On Sunday 27th October 1532, two days after Henry VIII had returned from Boulogne with the French King, Francis I, who had sent Anne a lovely diamond on his arrival, Anne Boleyn, Marquess of Pembroke, made a dramatic entrance to the great banquet held by King Henry VIII in Calais in honour of Francis.
In my today’s “on this day in Tudor history video”, I share details of the sumptuous banquet and lavish masque that followed.
Anne Boleyn definitely knew how to make an entrance! Anne and her ladies must have looked wonderful, and the room was also ‘dressed’ for the occasion. It’s definitely one of those events I’d love to go back in time for.
By the way, you’ll recognise some of the names of Anne’s ladies and those present in Calais.
The 1532 trip so far:
- Friday 11 October 1532 – Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn set sail from Dover on The Swallow at Dawn and arrive at Calais at 10 o’clock in the morning.
- Wednesday 16 October 1532 – While Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII are lodged in Calais, the Duke of Norfolk, Earl of Derby and a group of gentleman meet with Anne, duc de Montmorency, “the great mayster of Fraunce”, and his men at the English Pale, six miles outside of Calais.
- Monday 21 October 1532 – Henry VIII leaves Anne Boleyn in Calais to spend four days with Francis I, “his beloved brother”, at the French court in Boulogne. See https://youtu.be/ZB8WUZlqYFY
- Friday 25 October 1532 – Henry VIII and Francis I arrive in Calais, and Henry VIII plays host. See https://youtu.be/m7LbYIKx8_Y
If you prefer reading to videos, then you can find out all the details in an article I wrote a couple of years ago – click here – and if you prefer audio, you can listen to my podcast here.
If you like to get a daily Tudor fix, then please do subscribe to the Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor Society YouTube Channel or my podcast as I do daily “on this day” talks.
