Henry VIII
English 28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547
Henry VIII was king of England from April 1509 to January 1547 and is remembered as a cruel and overweight monarch. One thing that contributed to his infamous size and 132cm waistband was his love of banquets and feasts. Henry’s kitchens at Hampton Court Palace, the biggest in England, prepared lavish meals that included beer, wine, pies, roasted meat, game, pottages, fruit and jellies, with Henry free to indulge as much as he wished. He also had a personal chef who used a private kitchen to prepare his food, and he had a love of oranges.
BELSHAZZAR
BABYLONIAN, 580 BCE – 539 BCE
A biblical feast in the Book of Daniel tells the tale of Belshazzar, a prince of Babylon,…