The Mad Marquis of Beresford - an anti-hero of his time and a possible prototype of Batman (7 photos)

Each era has its heroes. But they would be dull and uninteresting if they didn't have antagonists.





Irish aristocrat Marquis Henri de la Pouet Beresford (1811 – 1859) was a controversial person. On the one hand, it shone wit and intelligence, and on the other hand, he was irritated by the highly moral society. And he demonstrated his irritation through drunken revelry, acts of sophisticated vandalism and evil cruel jokes.



Henri de la Pouet Beresford

One day the Marquis decided to amuse himself by announcing to the people that London Square will host a free gin giveaway. And even gave it away mugs to the gathered onlookers. What came of it? Banal drinking with a fight which Beresford watched with pleasure.

The next time the aristocrat rushed on horseback along a busy street, creating a dangerous situation. For which he was taken into custody. To court Henri appeared in the company of that same horse, arguing that only this the noble animal can tell exactly how fast it galloped.

In the spring of 1837, the man had such a nice rest in the company like-minded people who arrived in Leicestershire on horseback, choosing as means of transportation of a huge wild boar.

The Mad Marquis and Spring-Heeled Jack



The marquis indulged in strange and dangerous amusements sincerely and from the heart, enjoying the effect. And then he outdid himself - he became appear on the streets on stilts in strange clothes, scaring people exotic appearance and completely detached facial expression.



And then a strange thing appeared on the dark streets of London a creature with springs on its legs that attacked under the cover of darkness girls and women. The creature, which looked like a devil, did not cause any particular harm. caused. Tearing clothes, screaming, scratching and hiding in the unknown direction.

The results were minor wounds, fainting, hysterics, which impressionable ladies suffered. Jumping Jack image instantly popularized by the press. And the people, remembering the stilted walks of the Marquis, associated it with the image of the night devil.



Moreover, his physical training allowed him to perform tricks like suddenly appearing from the darkness and instantly jumping back: Henri was a rowing athlete. This version was also supported by evidence of a servant boy who managed to notice an embroidered the letter W in gold, reminiscent of a coat of arms.

After the night terrorist, images of others began to appear evil superheroes, always fighting against good. About them became create comics, then write books, stage plays, shows and puppet shows performances, making films.



There was a stand-alone comic about Jumping Jack, and in the 70s Several cartoons were made in Britain. Later the character himself was forgotten and remained popular only among comic book fans. But this image played its role in the emergence of such iconic characters as Zorro and Batman.

As for the Marquis himself, he did not comment rumors circulating around his immodest person. And then I couldn’t do it do - returned to Ireland, where in 1859 he met a fitting end his risky life - fell from a horse while trying to jump onto it from balcony and broke his neck.



But sensation-hungry London society insisted that Jumping Jack's place was taken by one of his followers. By the way, about imitators: today's Liverpool student Elizabeth Penock said that she encountered something strange on the street and in every sense outstanding subject - a three-meter athlete with glowing yellow-red eyes appeared before the girl in the darkness. When she screamed, he took off easily up, paused a little on the roof of a three-story building and rushed off to in an unknown direction across the rooftops in giant leaps.

The Beresford case lives on, the show goes on. What about Beresford? What difference does it make, because every city needs not only a hero, but also the anti-hero he deserves.