The historic secret inside the 400-year-old gilded deck

The researchers found the important historical secrets of the royal family in an ancient deck of 52 gold-plated silver cards dating back 400 years.

The deck was created by Michael Frommer in Germany in 1616. The cards were gilded using mercury, a deadly poison. On the cards there are two of the kings wearing ancient Roman clothing. There are also knights wearing military uniforms. Each card is about 8.6cm long and 5cm wide.

In particular, this deck also contains many historical mysteries related to politics in Spain in the early nineteenth century. Traditionally the family who owned the deck at the time was Infanta Carlota Joaquina, the daughter of a Spanish king, who married a prince in Portugal. She fled to Brazil when Napoleon's army marched into Iberia in 1807.

The deck was created by Michael Frommer in Germany in 1616

After Napoleon forced Ferdinand VII, Carlota's brother, to abdicate the Spanish throne, Carlot made many attempts to take over the Spanish kings and control the country's holdings in the new world. According to family tradition, she passed on the deck to Felipe Contucci's wife, a man who helped her carry out political efforts.

It was Contucci who wanted to bring Carlota to become regent of a new kingdom in South America, which was still under Spanish control when Napoleon invaded. However, this plan failed when all government officials of Portugal, Spain and Britain opposed it.

But all that shows, Carlota dreamed of becoming the ruling queen expressed by cards.

Reference: Livescience