without sacrificing your needs or taking the next step, visit BrucePA.com .
Some kings ruled with an iron fist, but King Charles VI led with a much more delicate touch. Talk about living in a glass house!
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