20 September 1486 – Birth of Arthur, Prince of Wales

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

On this day in history, 20th September 1486, “afore one o’clock after midnight”, Arthur, Prince of Wales, was born at Winchester, just eight months after the marriage of his parents, King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York.

Henry VII had decided that his first child would be born at Winchester, the place believed to have been the capital of the legendary Camelot, and that the child would be called Arthur after Camelot’s heroic king. Henry was convinced that Arthur’s birth would bring about a new golden age, but the boy only lived to the age of fifteen.

Read more about Arthur in the article Arthur, Prince of Wales.