Part I - 1502
“1502 was an action-packed year for the Tudor dynasty. It almost ended in tragedy in Spring when the newly wed Prince and Princess of Wales, Arthur Tudor, and Katherine of Aragon, fell ill with the lethal sweating sickness. Many prayed for the young couple and Henry VII sent the finest physicians available to tend to his ailing son. Finally, on April 7th Henry VII and his wife Elizabeth of York received news that the pair had survived their illness, much to the collective relief of the English [1].
Barely a fortnight later even more joyous news was received. Katherine of Aragon was pregnant with child. Nobody was more ecstatic at the news than Henry VII himself who delighted at the prospect of becoming a grandfather. Henry VII, Arthur and Katherine took many precautions during the pregnancy to ensure that the child would be born healthy. Experienced midwives were hired to tend to Katherine when the time came and many of the physicians sent to tend to the couple during their illness were made a part of their household. Katherine also ate a lot of asparagus so that the child may be strong, healthy and a boy [2].
Katherine would enter confinement at Ludlow Castle in November, with only her maids, midwives, physicians and of course husband being allowed visit her. Finally, after weeks of anticipation, Katherine would enter labour in the final hours of December 25th and would give birth to her child in the early hours of December 26th. The child was comely, hale, and better yet, male. Arthur and Katherine took delight at the birth of their son and would quickly send word to the English court back in London. The King, Queen and court were delighted at the news, though some did question the choice of name, for the child had been named John, after Arthur and Katherine’s common ancestor and the Saint [3]. Many had expected the child to be called Henry or Arthur, though Henry VII shrugged it off for the future of his dynasty was now secure for at least the next generation [4].
John’s parents would soon take him to London so that he may be baptised at Westminster Abbey and meet his family. The family would stay at Richmond Palace during their time in London. On January 24th, 1503, John would be baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury. John’s Godparents would be Maria of Aragon, Queen of Portugal (represented by the Portuguese Ambassador), King Ferdinand II of Aragon (represented by the Spanish Ambassador, Pedro de Ayala) and Henry, Duke of York [5]. A week of jousts was held shortly afterwards in honour of John, who would one day be King of England.
About two weeks later Arthur and Katherine bid farewell to the royal family and returned to Ludlow. There Arthur would begin to administer Wales with vigour, constructing a new hospital near the town of Ludlow, sponsoring Poets and Scholars, and cracking down on all crime in the region. Katherine meanwhile would oversee their court, which was perhaps one of the – if not the – brightest and most cultured of any Prince of Wales.”
- Matthew Hunter, “A True King Arthur” (2007)
[1] Our first of two PODs, in OTL Arthur succumbed to the Sweat, here he pulls through.
[2] Back then it was believed asparagus could result in the birth of a boy AIUI.
[3] Said common ancestor being John of Gaunt, the 3rd son of Edward III.
[4] Back then it was common for a child to be named after it's Father or Grandfather(s).
[5] OTL Henry VIII, here his chances of becoming King are greatly diminished.
Barely a fortnight later even more joyous news was received. Katherine of Aragon was pregnant with child. Nobody was more ecstatic at the news than Henry VII himself who delighted at the prospect of becoming a grandfather. Henry VII, Arthur and Katherine took many precautions during the pregnancy to ensure that the child would be born healthy. Experienced midwives were hired to tend to Katherine when the time came and many of the physicians sent to tend to the couple during their illness were made a part of their household. Katherine also ate a lot of asparagus so that the child may be strong, healthy and a boy [2].
Katherine would enter confinement at Ludlow Castle in November, with only her maids, midwives, physicians and of course husband being allowed visit her. Finally, after weeks of anticipation, Katherine would enter labour in the final hours of December 25th and would give birth to her child in the early hours of December 26th. The child was comely, hale, and better yet, male. Arthur and Katherine took delight at the birth of their son and would quickly send word to the English court back in London. The King, Queen and court were delighted at the news, though some did question the choice of name, for the child had been named John, after Arthur and Katherine’s common ancestor and the Saint [3]. Many had expected the child to be called Henry or Arthur, though Henry VII shrugged it off for the future of his dynasty was now secure for at least the next generation [4].
John’s parents would soon take him to London so that he may be baptised at Westminster Abbey and meet his family. The family would stay at Richmond Palace during their time in London. On January 24th, 1503, John would be baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury. John’s Godparents would be Maria of Aragon, Queen of Portugal (represented by the Portuguese Ambassador), King Ferdinand II of Aragon (represented by the Spanish Ambassador, Pedro de Ayala) and Henry, Duke of York [5]. A week of jousts was held shortly afterwards in honour of John, who would one day be King of England.
About two weeks later Arthur and Katherine bid farewell to the royal family and returned to Ludlow. There Arthur would begin to administer Wales with vigour, constructing a new hospital near the town of Ludlow, sponsoring Poets and Scholars, and cracking down on all crime in the region. Katherine meanwhile would oversee their court, which was perhaps one of the – if not the – brightest and most cultured of any Prince of Wales.”
- Matthew Hunter, “A True King Arthur” (2007)
[1] Our first of two PODs, in OTL Arthur succumbed to the Sweat, here he pulls through.
[2] Back then it was believed asparagus could result in the birth of a boy AIUI.
[3] Said common ancestor being John of Gaunt, the 3rd son of Edward III.
[4] Back then it was common for a child to be named after it's Father or Grandfather(s).
[5] OTL Henry VIII, here his chances of becoming King are greatly diminished.
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