Court jesters were entertainers in royal courts during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. They often wore colorful costumes and distinctive hats with bells. Their role was to amuse the king and his guests through humor, music, and acrobatics, providing comic relief in a formal setting. Unlike typical entertainers, jesters had a unique position that allowed them to speak freely and critique the nobility without fear of punishment. They used wit and satire to comment on political and social issues, making them important figures in the courts of monarchs like King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I.