The Royal Proxy Who Suffered Punishments

In early modern Europe, some young princes allegedly kept a companion to receive beatings in their place. Because royals were considered too divine to hit, their friends served as human punching bags to teach the prince a lesson.

This bizarre practice relied on the idea that seeing a close friend suffer would guilt a prince into better behavior. While historians debate whether this was a common reality or a widespread myth, the concept remains a fascinating window into the extreme status of royalty. It highlights a world where divine right made even a child untouchable. Surprisingly, some evidence suggests tutors occasionally ignored these rules and punished the princes directly anyway.