Many times we have thought that living alongside pets is something relatively recent, but nothing could be further from the truth. In this article, we will travel from ancient Egypt to the 20th century to review some of the most curious pets throughout history. Perhaps it will change your opinion about the ideal pet for a harmonious life at home.
First, we will go back to ancient Egypt, where Pharaoh Ramses II had a lion called “Invincible” as a companion animal. The pet also accompanied him in all his battles, as he believed that its presence would bring good luck to his army. As you know, the Egyptians were also ardent fans of cats, dogs, and monkeys, and it was common for pharaohs to live alongside them.
Continuing through history, we encounter another popular and unusual large pet: the Asian elephant that Charlemagne received as a gift in 798. The elephant also lived at court, receiving the same care as the noblest members of society. It was a beautiful albino elephant whom Charlemagne, naturally, always loved and admired.
We continue with more XXL-sized animals, swapping elephants for giraffes, and now turn to Lorenzo de’ Medici’s endearing relationship with his own. It was a gift from the sultan of Egypt and was housed in the stables of the family villa in Florence. Unfortunately, the animal died shortly after arriving at its new home after suffering an accident in the stables. This event left the entire family devastated, as they had developed deep affection for Lorenzo’s giraffe.
We return to elephants, this time moving forward to the era of Louis XIV, who was also a great fan of elephants and lived with one at the Palace of Versailles for around 15 years. This elephant was a gift from the King of Portugal and arrived at the palace in 1668. Can you imagine a majestic elephant strolling through the palace gardens? It must certainly have been an incredible sight.
It would be a crime to forget one of the most famous birds in history: the starling with which Mozart lived for many years, and which brought the artist great joy when it sang or imitated curious sounds. Mozart loved his pet so much that when the bird died, he composed an epitaph for it and organized a funeral in its honor to share the sadness he felt at losing his companion.
Finally, we must not forget another prominent figure who also shared an unconditional love of birds: Winston Churchill, who lived with a beautiful macaw named “Charly”. These animals find it especially easy to learn words and form sentences, and “Charly” was certainly a chatterbox. However, what attracted the most attention was that the bird was accustomed to loudly uttering swear words and had learned to respond to and answer guests with insulting comments about Hitler and the Nazis.
The History of Pets in Spain
After traveling around the world getting to know the most famous pets in history, it is time to do the same in Spain. Which pets made their mark here?
We begin after the discovery of America, when pet monkeys became very fashionable in our country. They became so popular that they even became common among the Royal Courts. Thus, one of the most common stories when we refer to unusual pets is the one involving Catherine of Aragon, who had a monkey she adored and with which she was often seen.
If the popularity of pet monkeys has caught your attention, you will not remain indifferent to the exotic companion animal that Empress Joséphine used to show off. She was also interested in exotic pets and enjoyed the company of an orangutan that practically lived with her every day, ate at the table, and had been trained to display good manners in front of guests. In addition, the furry family was joined by kangaroos, ostriches, zebras, antelopes, gazelles, black swans, and other exotic companions.
Continuing with the appeal of strength and ferocity, we must mention Ivan the Terrible. Ivan had several bears in his castle, companion animals that he not only used to play with but also used to punish prisoners and entertain the court.
Without a doubt, however, it is the next little animal that takes the top spot in the dangerous-pet rankings: the ferocious caiman belonging to the Marquis de Lafayette, a gift he received during his trip to the United States in 1825. The Marquis traveled with his new pet, and one of the most curious anecdotes is that when he visited the White House, he did not leave his “little one” alone for a moment, even lodging it in his bedroom bathtub.
And so our review of the most important pets throughout history comes to an end. Don’t forget to share your experiences and stories on Aristopet’s social media.