Chapter Three: Gallic Failures
It is the year 1507, and Johann Wilhelm of Jülich-Cleves-Berg is dead with no heirs to succeed him. Emperor Rudolf II has claims to the duchies stemming from intermarriage, however he is unable to declare his intentions openly without compromising his perceived neutrality. A total of six other claimants appear, with the rulers of the Margraviate of Brandenburg and the Duchy of Palatinate-Neuburg having the only credible claims through their marriage to Johann Wilhelm's aunts. Within a week a regency is established, including the duke's wife, Antoinette of Lorraine; the privy councillors; and an imperial commissioner. Later that month, Rudolf II announces that the Aulic Council was to provide a definite verdict within four weeks.
Brandenburg and Neuburg, however, view the regency as a direct attempt at annexing the duchy. Upon hearing the Imperial declaration, they sign a treaty of their own, rejecting all other claimants and establishing a provisional government together with the local estates. Their troops enter the duchy in defiance to the acting regency and the Emperor. War has begun.
The war quickly spreads, and more nations and leaders begin tossing their hats in the ring. France and the Netherlands field troops to their borders in shows of strength in favour of Brandenburg and Neuburg, and Austria opens talks with England on their potential involvement. Despite Eleanor's very fresh death, they are especially keen to keep the alliance alive now that it could prove helpful.
Henry VII, eager to overshadow his defeat to France in 1492 when he had failed to maintain Breton independence, agrees to join the war. Plans are drawn up to 'retake' Aquitaine in the summer (the 100 years war, while in the past, still had its embers burning…).
Emboldened by this fresh possibility, Henry begins searching for a marriage for his son that could potentially aid him. It doesn't take long for him to remember a proposal made by Louise of Savoy, wife of Charles the Count of Angoulême, in 1502 offering her daughter up for marriage to Prince Henry. Of course, she was courteously rebuffed as there was a much loftier union in the works, but now, well now it didn't seem like a bad idea at all.
The invasion fleet sets sail, with both the King and the Prince of Wales on board. Within weeks of landing, just months after his first wife's death, Henry has a second spouse in Margaret of Angoulême.
Margaret of Angoulême, born 1492, married 1507, died 1509
The festivities wouldn't last long, however, as the war turns out to be… less than successful. The war in Germany is a failure for the Emperor, the English distraction in the West not being enough to pull attention from Jülich, and after 2 years and an eerily reminiscent last stand at Castillon, the remaining English forces are pushed out to sea with their tails between their legs.
The losses of the war are great, and changes on the map are slight. France annexes the last English holdout in Calais, and Margaret of Angoulême is captured and tried for treason. She is decapitated by sword, as opposed to hanging, given her noble status. A comfort in her last moments, for sure.
The war, however, was not satisfied, and would vow to take one last victim.
A few months after returning from campaign, Henry VII would die from tuberculosis despite relatively good health prior to contraction. Some have since somewhat poetically theorised that he simply let himself be taken by the disease due to his shame at failing in France, though realistically it is far more likely that he simply couldn't be adequately cared for with the medicine of the time.
And so, now King Henry VIII sits on the throne. Twice widowed with only a single female heir and no other close successors, he resigns himself to finding yet another spouse.
