![]() Maximilian belonged to the House of Habsburg and it was during his reign that the dynasty’s influence was greatly expanded. Maximilian became Holy Roman Emperor in 1508, but had not been crowned by the Pope in Rome as was the custom, due to his war with the Venetians. It is therefore not entirely surprising that Maximilian, a huge fan of armor, would send such a gift. England also joined the Holy League, turning Maximilian and Henry into allies. In 1511 Maximilian joined the Holy League, formed by the Pope to expel the French from Italy. Incidentally, Henry had ascended the throne of England just two years earlier and the armor would have been a diplomatic gift. Seusenhofer was in the service of the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I, who commissioned a set of armor for the English king in 1511. (Kunsthistorisches Museum / CC BY 3.0 ) Royal Gifts: Diplomacy in ActionĪccording to general consensus, the horned helmet was created by Konrad Seusenhofer, a renowned European armorer of the era. In the image we can see the emperor’s gauntlets created by Seusenhofer circa 1514. Most experts believe that the horned helmet was created by Konrad Seusenhofer, a renowned Austrian armorer who worked for Maximilian I, the Holy Roman Emperor. Thus, the horned helmet of Henry VIII can be described as being both grotesque and life-like at the same time. For instance, one may notice the stubble on the chin of the helmet, and the crow’s feet under the eyes. ![]() 16th Century Prosthetic Iron Hand: The Story of Gotz von BerlichingenĪlthough the horns and spectacle frames are the most noticeable parts of the helmet, numerous other details can be observed when one looks at the object more closely.More Than Metal: Amazing Historical Suits of Armor.Look History in the Eye! King Henry VII Reconstructed from Death Mask.The spectacles are of the so-called rivet type, since the two halves of the object are joined by a rivet, and the bridge of the wearer’s nose is gripped by the spectacle frames. Another eye-catching aspect of the helmet is its pair of brass spectacle frames. The most striking feature of the helmet, of course, is its pair of spiraling ram horns, modelled in sheet iron, and attached on either side of the object. The horned helmet is made of iron, and parts of it would have originally been attached with silver-gilt decorative panels. The horned helmet is said to have belonged to Henry VIII (Paul Hudson: CC BY 2.0 ) Grotesque and Life-like: Analyzing the Horned Helmet of Henry VIIIĪlthough referred to as a helmet, it would be more accurate to call this headgear an armet, a helmet that protects the entire skull. As its name suggests, scholars believe that the helmet once belonged to the notorious Tudor king, Henry VIII, and that it was part of a set of armor sent as a gift by Maximilian I, the Holy Roman Emperor. Nevertheless, the horned helmet is still surrounded by much uncertainty. ![]() One of the most bizarre artefacts exhibited today in the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, England, the peculiar horned helmet of Henry VIII has attracted much scholarly attention. ![]()
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