Today In History: The Start of The Field of Cloth of Gold

A favorite setting for historical fiction novelist. Set to take place nearby of Calais in the area of Balinghem. The field of cloth of gold was opened on June 7Th and followed through to June 24Th in the year 1520. Intended for Henry VIII of England and Francis I of France to strengthen the bond of friendship following the signing of the Anglo-French treaty of 1518. It more so became a challenge of each kings egocentric personalities. Both kings going above and beyond the norm to upstage one another. The days were taken up with tournaments, in which both kings took part. There were banquets in which the kings entertained each other's queens. The many other entertainments included archery displays and wrestling between Breton and English wrestlers. The French account of events stated that apparently things turned sour for Henry when he lost a wrestling match with Francis.
~Lizzy~

Today in History, Happy Birthday Francis I

On September 12Th 1494 Francis I of France was born.
He was crowned king of France in 1515 in the cathedral at Reims and reigned until his death. Francis I is considered to be France's first Renaissance monarch. His reign saw France make immense cultural advances.

He was also a rival of Henry VIII, and they even competed in their womanizing skills. Anne Boleyn's sister Mary was Francois's mistress until he passed her off to Henry. Which his pious wife Claude probably did not like but she never said a word about his womanizing games.

On 31 March 1547, on his son and heir's 28Th birthday. It is said that "he died complaining about the weight of a crown that he had first perceived as a gift from God"

Today In History, Claude Queen Consort of France

On July 20Th, 1524 Queen Claude of France Passed away. She was Queen Consort of France and the Duchess of Brittany in her own right. Being the eldest daughter of Louis XII of France and the Anne Duchess of Brittany. When her husband François became King in 1515, two of Claude's ladies-in-waiting were the English sisters Mary and Anne Boleyn, coincidence I think not.

Claude's life was spent in an endless round of annual pregnancies. Which had to be hard on any woman's body. Her husband had many mistresses, but was usually relatively discreet. Claude imposed a strict moral code on her own household, which only a few chose to flout. Her husband was also Henry VIII arch enemy. They even competed in there womanizing skills. Once they even bare brawled. Henry lost and was pissed that he lost to François.

Today in History: The Field of Cloth of Gold 1520

A favorite setting for historical fiction novelist. Set to take place nearby of Calais in the area of Balinghem. The field of cloth of gold was opened on June 7Th and followed through to June 24Th in the year 1520. Intended for Henry VIII of England and Francis I of France to strengthen the bond of friendship following the signing of the Anglo-French treaty of 1518. It more so became a challenge of each kings egocentric personalities. Both kings going above and beyond the norm to upstage one another. The days were taken up with tournaments, in which both kings took part. There were banquets in which the kings entertained each other's queens. The many other entertainments included archery displays and wrestling between Breton and English wrestlers. The French account of events stated that apparently things turned sour for Henry when he lost a wrestling match with Francis.