Fools have been important in history. In ancient times and cultures, someone whose outbursts or conduct might have labelled them “mad” were often retained by village elders as seers, albeit erratic ones. This became more formalised in Medieval Europe, where the court had a court jester, or fool. The fool had one power no-one else in the kingdom had – that he could voice opinions to the king or in public which would have seen others executed.
