alternatehistory.com

OTL the Duke’s rebellion was a major headache for Francis I. So, let’s say it doesn’t happen.

Probably the easiest way to do this is to keep the Duke’s wife alive. Relations between the King and his mighty subject were already strained before her death, but the argument over the division of her estates was what pushed the Duke from sullen acquiescence into open rebellion. So, [handwave] she lives, and the Duke stays at least nominally loyal.

Now what?

Well… one possible outcome is that the battle of Pavia goes better. OTL, the Duke fought on the Imperial side. TTL he’ll be French (he did yeoman service at the battle of Marignano a few years earlier) or, at worst, neutral. I don’t think Francis can win Pavia – that whole campaign seems to have been FUBAR – but in this TL, he might avoid being captured. That would surely produce some interesting knock-ons.

I’m not sure what changes we get from eliminating the Duke’s invasion of Provence, but there should be something. And of course, there’ll be a different commander for the Imperial forces sacking Rome.

Thoughts?


Doug M.
Top