On this day in history, 24th January 1536, the forty-four year-old Henry VIII suffered a serious jousting accident at Greenwich Palace.
The Imperial ambassador, Eustace Chapuys, reported:
“On the eve of the Conversion of St. Paul, the King being mounted on a great horse to run at the lists, both fell so heavily that every one thought it a miracle he was not killed, but he sustained no injury. Thinks he might ask of fortune for what greater misfortune he is reserved, like the other tyrant who escaped from the fall of the house, in which all the rest were smothered, and soon after died.”1
And Dr Ortiz, in his letter to the Empress, wrote:
“The French king said that the king of England had fallen from his horse, and been for two hours without speaking. “La Ana” was so upset that she miscarried of a son.”2
You can read more about the accident and its impact in my article Henry VIII’s Jousting Accident – 24th January 1536
Henry VIII’s 1536 jousting accident is one of the events on my countdown to Anne’s fall on The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown website – see www.thefallofanneboleyn.com for the list of dates and events.
Notes and Sources
- LP x.200, Chapuys to Granvelle
- LP x.427, Dr Ortiz to the Empress
