Page 33 - All About History - Issue 12-14

Bluffer’s Guide
No small
occasion
Around 6,000 courtiers and
servants accompanied each king to
the meeting, in many cases cajoled
into attending by their lords who
wished to make the best show of
power. The English saturated the
surrounding area, consuming a
reported grand total of 2,200 sheep
during the proceedings.
THE FIELD OF CLOTH OF GOLD
A golden rivalry Major events
There were grand and flamboyant A friendship treaty
displays of wealth by both royal 12 March 1520
parties, with each group eager to
literally outshine the other with Cardinal Thomas Wolsey secures
a treaty to confirm the future
golden luxurious dress. Just as the meeting of the monarchs of
two neighbouring countries were France and England.
traditionally fierce political enemies,
so Henry and Francis shared an The kings meet
amicable if unsettled relationship 7 June 1520
Francis and Henry ride across the
fraught by a personal rivalry, Val Dore alone to meet, officially
culminating in a wrestling match beginning the engagement.
When Francis I of France failed to between the two young monarchs
be elected as emperor of Rome, he Jousting contests
sought to solidify his position with that saw the English king bested.
an English alliance 9 June 1520
The first of many jousting
No expense spared contests is held, with knights
of both countries competing,
The cost of the imitation palace alone has been including the kings themselves.
estimated at around £10,000 – a fortune at the Pomp and ceremony
time – but the total English expenditure was 11 June 1520
Copious feasting, drinking,
several times this. King Francis borrowed and dancing and contests continued,
with each royal party seeking to
taxed his way to gathering huge sums of money outdo the other.
to host the English court, spending over 400,000 Parting of the ways
livres on luxury feasts, fashionable dress and more. 23 June 1520
Cardinal Wolsey holds mass,
accompanied by large English and
The Field featured a temporary French choirs, before the two
palace made of wood and brick, as parties finally part the next day.
well as pavilions laced with gold
Key figures
Henry VIII
1491-1547
Still a relatively young man,
Henry was keen to show off his
own and his country’s prestige.
Francis I
1494-1547
Having failed to gain election to
The rich and Fruitless talk the Imperial throne, the young
French king was seeking military
powerful There had been high hopes that security from his sworn enemy.
King Henry’s entourage was made the two countries would reach Thomas Wolsey
up of nearly the entire English court, a political and military alliance 1473-1530
including Sir Thomas More, Cardinal against the Roman emperor, Among the most influential men
Thomas Wolsey, Queen Katherine Charles V, during the meeting. in England, Cardinal Wolsey held
and his close friend the Duke of However, within a year, and despite the king’s ear and orchestrated
events at court.
Suffolk. King Francis’ contingent all the warm words of friendship
was no less grand and the monarch between the royal pair, an Anglo- Queen Katherine
was joined by noblemen and women Imperial treaty against the French 1485-1536
from across France, as well as was signed in August 1521 and by The first of Henry’s six wives,
his favourite Guillaume Gouffier, the following year the countries Katherine was the aunt of
seigneur de Bonnivet. were at war. Charles V, the Roman emperor
and enemy of France.
“ A wrestling match between Charles Brandon
1484-1545
the two young monarchs saw The Duke of Suffolk was a
personal friend and confidant
the English king bested” of King Henry, making him an © Look and Learn
influential figure at court.
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