King Henry VIII: Westminster Tournament Challenge

12th February 1511

Pima illustrazione medievale di un uomo di colore alla corte inglese.

On this day, King Henry VIII of England commissioned the ‘Westminster Tournament Challenge‘ in honour of the birth of his son Prince Henry to his wife Catherine of Aragon. The King wanted a pictorial record of his tournament so he commissioned a Roll of Honour in the form of a 60-foot long illustrated manuscript which still survives today. Apart from the King himself and other officials and dignitaries, the manuscript shows six trumpeters including a black musician by the name of John Blanke (the surname is possibly a play on the French or Spanish word for ‘white’). John Blanke is the only identifiable black person in 16th century English art and probably came to England with Catherine of Aragon’s entourage.

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Author: Tony

Born and raised in Malaysia between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Educated at Wycliffe College in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England. Living in the foothills of Mount Etna since 1982 and teaching English at Catania University since 1987.

7 thoughts on “King Henry VIII: Westminster Tournament Challenge”

  1. I thought I knew a lot about Henry VIII’s life but this is absolutely new to me.. Thanks for sharing

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      1. Did you know that Anne Boleyn is said to have six fingers in one hand and that she created the fashion of long sleeves to hide this “witchy” appendix ? LOL Carla

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