The story goes:
On the 17th of March, A.D. 871, when good King Alfred ruled this land, he called together all the trades (seven in number) and declared his intention of making that trades-man King over all the trades who could best get on without the help of all the others for the longest period. He proclaimed a banquet to which he invited a representative from each trade, and made it a condition that each should bring a specimen of his work, with the tools he used in working it.
The tailor brought his shears and a new coat, the blacksmith brought his hammer and a horseshoe, the baker his peel and a loaf, the shoemaker his awl and a new pair of shoes, the carpenter his saw and a trunk, the butcher his chopper and a joint, and the mason his chisels and a corner-stone.
Now the tailor's coat was of such surpassing beauty of color, and exquisite fashion, that all the guests, with one consent, declared it a marvel of workmanship, and entirely eclipsing the handicraft of all the others. Upon this, the tailor was unanimously pronounced by the good king, and the general company, the fittest to be king of the trades, and was duly installed. This decision made the blacksmith very jealous and angry, and he declared that he would do no more work while the tailor was King; so he shut up his forge and left.
It came to pass that King Alfred was the first to need the services of a blacksmith, his horse threw a shoe, but he could gain no admittance. Then came one trade, then another, in fact all the six, each having broken his tools, thereby preventing him from carrying on his business until he could get them mended. The last of the six who came to grief was the tailor, who had broken his shears and was compelled to stop working. This all happened on the 23rd November (Saint Clement's day) in the same year.
King Alfred and all the trades determined to break open the forge and do the work themselves. So the King began to shoe his horse. The tailor began to mend his shears, and each trade in succession essayed to repair his tools, but all failed. The horse kicked the king and the tailor bruised his fingers. The fire would not burn and everybody got into everybody's way. The butcher began to shove the baker, he shoved the shoemaker, who in turn shoved the carpenter, and the latter revenged himself by shoving the mason, who passed the compliment on to the tailor, until in the general confusion the anvil was knocked over.
At this moment, in walked Saint Clement, with the blacksmith on his arm, the latter looking very angry at the wreck of his once tidy forge. Saint Clement said nothing, but seemed to enjoy the discomfiture of the King and his company.
The King, making a humble bow to Saint Clement and the blacksmith, said “I have made a great mistake in allowing my judgment in this important matter to be governed by the extravagant color and stylish cut of the tailor's coat. In justice to the blacksmith (a trade which none of us can do), I proclaim him King.'
Immediately all the trades, except the tailor (who had been overthrown), begged the blacksmith to mend their tools. So he shod the King's horse, and willingly mended the tools of all who asked him. He even made and presented to the tailor a new pair of shears! This presentation took place at a feast given by the King to celebrate the event, who, in a well-ordered speech, admitted having been taken in by the tailor's beautiful coat, but now felt the greatest pleasure in announcing that for all time the blacksmith should be regarded as the King of all the trades. 'So let us all drink good health, and long life to the jolly blacksmith.'
At this feast, everyone was in good form, except the tailor, whose nose was a bit out of joint, and while the rest were enjoying themselves and singing a song to the blacksmith, he crawled under the table and snipped away at the bottom of the blacksmith’s apron.
That is why, to this day, the king of all trades--the almighty blacksmith--has a fringe at the bottom of the apron.
Source:
The Folk-Lore Journal, Volume II, January-December 1884. Published for the Folk-Lore Society by Elliot Stock in Paternoster Row, London. Pages: 322-327.
FAQs
Hephaestus (Latin: Vulcan) was the blacksmith of the gods in Greek and Roman mythology. A supremely skilled artisan whose forge was a volcano, he constructed most of the weapons of the gods, as well as beautiful assistants for his smithy and a metal fishing-net of astonishing intricacy.
How important were the blacksmiths? ›
Blacksmiths, people who worked over a forge and crafted tools and objects out of iron, were essential to the society of the 19th century. Before factories were using mass production methods to quickly make and sell large quantities of metal items, it was the blacksmith who crafted these items.
