Madeleine is unlikely but not impossible but Margaret Tudor is out of question
Considering that in several ATL's on that story had Margaret marry Suffolk and IOTL she had married Angus (he also married him ITTL) and Henry Stewart - both more lowborn than Francis and less influential, Francis d'Angouleme who is definitely better born than Suffolk and acts as French ambassador in England + he seduces widowed Margaret and later on the pair after initial affection is over and Francis becomes father-in-law of king of France and thus his voice is prominent in French politics.
This, Margaret was destined for Scotland. BTW OP
@Zygmunt Stary is Catherine in your TL a nun?
Oh, but she did marry James IV and she did marry Angus. Her marriage to Francis is a result of affection.
Which Catherine? Francis's eldest daughter definitely not.
ANGOULEME ASCENDANCY (AND ROYAL LINE OF VALOIS TREE)
Francis, count of Angouleme was a very divisive figure. An aristocrat of great pedigree, with not so great wealth, but great lust for women and ambitions, he was envied by many, hated by many, loved by many. His first significant "accomplishment" - though not achieved by his effort, but rather by biology. After death of his childless brother-in-law, duke Louis of Orleans, Francis became first prince of the blood and duke of Orleans (the most senior member of Capetian dynasty not directly related to King), and as such was the part of the embassy send by 21 years old king Louis XII, after death of his first wife, Anne of Britanny in search of another wife. Louis's eyes were set on Mary Tudor, younger daughter of Henry VII, king of England. She was reluctant to marry Louis, being in love in Charles Brandon, but Francis succeded in both convincing her that king Louis is an handsome, honorable man (the first part was definitely true - Louis was tall, muscular with long brown hair and blue eyes, many women were in love with him) and convincing her brother, king Henry VIII that Louis is an worthy suitor for her. Spoiling things a bit, here is the tree of king Louis's marriages and his issue:
Louis XII of France (13 November 1493 – 7 March 1550) m a)
Anne of Brittany (
Breton:
Anna; 25/26 January 1477
[1] – 9 January 1514
[2]) b)
Mary Tudor (
/ˈtjuːdər/; 18 March 1496 – 25 June 1533) c)
Catherine d'Angouleme (13 April 1519 – 5 January 1589)
1a) Kunigunde
of France (25 October 1510 – 12 June 1574) married Charles, duke of Touraine (18 September 1495 – 22 April 1545).
2a) stillborn son (1513)
3b) Henri, dauphin of France (11 March 1516 – 1522)
4b) Marie of France (16 July 1517 – 20 November 1559) married James V of Scotland (10 April 1512 – 14 December 1542)
5b) Anne of France (1519 – 27 September 1547) married
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and king of Spain (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558) (as a second wife)
6b)
Henri, dauphin of France (c. 1523 – March 1534).
7c) James
II, King of France (19 January 1544 – 5 December 1560) married his niece Catherine of Scotland [1] (1540 – 26 January 1568)
8c) Elisabeth (2 April 1545 – 3 October 1568). Married Charles I, king of Portugal [2] in 1559.
9c) Marguerite of France (12 November 1547 – 21 February 1575)
10c) Louis, Duke of Orléans (3 February 1549 – 24 October 1550). Died in infancy.
11c) Charles the Posthumous, duke of Orleans (27 June 1550 – 30 May 1574)
[1] daughter of James V and Marie of France
[2] surviving Don Carlos
The turbulent 1520s were somewhat of a blank point in Orleans's carreer. Though there was major war - in fact, Louis XII attacked realm of Ferdinand II of Naples, who was Charles V king's of Spain cousin, Orleans did little in war itself. when Gaston de Foix shined.
Orleans was influential in negotiating peace around 1529, when 10-year old Anne was initially promised to Philip of Asturias, Charles's heir, but when Charles's was widowed he decided to marry his intended daughter-in-law himself, as she greatly resembled her mother, who was renowned beauty and began negotiating Philip's marriage to Maria Manuela of Portugal. It began his feud with king's estranged brother, duke of Touraine and husband to Kunigunde of France, duchess of Britanny, who was very warlike and was head of pro-war party.
In 1528 he seduced and bigamously (on her part) and secretly married king Henry's sister, Margaret Tudor. The marriage itself was born out of lust and the two quickly got bored with each other.
As long as Queen Mary was alive Francis kept being married to Margaret, as he wanted to be in Queen's good graces (Mary Tudor maintained balance between dukes of Orleans and Touraine), though after her death he sought annulment in hopes of male heir.
The King after her death initially stick to his policy, but when he began to seek hand of Catherine of Angouleme, Francis's eldest daughter, he gave his permission to annulment and helped Francis obtain it.
