ABSTRACT
In England, Henry VII arranged a marriage for his eldest son, Arthur, with Catherine of Aragon, a princess of Spain. In 1501 the couple were married, both aged fifteen. Then tragedy struck: four and a half months after the wedding, Arthur died. Henry was a thrifty man. He had spent much time and effort promoting the alliance with Spain and he did not want them wasted. Nor did he want to return Catherine' s dowry. So he betrothed the young widow to his second son, who was to become Henry VIII.
