04/02/2022
Arthur Tudor: Forever Young. The Death of the Camelot Dream
On the 2nd of April 1502, Arthur Tudor, firstborn son of Henry VII of England and his Consort, Elizabeth of York, Prince of Wales and Lord of Snowdonia, and first husband of Katharine of Aragon, died.
His death left Katharine in a state of political limbo. Questions arose regarding the Princess' possible pregnancy, and later on her alleged purity. The latter would come to haunt her again when Henry VIII made his intentions to annul their union so he could marry Anne Boleyn, clear.
It also left his parents inconsolable. Upon learning of his death by his former tutor Bernard Andre, the two comforted each other. EOY reminded him that they were both young and could still have more children. When it was her turn, Henry went to her room and comforted her.
His death also meant the death of his father's ambitions. He had named Arthur after the legendary king who united all of Britain against the Saxons and as such, Henry VII, believed that his eldest son would be the one to bring a second Camelot to England. The Arthurian myth was a Welsh myth that was appropriated by the English and one that Henry VII, being half Welsh, felt a close link to.
When Henry VII crossed the narrow sea and landed in Wales, people began to associate him with old Welsh prophecies, and he used Welsh motifs, claiming to be the true descendant of King Arthur, Cadwalader, etc. Henry VII wasn't the first successful usurper to do this. Henry IV and Henry VII's later-father-in-law, Edward IV had also used this tactic; but being half-Welsh, made more Welshmen directly associate him with these legendary and historical figures. As a result, Cadwalader's banner of the red dragon, became Henry's main flag and part of his royal coat of arms.
Seeking to bring legitimacy to his dynasty, he moved his pregnant wife to Wi******er Cathedral, where many believed Camelot once stood. On the 20th of September 1485, Elizabeth delivered a healthy baby boy who was named Arthur and was christened days later.
Arthur received a strict religious and Humanist education and communicated with his future wife in Latin. The two, dressed in matching colors of white and gold, were married at St Paul's Cathedral in November 1501. The ceremony was followed by a sumptuous banquet and weeks of jousts and other lavish spectacle before it was decided the Prince and Princess of Wales should move to Ludlow Castle.
Just what killed Prince Arthur?
No one knows for sure. Historians speculate it was testicular cancer or the sweating sickness, while others take a middle approach (like John Guy) and state that he wasn't the sickly youth he's often depicted as in fiction but given the era he lived in, it is highly possible that he died of some common ailment.
Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, were told of their son's death two days later on April 4. The person chosen for this task was the King's confessor.
Henry was completely devastated. Equally heartbroken, Elizabeth of York “did her best to comfort him as they took ‘the painful sorrow together’” writes Licence. And that “God had left him yet a fair prince, two fair princesses” and that they were still young and could have more children. Afterwards, she went to her chambers to cry, and just as she had done, he comforted her.
Recently, many historians have taken an interest on the Tudor King that never was and have written extensively onhim. Besides the sources I cite below, other notable mentions are by Sean Cunningham whose biography on Arthur Tudor has received a lot of good reviews, Terry Breverton and Debra Bayani's respective biographies on Arthur's paternal uncle, Jasper Tudor, and Amy Licence's latest biography on Catherine of Aragon.
Some fans go even further and ask 'what if?' How different England would be today if Arthur had lived and more importantly, unlike his brother, remained married to Catherine of Aragon?
Since there is not a lot know about him in comparison to his father and brother, and not a lot has been written about him in the past (that didn't have to do with his union to Catherine of Aragon) he remains an interesting figure. And let's face it, we all love a good mystery ;) Unfortunately, this also makes him the subject of wild speculations and conjectures, most of which have no basis in fact.
Arthur Tudor was laid to rest at Worcester Cathedral on the 25th of April, 1502. His title of Prince of Wales was passed on to his younger brother, Henry, formerly the Duke of York.
Sources:
1.Sister Queens: the noble and tragic lives of Katherine of Aragon and Juana I of Castile by Julia Fox
2. Six Wives, Queens of Henry VIII by David Starkey
3. Henry VII by SB Chrimes
4. Tudor by Leanda de Lisle
5. The Six Wives and the Many Mistresses of Henry VIII by Amy Licence
6. Children of Henry VIII by John Guy
Images: Prince Arthur Tudor, anonymous painter, c.1501. Prince Arthur Tudor on stained glass window at Great Malvern and the tomb of Prince Arthur Tudor in Worcester Cathedral.
Images: James Macavoy because if there is anyone I think would be an ideal Prince Arthur in a new Tudor drama, it'd be him. The picture is taken from the sci-fi miniseries "Children of Dune". Stain glass depicting Prince Arthur in prayer, and his tomb at Worcester Cathedral.
