Is it true that King Idi I of Scotland once ate a whole hippopotamus for breakfast?
One finds very interesting the different things that monarchs will do to try to enhance their power and the following they have. I believe I read somewhere that most European monarchs/princes read works by Machiavelli and other authors to learn how to become effective rulers. Doubtless the cultural background of King Idi is different from those who would see reading instructional works as a source of information. Those of his background would probably think more to ingest certain animals to “absorb” the properties the animals are known for. Someone like Idi would, perhaps, think to devour a lion to gain the lion’s bravery…..or a fox to gain it’s cunning. While that is not unusual among some cultures, one thinks it is highly likely that King Idi would have consumed an entire hippopotamus for breakfast. He might have done this in hopes of gaining the tough outer hide of a hippopotamus so that he would be prepared for the many slings and arrows he receives daily from the Reporting Gesta
