What automated performance did Leonardo da Vinci create for a 1515 French royal celebration?

Leonardo da Vinci created a mechanical lion for a 1515 French royal celebration.

The automaton was made for King Francis I and was reportedly able to walk before opening its chest to reveal fleurs-de-lis, symbols associated with the French monarchy. The performance used hidden mechanical systems rather than a living animal, turning engineering into court spectacle and political symbolism.

The original machine has not survived, so accounts of its exact mechanism are incomplete. Modern reconstructions have been built from historical descriptions and Leonardo's broader knowledge of gears, cams, springs, and automated movement. The lion is often grouped with Leonardo's robot designs, but it should not be confused with his humanoid mechanical knight, which was designed earlier for a Milanese court event. Both machines show Leonardo applying mechanical automation to entertainment and ceremony.