alternatehistory.com
1337: France
1337: "AND THE LORD SHALL PRESERVE YOUR LINE"
"...In early March of the year, celebrations for the birth of Prince Louis took place throughout France. For John the birth of his first child was not merely a joyous occasion, but the production of a clear and undeniable male heir to his throne. John's joy at his son's birth was by most accounts overwhelming--he ordered the bells of every cathedral in Paris to ring continously for the next three days, and would distribute extremely generous alms by his own hands during the time as well. Reportedly, he bragged to his council that having found the knack of it, he would soon breed "an army of princes". It was an idle boast--while there would be daughters in the years that followed, Louis would be John's only son. Indeed, as many contemporary historians would note, the King was probably more pleased with his heir at this moment then he would be throughout his life, despite Louis' later accomplishments...
"The young Prince was declared Duke of Normandy almost immediately[1] as well as being granted numerous castles, lands, and jewels... In the wave of gift-giving the King managed to give something to himself--the now twenty-year old monarch declared the beginning of his personal rule a year early. While the initial effects were subtle--John had become the dominant figure on the council recently without a formal declaration--it represented a further loss of the authority of older, calmer men such as the Duke of Anjou...
"Within a few months, John displayed this new freedom in yet another family matter, wedding his niece Joan of Evereux to the young John Bruce, King of Scots, who was all of twelve. In this he surpassed his bride, who was only ten[2]. While it is obvious that neither of the wedded couple had much say in the matter, neither did much of the council. In light of the recent developments in Scotland[3] most of them viewed the Bruce cause has irreparibly lost--but John continued to back the young claimant even as his loyalists splintered into internal feuds...
"Even as the King of France deepened his commitment with the Bruces, he widened his struggle against the English. In July of 1336, Parlement had found against Prince Edward in the matter of the baron Garcie Arnaud[4], finding his claims valid and rewarding him substantial damages, to be collected from the Prince's Gascon holdings. It was a blatant effort to expand the conflict to Gascony, and was seen as such in the English court...
"By now it was abundantly clear that the days of wondering where the power lay in the French court were over. None now doubted it lay with King John."
--John I of France, Vol. 2; A King on His Throne, Antony Oates (1980)
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[1] The title and holdings of the Duke of Normandy had become by degrees a traditional holding of the heir to the French throne by this point.
[2] This is actually better than David Bruce's IOTL marriage to Joan of England, which happened when he was four, and she was seven.
[3] To be discussed in a later installment. Scotland! I just can't quit it!
[4] Garcie Arnaud was likewise used as a convenient excuse to apply the screws to Edward III IOTL as well. His case was just a tad dubious, but frankly the French were looking for something that would leave a mark, and his fit the bill.
"...In early March of the year, celebrations for the birth of Prince Louis took place throughout France. For John the birth of his first child was not merely a joyous occasion, but the production of a clear and undeniable male heir to his throne. John's joy at his son's birth was by most accounts overwhelming--he ordered the bells of every cathedral in Paris to ring continously for the next three days, and would distribute extremely generous alms by his own hands during the time as well. Reportedly, he bragged to his council that having found the knack of it, he would soon breed "an army of princes". It was an idle boast--while there would be daughters in the years that followed, Louis would be John's only son. Indeed, as many contemporary historians would note, the King was probably more pleased with his heir at this moment then he would be throughout his life, despite Louis' later accomplishments...
"The young Prince was declared Duke of Normandy almost immediately[1] as well as being granted numerous castles, lands, and jewels... In the wave of gift-giving the King managed to give something to himself--the now twenty-year old monarch declared the beginning of his personal rule a year early. While the initial effects were subtle--John had become the dominant figure on the council recently without a formal declaration--it represented a further loss of the authority of older, calmer men such as the Duke of Anjou...
"Within a few months, John displayed this new freedom in yet another family matter, wedding his niece Joan of Evereux to the young John Bruce, King of Scots, who was all of twelve. In this he surpassed his bride, who was only ten[2]. While it is obvious that neither of the wedded couple had much say in the matter, neither did much of the council. In light of the recent developments in Scotland[3] most of them viewed the Bruce cause has irreparibly lost--but John continued to back the young claimant even as his loyalists splintered into internal feuds...
"Even as the King of France deepened his commitment with the Bruces, he widened his struggle against the English. In July of 1336, Parlement had found against Prince Edward in the matter of the baron Garcie Arnaud[4], finding his claims valid and rewarding him substantial damages, to be collected from the Prince's Gascon holdings. It was a blatant effort to expand the conflict to Gascony, and was seen as such in the English court...
"By now it was abundantly clear that the days of wondering where the power lay in the French court were over. None now doubted it lay with King John."
--John I of France, Vol. 2; A King on His Throne, Antony Oates (1980)
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[1] The title and holdings of the Duke of Normandy had become by degrees a traditional holding of the heir to the French throne by this point.
[2] This is actually better than David Bruce's IOTL marriage to Joan of England, which happened when he was four, and she was seven.
[3] To be discussed in a later installment. Scotland! I just can't quit it!
[4] Garcie Arnaud was likewise used as a convenient excuse to apply the screws to Edward III IOTL as well. His case was just a tad dubious, but frankly the French were looking for something that would leave a mark, and his fit the bill.
- Space Oddity
- Word Count: 590