That, followed with duke of Touraine's banishment from court in 1539 and birth of Francis's eldest son incited to begin real Angouleme's ascendancy when he became King's top advisor and richest man in the kingdom.
He went as far as securing the hand of bastardized daughter of king Henry VIII, Elizabeth Tudor for his eldest son, Henri d'Angouleme. Elizabeth was raised as ward of Francis and she returned to England in 1552 when she was already a married woman, though her husband was 12-years old, who converted to Protestantism.
Orleans, influenced by his late sister was fairly tolerant to Protestants and did not persecute them.
He didn't live to see his greatest triumphs - his grandsons becoming kings. His female-line grandson, James II of France became king following his father's, Louis's death in 1550 and Henri's eldest son born a week before Edward VI's death- named Edward was named as heir by his uncle on his deathbed and adopted, started reign of house Valois-Tudor-Orleans in England. Henri and Elizabeth convinced Parliament to accept king's will as valid and they prevailed over supporters of Mary Tudor, Henry VIII's eldest daughter.
Elizabeth Tudor, duchess of Orleans was praised as new Margaret Beaufort as she championed her son's claim against her elder sister, convincing the Parliament that late King's will should be obeyed, that he knew best what's the best from the kingdom, that adoption makes her boy equal to Edward's trueborn son, that women have never reigned in England before and should not do so in future, though they can pass their claim to their sons.
Ultimate nail in Mary's coffin was her refusal to marry Luis, duke of Beja, Portuguese relative of both Charles V and Philip, prince of Asturias, as he was not a King. Both Charles V and prince of Asturias were married at that time - prince of Asturias was married to Isabel, only daughter of Ferdinand III of Naples by his first wife, Germaine de Foix and his heiress at the moment, so Mary's refusal proved that she is impossible to control in their eyes.
Though Ferdinand III, married to Anne of Britanny and Touraine, eldest daughter of Charles of Touraine, surprised everyone and sired an posthumous son, who became Charles IV of Naples.
And then we have Touraine's family tree:
Charles, duke of Touraine (18 September 1495 – 22 April 1545) married Kunigunde
of France (25 October 1510 – 12 June 1574)
1)
Anne of Britanny and Touraine (16 November 1531 – 1607) married
Ferdinand III of Naples (15 December 1488 – 20 October 1550) secondly Francis, duke of Guise
2) Francis III
, Duke of Britanny, (22 November 1533 – 1597)
3) Marie of Touraine and Britanny (16 December 1535 – 1598)
4) Kunigunde of Touraine and Britanny (1537-1581)
5) Louis, duke of Touraine (1 December 1538 – 1586)
But the Italian Wars were not only about Milan. They were also about Naples. Actually, Charles VIII, the king of France who started these wars, did not have a claim to Milan either.
Also, I don't think Kunigunde being a Habsburg matters that much. Queen mothers usually defend their sons' interests even if it implies standing against their own brothers or nephews.
Charles's war ended in 1495. He died in 1498, with no intention of returning to Italy. The return was caused by Louis XII's (OTL) claim to Milan and TTL Louis XII does not have claim to it and is under regency.
Yeah, that's right that Queen Regents defended their son's interest but is her son's interest to wage costly war in Italy when his kingdom is unstable and Kunigunde's position as regent is shaky at best?
She won't invade and Louis will attain majority in 1510, after Isabella of Castile's death when Castile is ruled by Habsburg and France is encircled. Initiating a war in such an situation without allies is an asinine move, so if the second part of Italian wars will happen, that would begin in late 1510s-early 1520s, not around end of XVth/beginning XVIth century as IOTL.
I do not imagine him marrying a subject.
I married a French bride in OTL. So I guess he would do the same.
You're right, so he will marry Yolande, and her historical counterpart, Sibylle of Bavaria did not have children, so he'll still die childless.
Why would Louis and Marguerite have no issue? Both produced children in OTL.
Well, Margaret did have children with king of Navarre, not her first or second husband and Louis did not have any children with Mary Tudor, so I guess he suffered from low sperm count in the last days of his life, hence he is kept childless ITTL.
Did title of duke of Orleans passed automatically to the next male relative of the family who was not a son or brother of deceased holder? I assumed that title would merge into crown.
And Francis at some point will become father-in-law of TTL Louis XII, so he'll climb fairly high.
As for Gaston, I know that Valentina Visconti's inheritance - so county of Vertus and Louis's claim to Milan would pass to Gaston, but I doubt France would fight for Gaston's claim. Though I have some plans for Gaston ITTL.
