Charles Jr is already betrothed to Cecily of York, Edward and Magdalena's second daughter.
The Sunne in Splendour: A War of the Roses Timeline
- Thread starter pandizzy
- Start date
As I said before that explains a lot and I didn't remember that.
This is so intense but I honestly kinda love this cutthroat side of things, very dramatic and dark and I’m into it
Thank you! Charles wasn't called Le Temeraire for nothing guys!
This is a reflection of chlorosis, right? I was just reading up on the Green Children of Woolpit.
Yes. Aka, anaemia, which was referred to as the green sickness around this time.
Hypochromic anemia was historically known as chlorosis or green sickness for the distinct skin tinge sometimes present in patients, in addition to more general symptoms such as a lack of energy, shortness of breath, dyspepsia, headaches, a capricious or scanty appetite and amenorrhea.
July 1476.
July 1476. Eltham Palace, England.
When the new Lady of York began to whine in her lambswool cradle, Elizabeth stood up immediately, already undoing the laces of her bodice to free her swollen breasts. She swept up the little babe with a long sigh, sitting back against the rocking chair as she adjusted her hold around the fragile bundle of limbs and youth.
Little Anne, the King and Queen's newest child, settled almost immediately in her arms, perhaps smelling the milk that spilled down her chest. The child was only a month old, with the same round face and small nose of her mother, though she had the long limbs of her father. She was as healthy as newborns come, with rosy cheeks and she suckled with much strength when Elizabeth offered her a nipple. The labour had been easy and the Queen's confinement ended with a delighted flourish, as Her Grace proved her continuous fertility even at the rather advanced age of thirty-two. She had already produced ten children for the House of York, with nine still living, and there was every bit of chance that she'd produce another round of sons in the years to come.
And so, Elizabeth did her duty with a smile on her face. She tapped Lady Anne's little bottom in rhythmic motions as the child ate, hoping to soothe her back to sleep, but the girl was ravenous for milk. It was as if she had not been thoroughly fed just two hours before and the idea made Elizabeth chuckle.
As she looked at her charge, she started to wonder what would be her future. Lady Anne had three brothers ahead of her in the succession, and five older sisters still living. It was highly unlikely she'd ever live to inherit the throne of England. This was especially true since a younger brother would push her further down in the succession, and that possibility was very much real, considering her mother the Queen had practically produced a child a year since she married the lustful King Edward.
Which meant, Anne of York had to become queen somewhere else, like her older sisters would become in their turn. In truth, only little Peggy had yet to be settled when all her sisters already had intended by the time they reached two years of age like her. Rumours about the nursery said that the King wished to wait for the situation at Castile to settle before he chose a husband for Lady Margaret. There were two women who claimed to be Queen of Castile and both women had sons, or grandson in the case of Queen Juana.
It would be awkward to betroth Peggy to one boy when the other would win. Elizabeth knew that the King's decision was sensible and yet, she still thought of the future of the child at her breast more than she thought of her older sister.
There was Navarre to think of. Joanes de Foix was the new Prince of Viana and he had once been a brother-in-law to the Queen. If he had sons of his own, Elizabeth might think of the possibility, but despite her many questions and carefully-placed thoughts, she could not find out whether he had even married after his brother's death. She did not think so. Elizabeth, like many others at court, was an incredible gossip and the English royalty had always kept an eye on Navarrese affairs since Queen Magdalena married King Edward. This sort of thing would be known even in the lower ranks.
Lady Anne let go of her now-empty breast, but did not seem ready to go back to slumber. Elizabeth chuckled and moved the child to her other breast, helping her latch on.
As she ate, Elizabeth continued to think. There were not many eligible princes available in Europe, what with her sisters having taken the best of the lot, and it was quite possible little Anne might find herself without a husband. Her father could dedicate her to the Lord to save himself the hassle of securing a match and paying a sufficient dowry, but Elizabeth did not think that likely. With their mother and grandmothers' impressive fertility behind them, the York girls would be valuable marriage pawns.
But it was not up to her to think and decide on the future of the child at her breast. This was the King's right as her lord and master, not just as a father. All she had to do was feed Anne and keep her safe, a duty she did almost religiously and by the time she dozed off to sleep once more, Lady Anne had emptied both of her breasts rather thoroughly.
