Henry VIII
500 years ago it was said of the young King Henry VIII that…
‘for the future, the whole world will talk of him’.
When Henry died in 1547, his reputation had spread across Europe and even today he remains one of England’s most famous kings.
Henry VIII seemed to have unlimited energy when he became king at the age of eighteen. It was said that he could dance the rest of the court off their feet and tire as many as eight or nine horses in a single day’s hunting.
Throughout his reign Henry VIII excelled in a variety of sports, including hunting and archery. Aged 23, he was a strong sportsman standing at about 1.88 m (6ft 2in) tall with a 107cm (42 in) chest. He became not only a fine tennis player and wrestler but also an outstanding jouster: perhaps the best in the land.
‘The King, being lusty, young and courageous, greatly delighted in feats of chivalry.’
Tournaments
By Henry’s reign (1509-47) tournaments presented the finest sportsmen – skilled contestants who trained from a young age – and were often held to celebrate marriages, births, alliances and victories. They had become fashionable, courtly displays of power with glittering parades of rulers and noblemen. The spectacle of tournament continued to provide an opportunity for entertainment and sport, training with weapons and even diplomacy.
For many years Henry VIII was one of the best jousters in England and, despite the risks of the sport and suffering from a number of injuries and narrow escapes, it was said that he had…
‘no respect or fear of anyone in the world’.
Armour
To display his wealth and power he ordered the best armours to be made for him to wear for tournaments, parades and in battle.
The Royal Armouries collection contains four of Henry VIII’s personal armours including examples made at his royal armoury at Greenwich by some of the finest craftsmen in Europe.
Want to know more?
The related documents below free articles from Henry VIII: Arms and the Man. This major publication can be purchased from our shop online.
Related documents
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