History of breed

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have very ancient history. In IX century Celts have delivered the dogs similar to "Gentlemen" to Britain, nevertheless, till XIII century about small spaniels almost of nothing was audible.

Again about them have started talking singers which mentioned in the songs of small, graceful and at the same time fearless white-black and white-red colored doggies. Later these doggies became favourites of ladies at court of English kings. But not only lovely ladies these graceful beings pleased. In XIII and XIV centuries aristocrats often used on hunting of dwarfish spaniels for their elegant appearance.

However in due course Cavalier King Charles Spaniels turned in decorative doggies more and more, and became indispensable attribute of rich drawing rooms. The peak of their popularity is necessary for times of board of royal dynasties Tudor and Stewart. In the literature of that period small spaniels are often mentioned and the set is connected with breed entertaining, truth, not always joyful stories. It is enough to tell that one of such black-and-white colored doggies - the favourite of the queen of Scotland Maria Stewart - accompanied the mistress on execution.

In XIV and XVII centuries representatives of breed often posed for painters. They can be seen in pictures of great artists of Titian, Van Dejka, Pierre Minjara and Jean Antoine Vatto. Such popularity testifies once again to how them loved and esteemed. However, more often artists not so precisely represented doggies from the film logic point of view: body parts were either big, or too thin, noses either too long or too short. In general, in pictures of these dogs it is possible to learn hardly.

The modern form of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has arisen at the initiative of the American factory owner Rosvela Eldridzha (Roswell Eldridge) thanks to which the special prize at Kraft's exhibition has been established to force to return the British factory owners to the form which it describes as "Blenhejm a spaniel of Old type", By this Eldridzh means a toy spaniel with longer nose, than at King Charles a spaniel. It has led to differentiation of breeds, since 1944. In 1973 the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel on a nickname of Alansmere Akvarius (Alansmere Aquarius) becomes the winner "Best-in-Show" at Kraft's the largest English exhibition.

Images of these doggies meet and in ceramics. Small spaniels were embroidered with maids of honor of English queen Victoria, the brooches representing the favourite doggie on a nickname of Desh were stored In its casket for ornaments wonderful, a delicate work.

English king Henry VIII Tudor (1509-1547) was the known tyrant, nevertheless, had a soft corner in the heart for small spaniels. The special decree forbade to hold dogs at court, however there was also an exception for "several small spaniels for ladies". Later, at the time of board of his daughter of queen Elizabeth I, toy spaniels contained as the room doggies which main task was to deliver to the owners pleasure and to testify to their riches and high position.

The greatest popularity Gentlemen have reached in board of English kings from Stewart's dynasty - Charles I (1600-1649гг.) and Charles II (1630-1685гг.). According to the royal decree for doggies at court there were no closed doors, they filled royal rooms in a large quantity and were supposed even in the British House of Commons. "The toy spaniel is a dog who was created by the king", - so contemporaries of king Charles II responded about it. It is However, established that is direct it didn't participate in deducing of Gentlemen, but, anyway, breed has been named by his name and is obliged to it by the further existence. The king adored small spaniels. They still inspired artists and writers. In particular, in one of novels of English writer Ketlin Vinzor the dog on a nickname Mse belonging to the main favourite of king Charles II is often mentioned. It testifies once again to popularity of breed.

Special merits in cultivation of "toy" spaniels belong to one more high-ranking aristocrat. The ancestor of sir Winston Churchill, the participant of the Spanish war for a throne - John Churchill Malboro (1650-1722) was the admirer white-red окраса. "Charlie" accompanied the owner constantly, even during fight on August, 13th, 1704 at Blenhejme, near Ulm and Donauvert from whom that has come out the winner. As a gift at returning it has received from queen Anna and English parliament the lock located near to Woodstock with extensive park and has entitled it. Here he could indulge in the hobby to the full. It, in particular, has received in the pure state dogs with accurately differentiated red stains on a perlamutrovo-white background. Such color began to name subsequently "Blenhejm".

Along with spaniels color "blenhejm", at the time of kings Charles and James dogs, black-red, three-colored and absolutely red colors also were known. When in England in 1886 the club of that of the spaniels has been based, each version has received the name: that spaniels and black and tan color began to name "black and tan", three-colored - the prince-charlzami, ryzhe-white - "blenhejm", and red - ruby spaniels.

In 1928 the first standard has been developed, and as the standard the spaniel on a nickname of Ens the Dignity color "blenhejm" from nursery "Tive", owner was considered. A. Pitt. Breed has received the additional name "Gentleman" that also is connected with known historical events The matter is that "Gentlemen" named supporters of king Charles I in civil war against Cromwell (1599-1658).

In the late forties Gentlemen from England have been taken out to America, Australia, New Zealand where have put a basis for the further development of breed.

Soon Cavalier King Charles Spaniels could be met almost in all European countries: Holland and Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Austria, Switzerland.

In the homeland, in England, breed the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is extremely popular. The number of these dogs at exhibitions is rather great. In 1994 at Kraft's exhibition 362 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, in 1995 - 314, in 1996 - 335 have been registered. Absolutely it is no wonder that the doggies charming, mobile, tender and betrayed to people have won hearts of fans in many countries of the world.

In Russia, strangely enough, King Charles spaniels have appeared even before revolution. Here that Edward Radzinsky in the book "Nikolay II writes: Life and death": "they at all had favourite doggies. At Anastass - King Charles. The tiny doggie who was presented to sisters in hospital by the wounded officer. It could be carried in a muff".

The history of breed after a long break in 1986 has renewed.

Now at us the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel nevertheless is still very rare. For 17 years of contemporary history of gentlemen their number has increased in Russia, but not so is considerable, as could. Very much it would be desirable, that excellent qualities of these lovely creations have appreciated also their popularity at us, has reached the European level.

Many known people have been fascinated by this breed. At Nensi and Ronald Rejganov in the White House there lived the gentleman by name of Reks. He has lived in their family about 14 years. At Frenka Sinatra there lived four gentlemen. Also Dzheniffer of Lavas, Kortni Coke, Misha Barton and the Swedish princess Victoria were owners of gentlemen Liv Tyler. Silvest Stallone has 2 gentlemen.