Since succession to the French throne was governed by Salic Law, the Bourbons came to the throne by the end of the male line of the Valois dynasty by virtue of their male descent from Louis IX of France. What if the male Bourbon line had died out before this? From what I can see, there were no other male lines. If there are no male heirs, what does the Salic Law do? If there were no Bourbons, how might French history have been different.
WI - No Bourbons
- Thread starter Vulpes82
- Start date
Grey Wolf
Donor
Although a modern example. Luxembourg shows that if there is no male line its quite possible and likely to simply change the law of succession, even if it is the very law that brought the dynasty to power in the first place
IIRC the Habsburgs did this in the 18th century with the Pragmatic Sanction for Maria Theresa
Grey Wolf
IIRC the Habsburgs did this in the 18th century with the Pragmatic Sanction for Maria Theresa
Grey Wolf
IN teh context of late sixteenth century France no Henry IV probably means that the catholic League win the French wars of religion, which would make for a more republican and centralised France and give the habsburgs an easier time of it in Germany and teh Netherlands.
Matthew Craw said:
More republican and centralised? The League? How do you get this? I think it would mean a return to aritocracy rule and a lessening of Royal authority.
And how would a more centralised France ( even if more catholic ) -thus stronger - help the Habsbourg? It was France's sole rival for continental domination at that time.