 Plans for Arthur 's marriage began before his third birthday ; he was installed as Prince of Wales two years later . He grew especially close to his siblings Margaret and Henry , Duke of York , with the latter of whom he shared some tutors . At the age of eleven , Arthur was formally betrothed to Catherine of Aragon , a daughter of the powerful Catholic Monarchs in Spain , in an effort to forge an Anglo @-@ Spanish alliance against France . Arthur was well educated and , contrary to modern belief , was in good health for the majority of his life . Soon after his marriage to Catherine in 1501 , the couple took up residence at Ludlow Castle in Shropshire , where Arthur died six months later of an unknown ailment . Catherine would later firmly state that the marriage had not been consummated . 
