Claire | April 15, 2021
Thank you to Leah for her excellent question regarding a scene from Showtime’s “The Tudors” series in which Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry VIII challenges Emmanuel Leconte as Francis I to a wrestling match at the Field of Cloth of Gold meeting. Did Henry VIII and Francis I really wrestle? And, if so, what happened? […]
Claire | October 29, 2019
On this day in history, 29th October 1532, according to Wynkyn de Word, King Henry VIII accompanied his French counterpart, King Francis I, to Morgison, situated seven miles outside of Calais, and bid farewell to him there. Francis I then carried on to Paris. The two kings had spent four days together in English-held Calais […]
Claire | October 25, 2019
On this day in Tudor history, 25th October 1532, King Henry VIII returned to the English territory of Calais following his visit to the French court at Boulogne. It was time for him to play host now to King Francis I of France and the French party who had travelled to Calais with him. But […]
Claire | October 27, 2018
On this day in history, Sunday 27th October 1532, in Calais, which was an English territory at the time, King Henry VIII hosted a lavish “great banquet” for Francis I, King of France. Henry VIII and his sweetheart, Anne Boleyn Marquess of Pembroke, had travelled to Calais to gain Francis’ public recognition and approval of […]
Claire | October 25, 2017
On this day in history, 25th October 1532, King Henry VIII arrived back in the English territory of Calais following his visit to the French court at Boulogne. Francis I, King of France, travelled back with him. The Maner of the tryumphe of Caleys and Bulleyn says this of their journey and arrival: “And on […]
Claire | October 21, 2016
On this day in history, 21st October 1532, King Henry VIII left Anne Boleyn, Marquis of Pembroke, at Calais while he rode to Boulogne to spend four days at the French court with King Francis I. Read more… Also on this day in history, 21st October 1536, during the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion, Robert Aske […]
Claire | October 11, 2016
On this day in history, 11 October 1532, at just before dawn, Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Marquis of Pembroke, set sail from Dover in the King’s ship The Swallow. Their destination was Calais and the purpose of their trip was to gain King Francis I of France’s support for their relationship and their quest […]
Claire | October 27, 2015
On 25th October 1532, Henry VIII and Francis I, King of France, arrived at Calais, which was English territory at the time to continue their talks and to meet with Anne Boleyn, Marquis of Pembroke, Henry’s queen-in-waiting. After his arrival in Calais, Francis sent Anne Boleyn a diamond via the Provost of Paris, but Anne […]
