Friday, August 27, 2010

THE MOST FANTASTIC CAMPING HOLIDAY EVER

As have been researching pennants and pagentry, I came across this in my googling searches and had to share it with you my passionate darlings, because I know that it will fascinate you, that at one time textiles were such a sign of prestige and power that two Kings were prepared to risk all to see who could be the more lavishly decked out for a little camping holiday in the most fantastic textiles imaginable.
The painting above is of the scene at Dover as Henry VIII and his Courtiers prepare to leave for the most fantastic camping trip ever.
The best ever if you love textiles, glamour and excitement. King Henry VIII and King Francis I met near Calais in 1520 for a little camping holiday.


Francis I and King Henry VIII

The trip was really a big brag fest, who had the most glorious accouterments, and the spot where they pitched camp was known as the The Field of Cloth of Gold because of the amount of gorgeous gold cloth.

This stuff is pretty wonderful as you can see from the above image, and expensive and the two kings just about bankrupted their countries getting set up for the most stylish camping trip ever. Here is one of the tents, these were modeled on the layout of palaces, and made from velvet and cloth of gold.


The entertainment was not lacking either, with a jousting tournament between knights on horseback. Below is the roll of arms from the tournament, starting with those of the two kings, and then listing the arms of the jousting knights.


The painting below captures the scene from above in all its splendour. Camping under canvas will never be the same again.

1 comment:

  1. Can't believe what they got away with as kings! Our polititians can't even buy lunch off taxpayers cash!

    That first image is fantastic isn't it?

    ReplyDelete