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Secondary sourcePainting15th century

Tournament for Henry VI's Wedding

Unknown · 15th century

A 15th-century manuscript miniature showing a jousting tournament held to celebrate Henry VI's wedding.

This miniature depicts the tournament celebrating Henry VI's wedding, a public event marking his reign.

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Medieval manuscript miniature of a jousting tournament. Two armoured knights on horseback clash with lances in a wooden-railed arena, with spectators in red-draped stands above. A kneeling figure in red robes and a red hat sits on a white horse at left, and text in red and black ink appears below and above the painting on the page.
Unknown artist, Tournament for Henry VI's Wedding, from Vigiles de Charles VII, 15th century.

About this source

What it is

This is a painted miniature from the Vigiles de Charles VII, a manuscript work by Martial d'Auvergne, made in France in the 15th century by an unknown artist. It shows a jousting tournament celebrating the marriage of Henry VI of England.

Why it matters

Royal weddings were public events marked by festivities like tournaments, and this image shows how such occasions were remembered and illustrated decades later. It reflects how Henry VI's marriage was recorded as part of French historical memory, not just English.

Look closer

  • What details tell you this is a tournament rather than a real battle?
  • Who might have commissioned or read a manuscript like this?
  • What does the image leave out about the political reasons behind the marriage?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Henry VI on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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