Splendid Journeys
The art of opulent travel
Throughout history, travel has been used to display wealth, power and status. Today, a distance of 100 miles is no real challenge; in the past, things were very different. Wealthy travellers had to consider packing clothing, food, furniture, cooking facilities, tents - not just for themselves and their families but also for the travelling household.
In this talk, Andrew examines the lavish accessories and modes of transport used by aristocrats on their seasonal progressions between estates. He also shows how diplomatic meetings between rulers were turned into competitions to outshine one another in displaying the finest silver, jewels, silks, accommodation, and court retinue.