A reference to a legendary or fictional king, especially used to describe a wealthy nobleman who falls in love with a common or poor person.
From the ballad 'The Beggar Maid,' featuring King Cophetua, a legendary figure who became popular in English literature during the Renaissance. The allusion comes from medieval romance traditions.
King Cophetua became a cultural symbol for 'love conquers class barriers'—this story was so popular that it appeared in Shakespeare's references and Victorian literature, making it a shorthand for wealthy people marrying 'beneath' their station, which itself reflects changing attitudes about love and class.
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