Matilda marries Louis VI the Fat

[kasumigenx]

What if Matilda or Maude was married to Louis VI the Fat of France instead of Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor..

[DrakeRlugia]

The big question is if they have any children. Originally, Matilda had no children with the Holy Roman Emperor and returned to England. If anything, her marriage to the French King may make Henry I have a more difficult time forcing the Barons to accept her as his heiress, them unwilling to accept a woman who is also married to the King of France. If she is made her father's heir, the Barons will certainly revolt irregardless, as they did not wish to be ruled by a woman. But with French support she would certainly be able to take Normandy and perhaps overthrow Stephen. Of course, IOTL when she arrived in London her haughty attitude caused the citizens to turn against her.

[SavoyTruffle]

There's also the simple fact that she wouldn't be called Empress.

[Yorel]

Another fact that could come in question is the age difference between Louis VI of France (born in 1081, crowned king in 1108) and Mathilda (born in 1102). Louis VI is 21 years older than Mathilda. It's still the Middle Age, but even then, it will be hard to realize such a marriage.

Besides, Louis VI married Adelaide of Savoy (also called Adelaide de Maurienne, born in 1092) in 1115 and a decade later, she had already given birth to the eight children of the couple (seven sons and a daughter). And she only died in 1154, while Louis VI had died in 1137.

Of course, if Adelaïde of Savoy dies during one of her pregnancies or before Louis VI, then it is possible that Louis will marry Mathilda. But I'm not sure it would strenghten Mathilda's position in England.

[Bee]

She would natter him to go on a diet.

[kasumigenx]

Originally Posted by Yorel

Another fact that could come in question is the age difference between Louis VI of France (born in 1081, crowned king in 1108) and Mathilda (born in 1102). Louis VI is 21 years older than Mathilda. It's still the Middle Age, but even then, it will be hard to realize such a marriage.

Besides, Louis VI married Adelaide of Savoy (also called Adelaide de Maurienne, born in 1092) in 1115 and a decade later, she had already given birth to the eight children of the couple (seven sons and a daughter). And she only died in 1154, while Louis VI had died in 1137.

Of course, if Adelaïde of Savoy dies during one of her pregnancies or before Louis VI, then it is possible that Louis will marry Mathilda. But I'm not sure it would strenghten Mathilda's position in England.

I think he could have avoided marrying Adelaide...

[Yorel]

Originally Posted by kasumigenx

I think he could have avoided marrying Adelaide...

That's a possibility. Yet, Louis VI became king at age 27 and he only married at age 34. Life expectancy of a king was generally around 50-60 years old (rarely more but often less) in the middle age, so he would be heavily pressurized into marrying if he hadn't married Adelaide.

Louis VI isn't the only with a "marrital availibility status" though. Mathilda had also been fianced to Holy Roman Emperor Henry V. She became officialy his wife when she reached her maturity (which was at 12 for a middle age women), meaning 1114. And Henry V only died 11 years later.

I'm not saying a marriage between Louis VI and Mathilda isn't possible... I'm just saying it will be hard to do. You can realize that marriage in at least two ways :
-Have Mathilda and Louis VI be "free", meaning that they didn't marry before the OTL dates.
-Have Adelaide of Maurienne die in one of her pregnancies/earlier, and Mathilda not marry Geoffrey V of Anjou. That would be another possibility.

Yet, I think there were already tensions between the Dukes of Normandy-Kings of England and the French Kings by that point. A marriage could be arranged as a peace token, but still...

[kasumigenx]

What would be the consequence of this marriage, what if the thrones of england and france has been merged because of Matilda and Louis?