A Britain of Panthers and Lions: House of Oldenburg Britain
- Thread starter VVD0D95
- Start date
Possible candidates with sufficient pedigree to be offered as counter-pick:
- Daughters of Henry Hyde, Lord Hyde
- TTL daughters of Duke of St Albans (if TTL he is married to Ruperta Hughes, then both parents of these children have royal blood, even if Duke is bastard 100% and regarding his Duchess there are claims of morganatic marriage between parents - so that's the best pedigree in the current bastard crop)
- Other male line illegitimate granddaughters of Charles II
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederica_Mildmay,_Countess_of_Mértola (if we're speaking about morganatic Palatines)
VVD0D95
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Hmm either the daughters of Henry Hyde or the daughter of the Duke of St Albans would be interesting.
VVD0D95
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This he was, this also means Diana De Vere is still single...maybe the queen could marry her to a favourite?
I adviced to marry her to the Duke of Berwick. Oxford inheritance is a nice bonus to conversion, and the children can take De Vere surname instead of FitzJames
VVD0D95
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Oh I agree, so they be duke of Berwick, earl of,oxford, etc, and James gets a solid colonel positionI adviced to marry her to the Duke of Berwick. Oxford inheritance is a nice bonus to conversion, and the children can take De Vere surname instead of FitzJames
Very likely. Beauclerk did not do OTL, but when he married Diana she was not ruled to be the heiress.
By the way, the match of Charles Beauclerck with Diana was in 1694 OTL, so if James makes good of his uncle's offer soon, it can be the stimulus for the marriage for him. And for Charles this means having to move to his original fiancee, Ruperta Hughes (the match being proposed in the will of Ruperta's father).
Chapter 38: Mrs Morley
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Chapter 39: Mrs Morley
Anne ran a hand through her hair, she liked the new hairstyle, slightly up but not too high, and enough to allow George to see some of her neck, enough to keep him interested and tempted through the day. After five children, Anne wondered if her husband still found her desirable, he’d not come to her bed for love for some time now, but he did not have any mistresses. Though he was quite busy overseeing the navy and development of new ships, perhaps that was what kept him so preoccupied. She would speak with him, or perhaps her friend Mrs Freeman could help her.
She looked at the lady in question and spoke. “Our husband has been much preoccupied as of late, and he has not yet returned to our bed since the last time we made love some time three moons ago. We are not sure what to do.” She knew that a Queen was not supposed show weakness or insecurity, but with Mrs Freeman she could be.
Mrs Freeman always held her head high and ensured that she never wavered, it was one of the things Anne liked about her. “Well, Mrs Morley you’ve got to lure him back to bed. Men are creatures of the flesh like animals, they need to be tempted.” Mrs Freeman nodded to the hairstyle that Anne had adopted and thus made popular to court. “That should do it. But if not, you should use the perfume I gave you. I’ve been told it worked for Lady Elizabeth.”
That intrigued Anne, she had always thought Lady Elizabeth and her husband had such a strong connection, perhaps the fact that they too had had so many children had caused a separation. “Truly? Oh that is wonderful!” Anne responded.
“Indeed it is. But Mrs Morley, there is something more pressing than that.” Mrs Freeman replied. Anne raised an eyebrow and her friend continued. “You have three sons and two daughters, more than enough heirs. You must now start thinking about marriages for them.”
Anne was not sure she wanted to discuss this issue with Mrs Freeman-Sarah, thought slipped out- this was something meant for her and her husband to discuss. However, since the lady had brought it up she thought she might as well get her thoughts on it. “And who would you suggest?”
“An alliance with Sweden is necessary, Mrs Morley, there are things happening within the Empire that must needs a balance between Denmark and Sweden. Your daughter Mary is of an age with the Swedish King’s son.” Mrs Freeman responded.
“Which one? The man has two.” Anne replied and the thought of sending her eldest daughter Mary off to that cold barren hell was not appealing. Mary was a soft girl, meant for soft comforts.
“The eldest one, you want your daughter to be Queen.” Mrs Freeman replied, giving Anne a look as if to suggest she thought her simple.
“And, if this contradicts with the fine balance established between the two nations since the establishment of the Holsteins in Oldenburg?” Anne asked, knowing that the woman would likely shrug and say something else.
“And what of it? You want someone to give to your daughter. Unless the Crown Prince of Denmark dies and his brother becomes the new heir, you are going to need to give Mary to Sweden. Parliament won’t accept a Catholic marriage for your eldest daughter.” The woman replied. She then continued. “As for your heir, I think Sophia of Hanover might make a good marriage.”
Anne shook her head horrified at the mere suggestion. “We shall not have our eldest son married to the frump that is from Hanover, we would never have that thrust onto him.”
Mrs Freeman sighed. “Then perhaps you had best start considering looking elsewhere then.” Anne nodded, she could not consider anything with Hanover, not after how the oaf who was the heir to the electorate had rejected her so badly. The woman then said. “You know there is another issue that must be considered as well.”
Anne suspected she knew what the other woman was going to talk about and so she waited, then when it appeared the other lady wanted her to ask, she did. “And what might that be?”
“The Earl of Shaftesbury has reintroduced the Occasional Conformity Bill and this time has support amongst the opposition party in broad strokes across both houses. You would look foolish to reject it.” Mrs Freeman said.
