Henry VIII's Horned Helmet: Cultural Trends and Political Affinities in Sixteenth Century Europe.

The article reassesses the meaning of Henry VIII's horned helmet, a grotesque diplomatic gift from Maximilian I, arguing that its bizarre features align with Renaissance classical symbolism, the myth of Jason and the Golden Fleece, and the chivalric ideals of sixteenth-century Europe. Topics includes diplomatic exchange and princely identity, classical and mythological symbolism in armour, and the cultural significance of the Order of the Golden Fleece.