ABSTRACT
Henri II embarked on a long tour of France, which had a triple purpose: the symbolic taking possession of his kingdom; the affirmation to a European public of France's image as a military and cultural power; and the extraction of money from the municipalities in return for confirmation of their privileges. Following the marking out of a new style in the entries of the jocundus adventus , the court of Henri II was distracted by military campaigns to promote further development in court festival until the end of his reign, when, after the distractions of war, they put on festivals for the victory at Calais, for the double royal marriage and for the peace of Cateau-Cambresis. Celebrations put on at court owe more to Italian models of cartel and masquerade than to native traditions, and further dilute the already questionable usefulness of such events as military exercises.
