History : King Henry the 8th once wrestled King Francis of France

King Henry the 8th once wrestled King Francis of France

https://www.vice.com/en/article/qkybnm/battle-royal-when-englands-henry-viii-wrestled-frances-king-francis

Wrestling, even more than boxing, became a source of entertainment and spectacle in Britain and in the United States in the twentieth century, but it had a rather grand history. In 1520, the twenty-nine-year-old King Henry the VIII of England challenged fellow monarch King Francis the first of France to a wrestling match at the historic "Field of the Cloth of Gold" meeting.

Accounts of the actual match vary, but it seems definitive that the match did indeed take place and was not just apocryphal. The Field of the Cloth of Gold contained elements of bromance, as each king gave the other a bracelet, and declarations of undying love and fealty. The event, held under the auspices of peace and friendship, focused on the efforts of the French and English knights as they sought to best each other in the numerous tournaments and contests. On the third day, Henry defeated Francis in an archery contest, and by all accounts, Francis good-naturedly congratulated him. As the day (and the drinks) wore on, Henry challenged Francis to a wrestling match—a true hand-to-hand competition.

Again, by all accounts, Francis initially demurred, not wanting to risk his friendship with Henry, who was an egoist at best and a narcissist at his worst. But Henry persuaded Francis and the two men set out to a flat, grassy area for the match to endure.

Wrestling, unlike boxing, has a reputation as being the provincial fighting sport. Mostly practiced in rural areas, wrestling was the activity of farm-workers and day-laborers, who, after a hard day in the fields, may unwind by attempting to throw each other to the ground. Boxing would not have been a viable option for many of these groups simply because they needed to be able to wake up and work the next day without dealing with the aftermath of a boxing match. Henry and Francis, while the epitome of aristocratic upbringing and epicurean style, also embraced the more 'country' pursuits of falconing, hunting, and wrestling. Thus these two men, reportedly outfitted in rich velvets and silks, faced each other on the Field of the Cloth of Gold, determined to add grass-stains to the sumptuous garments of his rival.

Details of the bout are not available, and those sources that claim specifics read as spurious imaginings of Victorian fan-boys. What is known is that Francis eventually managed to out maneuver Henry and using a technique known as the Breton trip, the King of France tossed the King of England to the ground.
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