Displaying the Figure of Hercules in Princely Ceremonies during the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period. The Tapestries of the King Charles VIII of France

Since antiquity, Hercules’ exploits have generated many interpretations. They constituted one
of the most popular literary and artistic themes of the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
More than any other ancient figure, Hercules served as a model to sovereigns because he was
heralded as the ideal model of Virtue. His Labours were a particularly prolific motif for tapestries. This
paper aims to shed new light on the seven-piece tapestry set purchased by the king of France
Charles VIII in 1491 (lost today). I will focus on some under-exploited documents (e.g.
inventories, contemporary testimonials) and fragments of other series still preserved. The
analysis of these exceptional records will allow us to review more broadly the significance of
Hercules for Charles VIII. We’ll see that for many special occasions, Hercules embodied the
model of the ideal ruler. In addition to being the perfect knight, the king-hero demonstrated a
moral force, since he succeeded in overcoming his enemies (associated with monsters and
tyrants) by his exceptional qualities.