What is the blacksmith trade? ›
A blacksmith is a person who shapes iron or steel into new objects. Blacksmiths make tools, gates, furniture, cooking utensils, ironwork to decorate houses, tools for the fireplace and more. Blacksmithing is an old trade that dates back hundreds of years.
Who is the Viking god of blacksmithing? ›
In Norse mythology, Brokkr (Old Norse: [ˈbrokːz̠], "the one who works with metal fragments; blacksmith", anglicized Brokk) is a dwarf, and the brother of Eitri or Sindri. According to Skáldskaparmál, Loki had Sif's hair, Freyr's ship Skíðblaðnir and Odin's spear Gungnir fashioned by the Sons of Ivaldi.
Who is the god of metal smithing? ›
Hephaestus (UK: /hɪˈfiːstəs/ hif-EE-stəs, US: /hɪˈfɛstəs/ hif-EST-əs; eight spellings; Greek: Ἥφαιστος, translit. Hḗphaistos) is the Greek god of artisans, blacksmiths, carpenters, craftsmen, fire, metallurgy, metalworking, sculpture and volcanoes.
Who is the Celtic god of blacksmithing? ›
In Irish mythology, Goibniu (Old Irish pronunciation: [ˈɡovʲnʲu]; Modern Irish: Gaibhne) was the metalsmith of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He is believed to have been a smithing god and is also associated with hospitality. His name is related to the Welsh Gofannon and the Gaulish Gobannus.
Who is the Egyptian god of blacksmithing? ›
Ptah was the Egyptian god said to have created the cosmos. He was a maker and creator and a patron of craftsmen, especially sculptors. The Greeks identified Ptah with Hephaestus, the god of craftsmen and artisans including metalworkers, carpenters, sculptors and blacksmiths.
Who is the Roman god of blacksmithing? ›
Vulcan is the Roman and Greek god of fire and the forge, and mythical inventor of smithing and metal working. His Greek equivalent is Hephaestus.
Who is the first blacksmith in history? ›
Blacksmithing began with the Hittites of Anatolia around 1500 BCE when this group discovered smelting. The Iron Age, named after human's discovery of iron ore, provided a crucial foundation for blacksmithing.
Why were blacksmiths lame? ›
In antiquity blacksmiths used arsenic in part of the process to make bronze, as a result many blacksmiths suffered from lameness and cancer caused by the continual exposure to the arsenic. So Hephaestus of the lamed and crooked foot, is an occupational marker.
Blacksmiths only sometimes spawn, there is a 50-50 chance that one will spawn, 25% chance of 2. A chest spawns in Blacksmiths, with random items.
Who is the greatest blacksmith in mythology? ›
Hephaestus/Vulcan - He's technically the ONLY blacksmith god in mythology.
What is the best blacksmith trade? ›
Perfect Blacksmith: A perfect blacksmith has a desired trade in the last slot. A desired trade would either be the Iron, Coal or Gold trade, depended on the given infrastructure, because you earn emeralds doing it. Blacksmithes are especially useful because they offer all Diamond Tools and Armor Pieces.
What trade was a whitesmith? ›
A whitesmith is a metalworker who does finishing work on iron and steel such as filing, lathing, burnishing or polishing. The term also refers to a person who works with "white" or light-coloured metals, and is sometimes used as a synonym for tinsmith.
Who is the god of blacksmithing and brewing? ›
Goibhniu | Irish God, Smithcraft & Brewing | Britannica.
Who is the god of weapon Smith? ›
A blacksmith and craftsman, Hephaestus made weapons and military equipment for the gods and certain mortals, including a winged helmet and sandals for Hermes and armour for Achilles.
Who was the best Smith in Middle Earth? ›
Telchar was commonly regarded amongst the greatest smiths of all time, save only Fëanor and Celebrimbor. Among his works were the knife Angrist, the sword Narsil (later reforged as Andúril), and the Dragon-helm of Dor-lómin, worn eventually by Túrin Turambar.
Who is the god of iron and blacksmith? ›
Ogun is god of all those who work with iron elements, including blacksmiths who are grateful that he “transmits [his] power to the forge” (lines 8-9), the blacksmith's workshop.
