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How Did 16th-Century Kings Demonstrate Their Friendship?

Last Modified Date: February 18, 2024

It was arguably the greatest party in history. Just over 500 years ago, the mighty nations of England and France held what on its surface was a summit meeting between their rulers, Henry VIII and Francis I. But in reality, the so-called Field of the Cloth of Gold was a celebration to beat all celebrations.

More than 10,000 people, along with 6,000 horses, gathered at what is now the northern tip of France, wolfing down 29,000 fish, 6,475 birds, nearly 100,000 eggs, and countless glasses of wine, all to ensure solid Anglo-French relations.

In 1520, France's Francis I and England's Henry VIII held a lavish summit that cost the equivalent of $19 million.

Professor Glenn Richardson of St Mary’s University in Twickenham, London, an expert on the Field of the Cloth of Gold, has calculated that if that same event were held today, it would cost around $19 million USD. "Despite Henry losing a famous wrestling match, the event achieved a great deal in securing Anglo-French relations in the longer term, even if the two kings were again at war within two years," he said.

The Field of the Cloth of Gold, which lasted for 18 days in June 1520, got its name from the amount of golden fabrics used in everything from the tents to the garments that the monarchs donned.

A tale of two countries:

The Concorde was a British-French passenger airliner in service from 1976 to 2003; it could fly at twice the speed of sound.

The Chunnel, an underground tunnel between England and France under the English Channel, is the only fixed link between Europe and Great Britain and the third-longest railway tunnel on Earth.

North Americans are likely familiar with the French and Indian War, which was part of the Seven Years' War, a larger global conflict between England and France that lasted from 1756 to 1763.