Do the kings on cards represent actual kings from history?

Answer 1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playing_cards says:

Court cards designed in the 16th century in the manufacturing centre of Rouen became the standard design in England, while a Parisian design became standard in France. Both the Parisian and Rouennais court cards were named after historical and mythological heroes and heroines. The Parisian names have become more common in modern use, even with cards of Rouennais design. {| |+ Paris court card names |- !

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| King of Spades David

King of Hearts Charles (possibly Charlemagne, or Charles VII, where Rachel would then be the pseudonym of his mistress, Agnès Sorel)

King of Diamonds Julius Caesar

King of Clubs Alexander the great

Queen of Spades Pallas

Queen of Hearts Judith

Queen of Diamonds Rachel (either biblical, historical (see Charles above), or mythical as a corruption of the Celtic Ragnel, relating to Lancelot below)

Queen of Clubs Argine (possibly an anagram of regina, which is Latin for queen, or perhaps Argea, wife of Polybus and mother of Argus)

Knave of Spades Ogier the Dane/Holger Danske (a knight of Charlemagne)

Knave of Hearts La Hire (comrade-in-arms to Joan of Arc, and member of Charles VII's court)

Knave of Diamonds Hector

Knave of Clubs Judas Maccabeus, or Lancelot |}