Deleted member 5909
While rereading Allison Weir's Court of Henry VIII for reference for a course that I'm in the midst of taking, I came across something rather interesting that I'd since forgotten: on 10 March 1524, Henry VIII suffered an accident while jousting with Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, a contemporary account of which can be found here. Apparently the king had recently received some new armour and wished to test it out. Henry, however, forgot to lower his visor and was struck in the head by Suffolk. So, WI things had gone far worse than this instead? Perhaps the king receives a mortal head wound and dies of septicaemia a few days later à la Henri II of France?
Obviously the effects of this are going to be massive. Just off the top of my head, I can see Henry VIII absolving Suffolk on his deathbed (just as Henri II did in OTL with Gabriel Montgomery), considering the close relationship between the two, but Suffolk would probably retire to his estates in disgrace. Mary will be proclaimed queen immediately, with Katherine of Aragon as regent, though perhaps a regency council will also be set up to advise her, headed by Cardinal Wolsey? I also would imagine that Katherine would ensure that Mary weds Charles V at some point (in fact, the two may have been betrothed at that time, if memory serves), and Charles isn't going to pass up the chance to secure England...
So, what does everyone think? I'm particularly curious as to what a Habsburg England would look like in this scenario?
Obviously the effects of this are going to be massive. Just off the top of my head, I can see Henry VIII absolving Suffolk on his deathbed (just as Henri II did in OTL with Gabriel Montgomery), considering the close relationship between the two, but Suffolk would probably retire to his estates in disgrace. Mary will be proclaimed queen immediately, with Katherine of Aragon as regent, though perhaps a regency council will also be set up to advise her, headed by Cardinal Wolsey? I also would imagine that Katherine would ensure that Mary weds Charles V at some point (in fact, the two may have been betrothed at that time, if memory serves), and Charles isn't going to pass up the chance to secure England...
So, what does everyone think? I'm particularly curious as to what a Habsburg England would look like in this scenario?