5.3.1. GROWING ECONOMIES BRING STRONGER KINGS

THEY ARE SHOWN ON HORSEBACK AS THE STATIC IMAGE CHANGES: 

Tapestry (detail), musée de la Renaissance

King David, Brussels, toward 1520

This king is not dressed for combat. Vassals surround him so he cannot fight, as in parts of the African savannah. Yet he is on horseback. But not on a white horse, as the two knights around him are.

Three powerful kings of about 1530-1550:

 François I à cheval by Jean Clouet, 1540 / zoom

France, Francis I

                                       By Friedrich Bouterwerk, no date :  zoom            By Cornelis Anthonisz, Dutch, 1538 / zoom 

England, Henry VIII

By Titian, 1548

Spain, Charles V (The rare black horse fits the dark skies.)

Francis I charges into battle.

François I charges the Swiss mercenaries at the battle of Marignan, attributed to Noel Bellemare, 1539-1530 / zoom

Zoom

Notice the elaborate dress and of course, the white horse.

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Ten years later, Francis's exploits bring his capture. That leads to the authorities of Flanders, which Spain controls, to commission a giant tapestry of the battle for its king. "During the Renaissance its cost made tapestry the art of kings..." the video's commentator says.

  The Battle of Pavia, 1525 (detail of tapestry finished in  1531)  / zoom

Video / zoom 

       

Keeping profits from being invested

is more than ever the job of kings. 

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Next,
5.3.2.

Stronger kings disperse wealth