Wholesale Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII’s Lost Brother

For too long, Arthur Tudor has been remembered only for what he never became. The boy who died prematurely & paved the way for his younger brother, Henry VIII. Yet, during his short life, Arthur was at the center of one of the most tumultuous periods of England’s history. At his birth, he represented his father’s hopes for a dynasty & England’s chance of peace. He witnessed feuds, survived rebellion & became the focal point of an international alliance. He was dispatched to the Welsh border, becoming a figurehead for a robust regional government. While never old enough to exercise full power, he emerged as a figure of influence, consulted by courtiers. After years of negotiation, he met his Spanish bride, Katharine of Aragon. Despite being 14 years in the making, they enjoyed just five months together before Arthur succumbed to illness. His death at 15 changed the future & deprived England of a cultivated prince. Arthur was more than a prince who died; he was a boy that really lived.