Dear Fellow History Lover!
I hope you have had a great week.
My week began wonderfully with the latest Historical Book Club meeting where we discussed Dr Simon Thurley’s book, ‘Houses of Power. The Places That Shaped the Tudor World.’ Members from all over the world got together on a zoom call to talk about what we’d learned from the book, which bits we enjoyed and anything that surprised us, among other things. Members who couldn’t make the meeting can watch back and join in the discussion too. All members of my Patreon are automatically members of the Historical Book Club. Click here to join - our next book is Leanda de Lisles’s ‘The Sister’s Who Would be Queen’. The meeting will take place on Sunday 12th November - we’d love to see you there!
This Week in History: Arthur Tudor is born
This Autumn: The Tudors Online History Festival - Access 7 Incredible Historians, talks and a live Q&A
Arthur Tudor is born - 20th September 1486
13 months after Henry VII became King on a battlefield in Leicestershire, his new wife gave birth to their first child. Elizabeth of York had travelled to the ancient capital of England, and a place synonymous with the legend of King Arthur, Winchester. Both the choice of venue and the baby’s name were intentionally chosen to create the image of the Tudors as having an ancient lineage. At 4 days old he was baptised in Winchester Cathedral.
Arthur, separated from his parents at only 6 weeks old, was brought up for kingship and educated in his own household, headed by Lady Elizabeth Darcy. In 1493, aged 7, he was moved to Ludlow Castle to take up his seat as Head of the Council of the Marches.
It was to Ludlow Castle that Arthur brought his new bride, in December 1501. Arthur’s Spanish Princess, Katherine of Aragon, was the daughter of the ‘Spanish Kings’ Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, and their union linked the fledgling Tudor dynasty with the most powerful monarchs in Europe.
The future was looking promising, the 15-year-old heir to the throne was married to his 16-year-old bride, and children would be sure to follow and add to the respectably sized Tudor family with Arthur having three siblings, including a young brother, Henry, back in London.
Tragedy struck only 5 months later, when Arthur died. The cause of death has never been determined but a number of theories (of course) have been put forward, from testicular cancer, to the sweating sickness which was virulent in the area and which Katherine may also have suffered, and recovered, from.
Arthur’s body was embalmed, his viscera buried in Ludlow at St Laurence’s Church in the town. Although some accounts state that his heart was buried in the chapel within the castle, a plaque within St Laurence’s firmly claims it.
The body of the king who would never be was taken from Ludlow to his final resting place at Worcester Cathedral via the Royal Manor of Tickenhill in Bewdley, which sadly no longer exists.
The tragedy of Arthur Tudor’s death can not be understated. The Prince of Wales was dead, the Spanish alliance was in serious jeopardy, and the King and Queen now had only one surviving son, the 11-year-old Henry, Duke of York. Henry VII and Elizabeth of York were devastated. The couple made the fateful decision to try for another son. The 36-year-old Elizabeth fell pregnant and was at the royal lodgings at the Tower of London on 2nd February 1503 when she gave birth to a girl, Katherine. Neither mother or child survived. Elizabeth died on 11th February, her 37th birthday.
Arthur’s death changed history forever, and will be a topic we will explore during The Rise of the Tudors Tour, in September 2024.
During the tour we will be visiting Winchester Great Hall, Winchester Cathedral, Ludlow Castle and Worcester Cathedral, as well as Pembroke Castle, Raglan Castle and Gloucester Cathedral.
There are 3 spaces remaining for this tour!
Find out more about the tour by clicking on the button below.
The Tudors Online History Festival
17 - 19 November 2023
The Tudors Online History Festival - Talks
Eleri Lynn - Tudor Fashion: The Evolution of Style at the Royal Tudor Court
Estelle Paranque - The Pursuit of a Mother-Daughter relationship: Elizabeth I and Catherine de Medici
Gareth Russell - Edward VI’s Best Friend: The Rise, Fall, and Rise of Barnaby Fitzpatrick
Tracy Borman - Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth I
Kat Marchant - Shakespeare vs the Puritans
Joanne Paul - The House of Dudley: Just the Women
James Clark - Henry VIII and the Dissolution of the Monasteries
(to qualify for a 10% discount on all online event tickets, join the British History Patreon for only £5 per month)
Reminder - Latest Historian Interview Available
Until next week, take care
Philippa x
I'm a Worcestershire girl, so I grew up knowing about Arthur, seeing his chapel, visiting Ludlow. I also believe that there's a connection at Croft Castle, where the church has the tomb of Richard and Eleanor Croft. I believe Eleanor may have been in Arthur's household in Ludlow. Anyway, it really coloured my feelings about history, just imagining how his death must have felt and of course understanding the massive ripple effect on subsequent history. Lovely read, thanks...x