Field of Cloth of Gold

The Field of Cloth of Gold was a spectacular meeting in June 1520, near Guisnes in France, between Henry VIII of England and Francis I of France.

Each king tried to out shine the other, with dazzling tents and clothes, huge feasts, jousting and games.

Although the meeting started well, it apparently turned sour for Henry when he lost a wrestling match with Francis. Relations between the two countries followed when Henry supported Charles, prince of Castile, the Holy Roman Emperor who declared war on France later that year.