A Mysterious Necklace Belong to Henry Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon Was Discovered in England

A historic gold pendant and chain, believed to be associated with Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, has been revealed by the British Museum. The artifact, made of gold and adorned with red and white enamel, was discovered by a metal detectorist in Warwickshire and reported to the local finds liaison officer of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, who then informed Historic England. An archaeological excavation was conducted at the site to gather more information about the item and its location, reports Historic England. Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, noted, this beautiful pendant is a thrilling discovery giving us a tangible connection to Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon and enriches our understanding of the royal court at the time. I'm delighted that Historic England was able to support with archaeological investigations of the site. The pendant, which is heart-shaped and attached to a 75-link gold chain via an enameled hand, is thought to date back to the early 16th century, between 1509 and 1533, with the most likely date being around 1521. He front of the pendant features the red and white Tudor rose symbol intertwined with a pomegranate bush, which were the symbols of Henry and Catherine. The back of the pendant features the letters H and K for Henry and Catherine in Lombardic script, linked by ribbon and featuring the legend Teovius plus Ioris. According to experts, the pendant may have been produced quickly for a special event, such as a joust, and could have been used as a prize or worn by those participating. Its design is similar to the horse bards used at a joust in Greenwich in 1521. Perhaps this was a trinket from a joust in which Henry himself participated. He was known as a skilled juicer, until in 1536 he was torn from his horse and injured, knocked unconscious for two hours. The location of this event was unknown until just two years ago, when it was revealed to be Greenwich Palace. A symbol of Henry's first love, Henry VIII was the King of England from 1509 until his death in 1547. He was well known for his six marriages and his role in the English Reformation, which led to the Church of England breaking away from the authority of the Pope. Catherine of Aragon was Henry's first wife and was a Spanish princess who was highly respected by the English people. The couple were married for over 20 years. Their marriage was annulled by the Pope, leading to a long-standing political and religious crisis that ultimately resulted in England breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church.