The Unclean Living Habits of Nobles and Royalty ~ The Evolution of Cleanliness Standards in History

How often do you think people bathed back then??

You probably know that in Japan, it’s a common practice to fill a bathtub with hot water and soak in it, right??

Bathing habits vary around the world like this.

But for most of us nowadays, we typically have opportunities to keep our bodies and undergarments clean by taking showers or baths almost daily.

However, did you know that in the past in the West, there were nobles and royalty who completely shattered these common hygiene standards??

Please enjoy witnessing their “charms.”

Introduction

Living a clean lifestyle is taken for granted by modern people, but looking back in history, there was a time when unclean living habits were rampant among the nobles and royalty. In this essay, we will introduce the astonishingly unclean living habits of nobles and royalty in the past and consider the evolution of cleanliness standards.

Elizabeth I’s Once-a-Month Bathing Habit

Elizabeth I, who ruled England, bathed only once a month. She would not bend this habit, even when it was unnecessary. Furthermore, records show there were periods when she bathed only 4 times a year.

At that time, the makeup Elizabeth I favored contained harmful substances like lead, arsenic, and mercury. However, wearing makeup was an indispensable habit. Additionally, Elizabeth I loved sweets made with copious amounts of sugar, but her toothpaste was also made of sugar, causing her teeth to rot early on.

Louis XIV’s 3 Lifetime Baths.

Louis XIV, representing the absolute monarchy period of France, bathed only 3 times in his entire life. However, to avoid odors, he changed his undergarments every 3 days, and the palace was always filled with the scent of perfume. Furthermore, the shirts he wore were washed with perfume blended by specialized perfumers.

James I’s Zero Baths

King James I of England never bathed even once. The rooms he stayed in at the palace were so infested with lice that he didn’t even wash his hands before meals. James I avoided bathing due to the Christian teaching of emphasizing cleanliness and the superstition that water caused illness.

Isabella’s 4 Years Without Changing Undergarments

A legend remains about Queen Isabella of Spain not changing her undergarments for 4 years until a siege ended. Apparently, she wished for victory in the war and did not change her undergarments, but this famous tale may just be half a fanciful story.

The Evolution of Cleanliness Standards

As shown above, unclean living habits were common among the nobles and royalty in the past. However, as hygiene concepts permeated into modern times, cleanliness became emphasized. Even in today’s British royal family, Prince Charles has set strict rules about bathing that his staff must follow. In this way, cleanliness standards have greatly evolved.

Conclusion

In this essay, we discussed the unclean living habits of nobles and royalty in the past and the evolution of cleanliness standards. While being astonished by habits that defy modern common sense, we can also feel how awareness of cleanliness has transformed. By looking back on these strange historical practices, we can put our own living habits into perspective and renew our feelings of gratitude.