Elizabeth placed her back on the cradle with a low chuckle. Anne of York was the second child of the King and Queen that she nursed and Lord Clarence was much of the same, before he was weaned and handed off to be raised by Lady Warwick alongside his wife. Hungry, with a strong latch and an even stronger desire to be fed. She thought it was the Yorkist blood in them, but it could very well be a mixture of the Plantagenet and Capet lines. Two families whose members were ever hungry for more, be it nurse's milk or continental lands.
Katherine Swamson moved to rock the cradle, humming a common song lowly so as to not let Lady Hastings hear them singing such tune near the royal children. It worked quickly however and Lady Anne sighed happily in her sleep, dreaming deeply.
Elizabeth settled back against her tiny bed on the floor, close enough to the cradle to let her know if Lady Anne needed another feeding.
Although she did twice more, it was an uneventful night, without much to disturb them. This gave her cause to hope andto pray fervently, asking and beseeching the Lord to make it so for the rest of time. Boring, monotonous days were the happiest after so many years of war. Nothing tasted as sweet as peace and she only hoped it would be like this forever.
She would be wrong.
--
The first signs of impending doom come from a letter sent by the Emperor. Edward, King of England opened it with a sigh. He did not really know what Frederick of Austria wanted, though he could imagine: reports of Magdalene's health, whether he could send the German governess already to teach her the ways of his lands, as if no king alive knew that the Imperial court was an austere one, without much pomp and celebrations.
If Magdalene was not just ten years old, he might even demand her early send-off, though Edward knew he was powerful enough to avoid sending his little daughter until she was ready to bear children. So, he read the letter with an exhausted gaze and then, after finishing it, he read it again. And again, because the words in it were practically unbelievable.
Then, he stood up and walked out of his private chamber, leading himself to the Queen's rooms. There, he found his wife and her ladies sewing around in a circle, faces and minds so focused that they barely noticed his presence.
"Leave us," Edward demanded in a clear voice and the ladies-in-waiting of the Queen jumped at the fright before quickly standing up and curtsying before him. He said nothing, not even acknowledging their presence as he sent them away with a movement of his head.
When they were truly alone, Magdalena stood up and came to him. "Is there something wrong?" she asked. "Are we at war again?"
Edward shook his head. "Nothing like it," he said, showing her the letter. As she read it, a deep wrinkle formed between his wife's dark eyebrows.
"Vladislaus of Bohemia died of smallpox," she said, "And the Emperor wishes for us to declare our support in the election of his son Maximilian to the throne."
"It would make our Magdalene Queen," he said. "Not just Empress, which she'd have to wait until Frederick was dead, but Queen, immediately upon her marriage."
"I see," his wife murmured. "Does Frederick think you are a little boy to come at his beck and call?"
Edward chuckled, shaking his head.
"If we declare ourselves friendly to Bohemia in the event of the Archduke gaining the throne, then perhaps, he will manage to win it," he said. Magdalene nodded, pursing her lips.
"The other Jagiellons will surely press their own claims," she said. "There is the King of Poland and his brother, the Grand Duke of Lithuania to think of."
"Not at all," said Edward. "The Grand Duke of Lithuania has died and now Jan Olbracht rules over both countries."
"Jan Olbracht has younger brothers," his wife responded, then frowned. "What did the Grand Duke die of?"
"Fryderyk is a priest and Zygmunt is Jan Olbracht's heir," said Edward. "He can't be elected to Bohemia when there is the possibility that he may become King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania someday. The balance of power in Europe will not allow it."
Magdalena nodded, but it didn't seem she even heard what he said. "What did the Grand Duke die of?"
"Smallpox," Edward answered, not really understanding why this was so important. It was a common way to die, nothing as alarming when one was at a distance from the deceased.
But his wife's face went pale and she murmured, "Oh dear Lord," with all the somber darkness of someone who saw a bad omen.
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Hungry baby Anne is hungry! And smallpox? Dear god don't let little Magdalene die like poor Joan of England did.
Ooh Magadalene as Queen of Bohemia and Holy Roman Empress? I love it! I was so worried when Edwars got the letter though, I was afraid that maybe Maximilian had died. Still I imagine this doesn't mean that peace will last long, I think the French would be most displeased at the prospect of the Habsburgs gaining even more land. Lovely chapter as always!!!
Well, the French don't have as animosity with the Habsburgs as they did later on since Maximilian never married an heiress to Burgundy. Louis XI has other things to worry about.
That's true but they may not like them gaining another Kingdom...
Considering the Habsburgs are more focused in eastern europe right about now rather than western, I think the Jagiellons should be worried instead of the Valois