Nelson Tan
The Kings, Queens and Jacks are the 12 face cards in a standard deck of playing cards. On traditional French decks each one was printed with a name, and the names point to rulers, heroes and legendary figures from history, the Bible and myth. Here is who each card is traditionally said to be.
What are the King, Queen and Jack in a deck of cards?
A standard deck of playing cards has 52 cards in 4 suits: Spades, Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs. Each suit has 13 cards, usually ranked from high to low: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. Some decks also include Jokers.
The King, Queen and Jack are called face cards. In blackjack each one counts as 10, in baccarat each one counts as 0, and in poker they simply rank in order: King, then Queen, then Jack.
Who are the 4 Kings on playing cards?
There are 4 kings in a deck. On traditional French decks each court card was printed with a name, and the 4 kings were named after great rulers of the past.
King of Hearts: Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks and the first Holy Roman Emperor, also known as the “Father of Europe” and “Charles the Great”. He united most of Western Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire.
King of Clubs: Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great was King of Macedonia. He built one of the largest empires of the ancient world, stretching from the Ionian Sea to the Himalayas, and is still regarded as one of history’s most successful commanders.
King of Spades: David
David, King of Israel in the 11th and 10th centuries BCE, killed the giant Goliath with a single well-aimed stone.
King of Diamonds: Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar was a general, consul and dictator of the Roman Republic in the 1st century BCE. The month of July is named after him.
Who are the 4 Queens on playing cards?
The 4 queens are traditionally linked to figures from the Bible, Greek myth and legend.
Queen of Hearts: Judith
Judith is the heroine of the Book of Judith, in which she kills an enemy general to free the Israelites from Assyrian oppression.
Queen of Clubs: Argine (Argea)
Argine is linked to Argea, who in Greek myth was the mother of Argus, the builder of the ship Argo in the story of Jason and the Argonauts.
Queen of Spades: Pallas Athena
Athena was the goddess of wisdom and battle strategy in Greek religion and mythology.
Queen of Diamonds: Rachel
Rachel is a figure from the Bible and the mother of Joseph and Benjamin.
Who are the 4 Jacks on playing cards?
The 4 jacks are traditionally linked to knights and warriors.
Jack of Hearts: La Hire
La Hire was a French military commander in the Hundred Years’ War and a comrade-in-arms of Joan of Arc, fighting alongside her at the Siege of Orléans.
Jack of Clubs: Judas Maccabeus or Lancelot
There are two versions for the Jack of Clubs. One names Judas Maccabeus, who led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire from 167 to 160 BCE. The other names Sir Lancelot, one of the Knights of the Round Table and a leading knight of King Arthur.
Jack of Spades: Ogier the Dane
Ogier fought alongside Charlemagne against the Saracens. One of his famous deeds was slaying the giant Brehus.
Jack of Diamonds: Hector
Hector was a Trojan prince who led the defence of Troy during the Trojan War in Greek mythology.
Small details to spot on the face cards
Beyond the names, some face cards carry details that players like to point out. In many standard designs the King of Hearts is the only king with no moustache, and the King of Diamonds is drawn in side view with one eye showing. The Jack of Spades and the Jack of Hearts are known as the one-eyed jacks because they are drawn in profile, while the Jacks of Clubs and Diamonds face forward. The King of Hearts is also nicknamed the Suicide King, because the sword behind his head can look as if he is stabbing himself, and in the card game Hearts the Queen of Spades is called the Black Lady. Designs differ from deck to deck, and the stories about why are folklore rather than documented history.
The 12 face cards at a glance
| Card | Traditional name | Who they were |
|---|---|---|
| King of Hearts | Charlemagne | King of the Franks and first Holy Roman Emperor |
| King of Clubs | Alexander the Great | King of Macedonia |
| King of Spades | David | King of Israel |
| King of Diamonds | Julius Caesar | General, consul and dictator of the Roman Republic |
| Queen of Hearts | Judith | Heroine of the Book of Judith |
| Queen of Clubs | Argine (Argea) | Linked to the mother of Argus, builder of the Argo |
| Queen of Spades | Pallas Athena | Greek goddess of wisdom and battle strategy |
| Queen of Diamonds | Rachel | Biblical mother of Joseph and Benjamin |
| Jack of Hearts | La Hire | French commander and comrade of Joan of Arc |
| Jack of Clubs | Judas Maccabeus or Lancelot | Leader of the Maccabean Revolt, or a knight of the Round Table |
| Jack of Spades | Ogier the Dane | Fought alongside Charlemagne |
| Jack of Diamonds | Hector | Trojan prince who led the defence of Troy |
These names are traditional attributions, and they vary between decks and countries. Next time you play cards, share the stories with your friends.
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