Field of the Cloth of Gold facts for kids

The Field of the Cloth of Gold was a huge meeting between King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France. It happened from June 7 to June 24, 1520. The meeting took place in Balinghem, a spot between Ardres in France and Guînes in English territory. It was a very expensive and grand show of power and wealth by both kings.

This special meeting was planned to make the friendship stronger between the two countries. They had signed a peace treaty in 1514. The kings met again later in 1532. That time, Francis helped Henry try to convince the Pope to end Henry's first marriage. An important English leader, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, hoped this meeting would help stop wars among Christian countries forever.

The meeting spot was in the Pale of Calais. This was the last piece of land England still owned in France. This land had caused some arguments between England and France. But the chosen location was best for setting up such a big event.

Why Did the Kings Meet?

In the early 1500s, two big powers were growing in Europe. These were France, led by King Francis I, and the Holy Roman Empire, led by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. England, which was not as strong, was trying to be friends with both.

Just before this meeting, a peace agreement called the Treaty of London was signed. It was a promise among European powers not to attack each other. This was meant to help them stand together against the growing Ottoman Empire. Henry also met with Charles V in the Netherlands before the Field of the Cloth of Gold. They met again in Calais afterwards.

Both Henry and Francis wanted to be seen as powerful and modern rulers. They believed a strong leader could choose peace. The meeting was designed to show how amazing each king's court was. This was meant to build respect and peace between countries that had often been enemies. Henry and Francis were also similar in age and had brave reputations. So, they were likely curious to meet each other.

Everything was set up to make sure both sides were treated equally. The meeting spot was right on the edge of English land near Calais. The valley where they first met was even changed to have flat areas for both groups. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey planned the whole event. He was a skilled diplomat with great power. Important English guests included Thomas More and Anne Boleyn's mother and sister.

A similar meeting happened long before this one. In 1396, King Charles VI of France and King Richard II of England met near Calais. They met to discuss peace during the Hundred Years' War. That meeting was also very grand, much like the Field of the Cloth of Gold.

What Happened at the Meeting?

Each king tried to impress the other. They had amazing tents and fancy clothes. There were huge feasts, music, jousting (knights fighting with lances), and games. The tents and clothes had so much cloth of gold on them. This was a very expensive fabric made with silk and real gold thread. That's why the meeting place was named "Field of the Cloth of Gold."

The kings and their large groups of followers had very fancy places to stay. Henry especially wanted to make a big impression. Near the castle of Guînes, a temporary palace was built for the English king. It was huge, covering about 12,000 square meters. The palace had four main sections around a central courtyard. Each side was about 100 meters long.

Only the bottom part, about 2.4 meters high, was made of brick. Above that, the walls were 10 meters tall. They were made of cloth or canvas on wooden frames. These were painted to look like stone or brick. The roof was made of oiled cloth, painted to look like lead tiles. People at the time said the palace had so much glass that it felt like being outside. Descriptions say the decorations showed images of warriors and ancient heroes.

Two royal monkeys covered in gold leaf were also part of King Henry's group. These were gifts from the Ottoman Sultan. King Francis I found them very funny. Cardinal Wolsey said Francis enjoyed playing with them.

The palace was decorated richly with many gold items. Red wine flowed from two fountains outside. The chapel had 35 priests. The French king's chapel had one of the best choirs in Europe. Their music was said to "delight their hearers." The English music was likely led by William Cornysh the Younger.

Henry's group was very large. In one month, they ate 2,200 sheep and huge amounts of other food. Outside the main castle, 2,800 tents were set up for other visitors.

Henry arrived at Guînes on June 4, 1520. Francis arrived at Ardres. After Cardinal Wolsey visited the French king, the two monarchs met. This first meeting happened on June 7, at a spot called Val d'Or, halfway between their camps.

The next days were filled with tournaments. Both kings took part in these events. There were also banquets where the kings entertained each other's queens. Other fun activities included archery shows and wrestling matches.

Cardinal Wolsey led a special church service. The two kings said goodbye on June 24. A painting of the event shows a dragon flying overhead. Some people thought this was a sign, but it was probably a firework. Others think the dragon was a symbol for Francis or a sign of bad things to come. The sermon was given by Richard Pace. Wolsey gave a special blessing to everyone there.

Queen Catherine of Aragon, Henry's wife, attended some events. She wore Spanish clothes, which looked very different from English and French styles. This showed her connection to Spain.

What Happened After the Meeting?

The meeting was very impressive at the time. But it did not lead to many big political changes. The rules of the tournament said the two kings would not compete against each other. However, Henry surprisingly challenged Francis to a wrestling match. Henry quickly lost, which was a bit embarrassing for him.

Sadly, the friendship between England and France did not last long. Soon after the event, Cardinal Wolsey arranged an alliance with Charles V. Charles V then declared war on France later that year. This started the Italian War of 1521–26.

Who Was There?

Many important people attended the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Records show lists of who was present. These lists give us an idea of how many people were in each king's group.

King Henry VIII's Group

Henry's group was huge. It included:

• Cardinal Wolsey with 300 servants and 50 horses.
• One archbishop with 70 servants and 30 horses.
• Two dukes, each with 70 servants and 30 horses.
• One marquis with 56 servants and 26 horses.
• Ten earls, each with 42 servants and 20 horses.
• Five bishops, each with many servants and horses.
• Twenty barons, each with 22 servants and 12 horses.
• Many knights, royal chaplains, and guards.
• The Earl Marshal, the Earl of Essex, had an extra 130 servants and 100 horses.

In total, King Henry's company had almost 4,000 people and over 2,000 horses!

Queen Catherine of Aragon's Group

Queen Catherine also had a large group with her:

• One duchess with 4 women and 12 horses.
• Ten countesses, each with 3 women and 8 horses.
• Twelve baronesses, each with 2 women and 6 horses.
• Many ladies and knights' wives.
• One earl, three bishops, and four barons.
• Thirty knights and six chaplains.
• Many grooms and officers.

In total, the Queen's company had over 1,100 people and nearly 800 horses.

Other Important Attendees

Many other important people were there, including:

• Commissioners who helped manage the event.
• Noblemen who rode with the king at the first meeting.
• Members of the King's Council.
• Many knights from different counties across England.
• All 23 English Knights of the Garter were present.

King Francis I's Group

King Francis also brought a very impressive group. It included:

• The King of Navarre.
• Dukes of Alençon, Bourbon, Vendosme, and Lorraine.
• Many counts, princes, and important lords.
• Marshals of France.
• 200 gentlemen of the king's household.
• 400 archers of the guard and 100 Swiss guards.

Francis's group was also very large, though perhaps slightly smaller than Henry's.

Images for kids

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  The Field of the Cloth of Gold, a painting from around 1545. It shows Henry VIII on horseback.

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  Francis I (painting by Jean Clouet)

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  Henry VIII (painting by Joos van Cleve)

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  Cardinal Wolsey helped plan the meeting.

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  Henry VIII leaving Dover for France.

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  Wrestling at the Field of the Cloth of Gold (tapestry, around 1520).