Today we take our beds for granted. In Renaissance Europe, beds were considered the ultimate symbol of wealth. During the 1700s, beds were covered with expensive fabrics and trims and became status symbols for European aristocrats and royals. When Louis XIV was king, there were no box springs. Mattresses were stuffed with straw, leaves, and needles. Even the most expensive beds harbored bedbugs and fleas. The phrase “sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite” referred to the insects that lived in mattresses. The famous French king, reportedly owned 413 beds. King Louis XIV commonly received visitors in his bedroom and conducted affairs of state from his bed. There was a rail separating his bed from guests, and it was considered an honor to watch the king as he woke up or nodded off to sleep.
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