The Delta independent., 1909-01-15
ROYAL STRONG ARMS|
Famous Monarchs That RivaIed
the Mighty Samson.
AMAZING FEATs OF MUSCLE.
The Emperor Maximianus Could Lift
Three Men With One Hand-Ausus-
tus the Strong Of Saxony Carried .
Horse and Its Rider on His Back.


Of the notably strong men Of history
have been Of royal blood. One of the
earliest Of these royal athletes was
Maximianus called "Maximianus Her
cules" because of his great strength.
He was the son Of a peasant and had
an enormous physique. He became
common soldier and was finally made
emperor by acclaim of his fellow SOL
diers during stormy period of Ro-
man history
Maximianus' strength was prodi-
gious. 1t was said that on foot he
could run down fox, that he could
lift three men with one hand and that
by gripping the wheel of a chariot
with one finger he could resist the pull
OF three horses. Like most men of
great physical strength, Maximianus
was a heavy eater. History records
that his daily allowance was forty
pounds of meat and eighteen bottles CT
wine.
Augustus the Strong of Saxony was
another of these royal Samsons. He
would often seize two of his courtiers
grasping one with his right hand and
another with his left. holding them up
at arms length and playfully twirling
them about.
On one occasion the horse ridden by
one of his attendants became balky
and refused to bulge. After some min
utes of coaxing the king dismounted,
placed his Herculean shoulder under
the horses chest, grasping it by the
fore legs and calmly walked away
with both horse and rider. This re-
markable performance was witnessed
by a number of courtiers and attend
ants.
King Richard of England c'Coeur de
Lion'1 had tremendous strength. Dur
ing his captivity in Germany he gave
a terrible demonstration of his physical
powers. The son of one of the ward
ems was youth locally renowned for
his muscular strength and in his as
surance invited the royal captive to an
exchange of buffets. The young man
by cast of the dice won the right to
the first stroke and struck the king
staggering blow on the side of the
head. 1t was then the kings turn. and
he landed n blow just behind his op-
ponent's ear SO heavy that the man
was instantly killed
This incident is used in Sir Walter
Scott's famous historical novel Ivan
hoe" where King Richard. the BLACK
Knight and the jolly outlaw Friar
Tuck have an exchange of buffets,
without. however. any fatal result.
Dom Pedro l., emperor Of Brazil is
also on the list Of royal strong men.
On the occasion of carnival he ar
h. xsf, rI
ing on the bow of the royal barge be-
tween two OF his stateliest courtiers-
Suddenly in the midst of the festivities
the king reached out, grasped court
fer with each hand. and. after holding
them for a few moments squirming in
the air and begging to be released, he
relaxed his grip ard allowed them to
drop plump into the water. amid the
frantic applause of the huge crowd
that had assembled to view their mon
arch. The king Joined heartily in the
general hilarity. but what the drenched
courtiers thought about this exquisite
joke is not recorded.
Peter the Great of Russia like Char.
lemagne, possessed great physical a.
well as mental power. His years OF
work as blacksmith and ship carpep-
ter had so developed Il naturally pow
erful physique that he was believed to
be the strongest man In Russia.
The story is told that a certain
blacksmith In a little country town had
boasted that he was the ONLY black
smith In the world who could lift his
own anvil. The emperor. hearing of
the blacksmith's boast disguised him
self as workman and with a single
companion set out for the blacksmith's
village. On learning of their errand
the blacksmith without word laid
aside his tools and. rrasping the anvil
with his brawny hands lifted 1t with
great effort about foot from the floor.
Then Peter took hold of the anvn.
raised It foot. two feet. three. higher
and higher. till he finally swung 1t to
his shoulder and calmly walked away
with II.
Charlemagne was said to be the most
powerful man physically of his time.
One Of his favorite feats of strength
was to break the heaviest horseshoe by
gripping 1t with one hand.
A worthy successor Of Peter the
Great was the late Gar Alexander I'LL.
who was one Of the strongest men IA
the world. He was often called ''the
Russian Samson" The c1ar's regular
visiting card was Russian coin some
what larger than our silver quarter.
which he would bend almost double
with his powerful fingers.
Alexander was also fond OF breaking
horseshoss. and II Is said he neves
found one he could not break In two.
He could take two fresh packs Of cards
and by gripping the ends with his
tho middle.