Did a 1536 Jousting Accident Turn Henry VIII Into a Tyrant?

What Happened: The Accident That Changed History On January 24, 1536, Henry VIII participated in what would become his final jousting tournament. The 44-year-old king, renowned for his physical prowess and love of athletic competition, was knocked from his horse along with an unknown opponent. But this wasn’t just any fall—Henry’s massive warhorse, weighing hundreds of kilograms and encased in heavy armor, rolled directly on top of the unconscious monarch.