Henry VIII, who ruled England from 1509 until his death in 1547, was known for his voracious appetite. Portraits of Henry show a man almost as wide as he was tall. When he wasn't marrying, divorcing, or beheading his wives (he was on his sixth marriage when he died at age 58), this medieval ruler dined like a glutton.
When he wasn't marrying, divorcing, or beheading his wives (he was on his sixth marriage when he died at age 58), this medieval ruler dined like a glutton. Henry VIII ruled England from 1509 until his death in 1547 and portraits of him show a man almost as wide as he was tall.
The 200 members of the kitchen staff provided meals of up to 14 courses for the 600 people in the king's court. Here are some dishes served at a typical feast.
- Grilled Beavers' Tails: Rather conveniently, medieval people classified beavers as fish which made this dish a popular choice on Fridays for the Christian nation.
- Whole Roasted Peacock: This delicacy was served dressed in its own iridescent blue feathers which were plucked, then replaced after the bird had been cooked.
- Vegetables: These weren't actually indulged in mass quantities. Vegetables were viewed as the food of the poor and made up less than 20 percent of the royal diet.