The image. The person in question is at the far left. I'm also curious if the crown and ermine signify anything, and what the text above them means.
More detail on the source the image is from.
Some of my friends suggest that they may be a depiction of Wilgefortis or perhaps the bearded lady of Limerick.
I note that in the 15th century a crown with arches above the circlet was an imperial crown. Unless Wilgefortis or the bearded lady of limerick was supposed to be an emperor or empress they probably would not have been depicted with an imperial crown. Being merely royal or noble would usually not be enough to be depicted with an imperial crown. thus I suspect the image may be a historical or legendary Emperor said to have (badly) disguised himself and hid among women, or else an allegedly effeminate Emperor like Elagabalus or the legendary Assyrian king Sardanapulus.
The man with the beard is Sardanapulus, a legendary king of Assyria. You can see his name written above him in that image. The details about him come from the Greek writer Diodorus Siculus, The Library of History, Book II, 23:
Sardanapallus, the thirtieth in succession from Ninus, who founded the empire, and the last king of the Assyrians, outdid all his predecessors in luxury and sluggishness. For not to mention the fact that he was not seen by any man residing outside the palace, he lived the life of a woman, and spending his days in the company of his concubines and spinning purple garments and working the softest of wool, he had assumed the feminine garb and so covered his face and indeed his entire body with whitening cosmetics and the other unguents used by courtesans, that he rendered it more delicate than that of any luxury-loving woman. He also took care to make even his voice to be like a woman’s, and at his carousals not only to indulge regularly in those drinks and viands which could offer the greatest pleasure, but also to pursue the delights of love with men as well as with women; for he practised sexual indulgence of both kinds without restraint, showing not the least concern for the disgrace attending such conduct.
- Translation 2015, Russel Mortimer Geer; Charles Henry Oldfather; Charles Lawton Sherman; Francis R Walton; C Bradford Welles
Sardanapulus's decadent behaviour is supposed to have led to the fall of his kingdom. He's mentioned in many Classical works but only mentioned once in 'Facta et dicta memorabilia' in passing, where it's said that a great man is known by his friends, and no one tells of the friends of Sardanapulus.