Anne snorted. “They are not supporting the bill for him and he is not committed to it either. He is trying to prevent them from kicking him out of the party and replacing him with someone Devonshire finds more amenable.”
“So, it would do you well to allow this to pass, and ensure he remains. A pliable opposition is better than one that is always at odds.” Mrs Freeman replied.
Anne considered this, she knew that the bill could extend some rights to those who were more naturally inclined to support her and her prerogatives, but she also knew that Shaftesbury was like his father, a snake who was dangerous. “We shall see.” She replied.
I think that François Louis, Prince of Conti get a lot of chance to get elected seen that Louis XIV would make a lot of effort for this (he desperate needs more allies)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/François_Louis,_Prince_of_Conti
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/François_Louis,_Prince_of_Conti
VVD0D95
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Alright interesting, and this does also mean there's no need for a conversion from the Elector himself.
Louis William, Margrave of Baden was among candidates. I'll check for other options on the evening.
Chapter 40: Shrewsbury Diplomacy
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Chapter 40: Shrewsbury Diplomacy
Charles sometimes wondered whether this position he had was truly worth it. Yes he had the power to decide policy at home, which the Queen allowed him, and yes his family and friends were in good positions at court, but the work effort was taking its toll. He was only twenty-three, and yet he had already found himself short of breath and having difficulty sleeping. All signs of someone who was unwell, but he was in robust health. He dabbed his brow, the weather was humid today, and in the Palace of Whitehall, everyone was sweating.
The Queen looked at him and said. “It has been some four months since the Occasional Conformity Bill has been in Parliament, what word has there been?”
Charles rubbed his jaw, it pained him on occasion, he took a breath then said. “We’ve received confirmation from people such as Oxford, Somerset, Beaufort and others that they will not support it. They fell that the bill might pave the way for chaos and destruction. Whilst others have rallied around Shaftesbury include Wharton, Manchester and Sandwich, who believe that the bill will ease the tensions of the Test Act.”
“And is there a likelihood that the act will be passed?” The Queen, Charles knew did not want the act passed due to her own religious beliefs. Charles himself was indifferent to it.
“Your Majesty, in the lords we have the majority opinion and the act will fail, however, in the Commons I believe that there is some support, and it is this support that concerns me.” Charles responded.
The Queen nodded. “Who within the Commons who is supporting the opposition could be turned toward supporting our belief?”
Charles thought about that and then said. “Sir Ralph Dutton, Your Majesty. He has been someone who has been see sawing between supporting it or opposing it. I do not know what could be given to change him, but I think it would be worth doing.”
The Queen looked at Sir Stephen Fox, the chancellor and asked him. “Sir Stephen, what do you think?”
Fox was the man who Charles could see rising high within the next few years, he had done a great many things during the Queen’s reign, including the development of the bank. “I believe, Your Majesty that Sir Ralph could well be turned. By offer of the lands near Chepstow which he has disputed with his wife’s brother for some time, could be enough to convince him and his allies to turn and give us a majority in the commons.”
The Queen nodded. “Then we suggest that you approach Sir Robert and instruct him to begin this process. Lord Jeffreys, we want you to begin the legal definitions that will grant this land to Sr Ralph.” The man nodded his consent, and the Queen turned her attention to another matter. “Should this bill fail, who will replace the Earl of Shaftesbury as the leading opposition figure?”
“Your Majesty, I believe Henry Sydney, Earl of Romney would be the next person that would be put forth as the leader of the opposition.” Charles responded, using his knowledge of the Earl of Devonshire to justify this. “Devonshire controls the opposition, and even though he is fighting in the Low Countries, he remains in control of the nominations and Sydney is the man he is said to trust the most now. The man is in line with Devonshire’s views on the church and state.”
“And who else in the opposition could be made to become the leader, and seen as beneficial to Devonshire?” The Queen asked.
Shrewsbury faltered there, he was okay with the system as it stood, elections were controlled by those with land in those boroughs, but this? This was something else. “Your Majesty?” Charles responded uncertainly.
Sunderland stepped in then. “Your Majesty, I think we had best see whether Romney survives the war before making any decisions.” Charles wondered how the Queen did not snap at Sunderland for that, and put it down to his experience.
The Queen then turned back to Charles and demanded. “And what are the reports for the bank, how are these things going?”
Charles thought for a moment, then looked at Fox who nodded, and then he said. “Your Majesty, the investors have expressed their firm interest in this, the merchants of the guild have expressed firm interest in presenting the funding for this venture also. The terms have been drafted, all is needed now is your express commitment.”
The Queen smiled, a rare sight. “This will grant us the right for money free of Parliamentary influence?”
“Yes Your Majesty.” Charles responded.
“Then, our approval is granted.” The Queen said.
Louis William of Baden was seen as strongest candidate, who could oppose Conti until summer 1697, have Frederick Augustus not converted, Margrave of Baden would be most likely candidate to win. Besides him Leopold Joseph of Lorraine (nephew of Emperor Leopold, son of Eleanor Hansburg, Queen of Poland), Livio Odescalchi (Pope's nephew) and Charles Philip of Neuburg tried their chances-success of any of them is unlikely.