How an envious count built a "wall of jealousy" (5 photos)

There is one building in Ireland, which is a symbol of human weaknesses and vices, jealousy, envy, revenge, anger.





In the distant past, aristocrats really liked to decorate their estates with buildings resembling small castles or Gothic towers and ruins. Typically, such buildings had a purely decorative function and called them whims. I rebuilt the same thing out of anger in my estate of the Irish earl Robert Rochfort.

Rochfort, during his lifetime, was called the "evil count" and he was remembered only as a very envious and petty person. Robert was born in aristocratic family, and his father was a good friend of Jonathan Swift. Rochfort had several estates: Belvedere House (Belvedere House) in the Irish city of Mullingar and Gaulstown in Scotland.



Mary Rochfort

Robert could not become a good husband by default. His first wife died of smallpox, and he married a sixteen-year-old girl Mary, who bore him four heirs. Rochfort was more often at court Dublin and London, leaving his wife for a long time in a Scottish estate.

The young girl, in his long absence, began to communicate with brother-in-law Arthur. Enraged, Robert accused Mary of adultery, and Arthur, at his request, was thrown into prison for 18 years, where he died. And Rochfort imprisoned his wife on the estate, forbidding her communicate with anyone at all, including their own children. Incidentally, a number historians are generally sure that there was no adultery, and the count is simply wanted to get rid of his wife.





Belvedere House

After the imprisonment of his wife, Rochfort settled in Belvedere House, but even here he could not rid himself of a feeling of hatred and malice. On territory of the estate, he ordered the construction of several architectural whims, including the "Wall of Jealousy", which resembled the ruins gothic castle. And it was no accident.

Next to Robert lived George, his other brother, and his mansion was more luxurious and richer. Robert was so envious that his whim built in such a way that he closed the view on George's wealth. AND this is how this "Wall of Jealousy" remained a symbol of malice and stupidity Irish aristocrat.



Robert Rochfort

He died, by the way, the same way he lived. In the autumn of 1774 he found on the grounds of Belvedere House with a broken head. By official version, he fell and hit a stone, but given the nature Count, most likely someone tried.

The unfortunate Mary Rochfort spent in a Scottish estate more than 30 years, and after the death of the count, the woman was freed by her son. But Mary already was by that time completely crazy and talking to portraits.



wall of jealousy

Today Belvedere House is a cultural heritage site, tourist attraction. There are playgrounds and a restaurant, and a large park full of architectural whims. In including the "Wall of Jealousy", which has become the most important highlight of the estate.