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What happened when Francis I met Henry VIII at the Field of Cloth of Gold?
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Francis I
King Francis I of France, portrait by Pierre Dumonstier, after a drawing by Jean Clouet; in the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris.
The Field of Cloth of Gold was a lavish diplomatic summit held between June 7 and 24, 1520, near Calais, where Francis I and Henry VIII sought to display their wealth and power.1
To host the event, both monarchs constructed elaborate temporary palaces and pavilions. The meeting was characterized by grand entertainments, including jousts, mummers, and religious services, all conducted with outward cordiality despite language barriers between the two entourages.1
While the event was visually spectacular, its political impact was negligible. Shortly after the summit, Henry VIII met with Francis I’s rival, the Holy Roman emperor Charles V, and agreed to avoid new alliances with France for two years.1