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Table of Contents
Arthur Tudor was the heir apparent of King Henry VII but died too early at fifteen. His marriage to the Spanish Princess, Catherine of Aragon, secured an alliance between Spain and England. Historians proclaimed that the history of England could have been very different if he was able to live to become the next king.
See the fact file below for more information on Arthur Tudor or alternatively, you can download our 27-page Arthur Tudor worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Family Background
- Arthur Tudor was born on September 19 or 20, 1486, in Winchester Castle. He was the first son of Henry VII of the House of Tudor and Elizabeth of York.
- The union of his parents strengthened Henry’s claim to the throne after winning the Battle of Bosworth Field.
Henry VII named his first son Arthur in honor of King Arthur, whom he believed was his ancestor. He also identified Winchester as the Camelot. - The birth of Arthur was celebrated with bonfires in the streets and singing of the Te Deum at Winchester Cathedral. He was the “living symbol” of the House of Tudor and York union, which also marked the end of the War of the Roses.
- Arthur Tudor became the Duke of Cornwall at birth. In 1489, he was appointed as the Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester after being made a Knight in Bath.
- As the eldest son, he was the heir apparent of King Henry VII. However, it will be his younger brother, Henry, who will rule as king.
Early Years and Education
- Arthur was born one month premature. There is a widespread belief that Arthur was sickly growing up. However, there was no recorded illness during his early years.
- Historians claimed that Arthur had an amiable and gentle personality and was a delicate lad. He was taller than boys his age and described to have red hair and a very handsome face.
- At five years old, he started formal schooling under the former headmaster of Winchester College, John Reede, and a blind poet, Bernard André. When he turned 15, King Henry’s former physician, Thomas Linacre, took over.
- André wrote that Arthur was a very skilled pupil, able to memorize and read Homer, Virgil, Ovid, and Terence. He was also described as an excellent archer and a pleasant dancer.
- His education covered grammar, poetry, rhetoric and ethics, and history.
- Arthur Tudor became the Duke of Cornwall at birth. In 1489, he was appointed as the Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester after being made a Knight in Bath.
- As the eldest son, he was the heir apparent of King Henry VII. However, it will be his younger brother, Henry, who will rule as king.
- Arthur was born one month premature. There is a widespread belief that Arthur was sickly growing up. However, there was no recorded illness during his early years.
- Historians claimed that Arthur had an amiable and gentle personality and was a delicate lad. He was taller than boys his age and described to have red hair and a very handsome face.
- At five years old, he started formal schooling under the former headmaster of Winchester College, John Reede, and a blind poet, Bernard André. When he turned 15, King Henry’s former physician, Thomas Linacre, took over.
- André wrote that Arthur was a very skilled pupil, able to memorize and read Homer, Virgil, Ovid, and Terence. He was also described as an excellent archer and a pleasant dancer.
- His education covered grammar, poetry, rhetoric and ethics, and history
Marriage to Catherine of Aragon
- To form an alliance with the Spanish monarchy, King Henry arranged for his first son to marry the youngest daughter of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon.
- The arrangement was sealed in the Treaty of Medina del Campo on March 27, 1489, where it stated that Arthur and Catherine of Aragon would be married as soon as they reached canonical age. It also mentioned Catherine’s dowry at 200,000 crowns.
- When Arthur turned 14, a papal dispensation was released, allowing the marriage of Arthur and Catherine. The betrothal by proxy occurred on August 25, 1497, and the marriage by proxy took place at Tickenhill manor two years later.
- Before the engagement and the marriage by proxy, Arthur and Catherine had been exchanging letters in Latin. Thus, in his wedding vows, Arthur declared to Roderigo de Puebla, who has acted as a proxy for Catherine, “he much rejoiced to contract the marriage because of his deep and sincere love for the Princess.”
- They exchanged letters until September 20, 1501. Catherine arrived in England on October 2, 1501, at Plymouth. On November 4, the young couple met for the first time, and five days later, Catherine arrived in London.
- On November 14, 1501, the marriage ceremony took place in Saint Paul’s Cathedral, where Arthur and Catherine wore white satin.
- The young married couple lived in Tickenhill manor for a month before moving to the Welsh Marches and established their household at Ludlow Castle.
Arthur’s Death
- An epidemic struck while Arthur and Catherine were in Ludlow Castle. Both of them got infected, but only Catherine survived. Reportedly growing weak after his wedding, Arthur succumbed to the “sweating sickness” or the so-called “English Sweat” on April 2, 1502. It was only five months after his marriage to Catherine.
- His death caused great agony to King Henry VII and his mother, who both burst into tears and had to console each other. Arthur’s body was immediately taken to Worcester during a torrential downpour and laid to rest in Worcester Cathedral, which still exists to this day.
- Catherine was later betrothed to Arthur’s younger brother and King Henry VIII to continue the alliance between Spain and England. The engagement was allowed as Catherine declared she and Arthur never consummated the marriage.
- Henry ascended to the throne on April 22, 1509. Catherine and the new king married on June 11.
- The problem of producing an heir rose during their marriage as three of their sons died in their first three months and their daughters only lived less than a week. They only had one surviving female child, Mary I.
- In 1526, King Henry VIII sought the approval of the pope to dissolve his marriage to Catherine and proclaimed his intention to marry Anne Boleyn, who he said was more likely to produce an heir.
- King Henry VIII cut ties with the Catholic Church and started the English Reformation to marry his second wife.
Arthur Tudor Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Arthur Tudor across 27 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about Arthur Tudor was the heir apparent of King Henry VII but died too early at fifteen.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Arthur Tudor Facts
- The Living Symbol
- Arthur and Catherine’s Story
- After Arthur’s Death
- The Prince of Wales’s Inquiry
- The Young Prince
- What If?
- The Two Brothers
- Almost a King
- The Prince’s Places
- King Arthur’s Badge
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Link will appear as Arthur Tudor Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, December 22, 2021
Use With Any Curriculum
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