1502
Tragedy rocked the English court when Prince Arthur of Wales died on April 2 1502. But his death was softened slightly by the Princess of Wales, Katherine of Aragon, being with child. Queen Elizabeth of York raced to her daughter-in-law's side, resolving to help the younger woman through this troubled times. [1] While his wife tended their daughter-in-law and unborn grandchild, King Henry handled the preparations for his eldest son's funeral. This took its toll and Henry was soon bedridden, forcing his mother to be regent for him.
To the most foolish child,
My dearest Bess, I deal with prattling blowhards on a daily basis who seem to think they know more than me just because of my sex, I beg of you not to add to their inane chatter. My son is not dying and you are not failing in your duty as his wife by not racing to his side. The Princess Katherine and her son's health are of the upmost importance. His Highness has agreed that you were needed in Ludlow. He has ordered it and you must obey him.
Sweet girl, my Henry is strong, he has always been. He shall recover, I know he will. Please do not stress yourself by thinking such unpleasant thoughts. Stay with the Princess Katherine, do what you can to keep her calm and in high spirits. She carries the hope of England in her womb.
I shall write more tomorrow, but I have another council meeting which I am looking oh so forward to. Afterwards, I suspect I will have too big of a headache to continue writing. Pray for me, dearest Bess, for I will need all the strength the Lord has to offer.
Sincerely, Margaret R [2]
Despite the encouraging words of Margaret Beaufort, it was clear that the king was weakening and that England was on the cusp of a succession crisis. Those who supported the de la Poles were seeing it as justice for the Tudors only had a eleven-year-old boy as a male heir. Speaking of the Duke of York, he was kept under close guard with his grandmother seeing to it that his education was more rigorous and began searching for a bride for him.
All plans would come to a grinding stop when on July 24, 1502, the Princess Katherine would birth a baby boy in the Welsh Marshes. He was named Arthur and he was christened in a small but lavish ceremony (Archbishop Warham of Canterbury had traveled to Ludlow specifically for this occasion as did several members of the English court). His godparents was the King of Scots, his Aunt Margaret, and his maternal grandparents.
Elizabeth, Princess Katherine, and their entourage left Ludlow it was clear that both mother and child were healthy enough to make the trip back to London. They were greeted by cheering crowds. In August, little Prince Arthur was presented to the court. It was confirmed by several witnesses that when he was put in his great-grandmother's arms, she was visibly fighting back tears.
Meanwhile Queen Elizabeth went straight for her husband's chambers, refusing to leave his side so she could nurse the man she loved back to health. His wife's tender care and the joy of knowing that a piece of his son now lived inside the hallowed halls of the Palace of Placentia seemed to reinvigorate him. By mid-August, he reappeared to take the reigns of rulership from his mother.
King Henry went straight to work, consolidating his realm, preparing for the eventual ascension of his grandson. He arranged a regency council, investing his mother, his wife and his former daughter-in-law as co-regents, his reasoning being that they would always work in the interest of Prince Arthur and would maintain a balance of power. He negotiated with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel for the rest of Katherine's dowry, arguing that while she would not be queen, she would still have a high place of power as regent and the king's mother. As he quarreled with Spain, he arranged the marriage between Anne de La Tour d'Auvergne [3] and his young son Prince Henry. He also confirmed the upcoming nuptials between King James of Scots and Princess Margaret.
By Christmastide 1502, everything seemed to be settled, Prince Arthur was hale and healthy, Prince Henry was engaged, Princess Margaret was set for a queendom, and the King of England seemed in good health.
And yet, by the next spring, the Time of the Ladies would begin.
1. Elizabeth left before Henry had a chance to impregnate her, meaning no 1503 birth that would subsequently killed her.
2. Despite the R usually being for ruling queens, our dear Margaret would use it as her signature.
3. Anne de La Tour d'Auvergne was the heiress of John III, Count of Auvergne Count of Boulogne, Count de Lauraguais. In 1505, she married the Duke of Albany so Henry get to her just in time.
To the most foolish child,
My dearest Bess, I deal with prattling blowhards on a daily basis who seem to think they know more than me just because of my sex, I beg of you not to add to their inane chatter. My son is not dying and you are not failing in your duty as his wife by not racing to his side. The Princess Katherine and her son's health are of the upmost importance. His Highness has agreed that you were needed in Ludlow. He has ordered it and you must obey him.
Sweet girl, my Henry is strong, he has always been. He shall recover, I know he will. Please do not stress yourself by thinking such unpleasant thoughts. Stay with the Princess Katherine, do what you can to keep her calm and in high spirits. She carries the hope of England in her womb.
I shall write more tomorrow, but I have another council meeting which I am looking oh so forward to. Afterwards, I suspect I will have too big of a headache to continue writing. Pray for me, dearest Bess, for I will need all the strength the Lord has to offer.
Sincerely, Margaret R [2]
Despite the encouraging words of Margaret Beaufort, it was clear that the king was weakening and that England was on the cusp of a succession crisis. Those who supported the de la Poles were seeing it as justice for the Tudors only had a eleven-year-old boy as a male heir. Speaking of the Duke of York, he was kept under close guard with his grandmother seeing to it that his education was more rigorous and began searching for a bride for him.
All plans would come to a grinding stop when on July 24, 1502, the Princess Katherine would birth a baby boy in the Welsh Marshes. He was named Arthur and he was christened in a small but lavish ceremony (Archbishop Warham of Canterbury had traveled to Ludlow specifically for this occasion as did several members of the English court). His godparents was the King of Scots, his Aunt Margaret, and his maternal grandparents.
Elizabeth, Princess Katherine, and their entourage left Ludlow it was clear that both mother and child were healthy enough to make the trip back to London. They were greeted by cheering crowds. In August, little Prince Arthur was presented to the court. It was confirmed by several witnesses that when he was put in his great-grandmother's arms, she was visibly fighting back tears.
Meanwhile Queen Elizabeth went straight for her husband's chambers, refusing to leave his side so she could nurse the man she loved back to health. His wife's tender care and the joy of knowing that a piece of his son now lived inside the hallowed halls of the Palace of Placentia seemed to reinvigorate him. By mid-August, he reappeared to take the reigns of rulership from his mother.
King Henry went straight to work, consolidating his realm, preparing for the eventual ascension of his grandson. He arranged a regency council, investing his mother, his wife and his former daughter-in-law as co-regents, his reasoning being that they would always work in the interest of Prince Arthur and would maintain a balance of power. He negotiated with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel for the rest of Katherine's dowry, arguing that while she would not be queen, she would still have a high place of power as regent and the king's mother. As he quarreled with Spain, he arranged the marriage between Anne de La Tour d'Auvergne [3] and his young son Prince Henry. He also confirmed the upcoming nuptials between King James of Scots and Princess Margaret.
By Christmastide 1502, everything seemed to be settled, Prince Arthur was hale and healthy, Prince Henry was engaged, Princess Margaret was set for a queendom, and the King of England seemed in good health.
And yet, by the next spring, the Time of the Ladies would begin.
1. Elizabeth left before Henry had a chance to impregnate her, meaning no 1503 birth that would subsequently killed her.
2. Despite the R usually being for ruling queens, our dear Margaret would use it as her signature.
3. Anne de La Tour d'Auvergne was the heiress of John III, Count of Auvergne Count of Boulogne, Count de Lauraguais. In 1505, she married the Duke of Albany so Henry get to her just in time.
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