This book preserves the memory of the royal entry of King James I into London on 15th March 1604. A royal entry was a formal gesture of loyalty by a city to the ruler, usually to mark the start of the reign. The book describes and illustrates the extravagant pageant (like a parade) of street theatre and music, staged on seven triumphal wooden arches specially made for the day by joiner Stephen Harrison and his team of craftsmen.<br /> <br /> These huge constructions were wide enough to span the street, up to 27 metres tall, and elaborately decorated with statues, paint and gilding. The arches were funded by London’s multinational merchants and they represented different regions, creating a kind of symbolic world tour. As King James processed from the Tower of London to Temple Bar in the City of London, he paused at each arch to watch a show composed by writers like Thomas Dekker or Ben Jonson and performed by actors perched on the platforms. Crowds of people enjoyed the carnival atmosphere and the rare chance to see their king.<br /> <br /> Such events and their advertisement through print speaks to the importance of pageantry and civic ceremony for middling people. People attending this event might save any prints or pamphlets collected on the day as a memento.
The Arches of Triumph (Printed book), 1604

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The Arches of Triumph

The Arches of Triumph (Printed book), 1604

This book preserves the memory of the royal entry of King James I into London on 15th March 1604. A royal entry was a formal gesture of loyalty by a city to the ruler, usually to mark the start of the reign. The book describes and illustrates the extravagant pageant (like a parade) of street theatre and music, staged on seven triumphal wooden arches specially made for the day by joiner Stephen Harrison and his team of craftsmen.

These huge constructions were wide enough to span the street, up to 27 metres tall, and elaborately decorated with statues, paint and gilding. The arches were funded by London’s multinational merchants and they represented different regions, creating a kind of symbolic world tour. As King James processed from the Tower of London to Temple Bar in the City of London, he paused at each arch to watch a show composed by writers like Thomas Dekker or Ben Jonson and performed by actors perched on the platforms. Crowds of people enjoyed the carnival atmosphere and the rare chance to see their king.

Such events and their advertisement through print speaks to the importance of pageantry and civic ceremony for middling people. People attending this event might save any prints or pamphlets collected on the day as a memento.

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Object Type Printed book
Year 1604
Material Print
Discovered London
Owned By British Library C.10866
Keywords remembering; celebrating; collecting; displaying; memory; performance; allegiance; travel; print; visual culture
Image Credit The Arches of Triumph (1604), V&A 14010, © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

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