High Impact

​On this day in 1536, King Henry VIII of England took part in a jousting tournament, It was to be his last.

Jousting was a dangerous activity and a risky one for a king, yet in spite of sustaining injuries in previous tournaments, it remained one Henry's favorite sports. However on this occasion he was unhorsed by his opponent, hitting the  ground in his heavy armor. His horse then fell upon him and he remained unconscious for two hours. During this time the doctors feared he would not recover. The accident bought the risks Henry was taking to the fore and persuaded him to end his jousting career. It has been argued that the accident resulted in Henry suffering from worsening health problems over the course of his remaining life.
 
This scene was built by James Pegrum as part of a series of models on world history. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to see them first.