Hello, this is my first post on Alternative History...
So, I have an idea for a timeline and I'm interested to hear feedback.
In 1553, after she came to the throne, there was much talk in England of Queen Mary I marrying her cousin, Edward Courtenay (later made Earl of Devon).
Courtenay was the son of the executed Marquess of Exeter, himself a grandson of Edward IV through his daughter Katherine. Though Courtenay had been imprisoned in the Tower most of his life, he had some very good arguments in his favor as a husband for Mary: he was an Englishman and not a foreigner, he was of blood royal and had a claim to the throne himself, he was Catholic, and his mother, the Dowager Marchioness of Exeter, was a close friend and supporter of the Queen.
Further, the idea had much support in England, especially amongst Mary's Council (to which the Imperial ambassador reported in 1553 that two thirds were in favor), and for a time, Courtenay believed he would marry the Queen as well. In fact, it was mainly only due to the influence of the Imperial ambassador that it was scrapped.
So, my POD would be in 1553, when Courtenay and Mary wed. Assuming that this took place and Mary managed to produce a healthy son, what do you think would happen? It would essentially secure a Catholic succession for England, and Mary's Spanish sympathies would mean that England would probably have played more of an active role in Continental affairs and be closely allied with the Habsburgs.
Now, before anyone argues that Courtenay would be too young to wed Mary, remember, he was the same age as King Philip II (both being born in 1527), and thus only eleven years Mary's junior. Obviously it was still possible for Mary to conceive, due to her honest belief in her false pregnancies in later years, and with a husband who would be at her side and willing to share her bed regularly, why not? She would only be thirty-eight at this time, after all.
Also, with Mary not marrying Philip, but instead taking Courtenay as a husband, there would be no Wyatt's Rebellion -- as many historians agree that it was mainly caused by a desire to stop the marriage of the Queen with a foreign prince and prevent the country from being overrun by foreigners at all costs. This means that The Lady Jane Grey would not be executed in 1554, and instead most likely remain in the Tower with her husband Guildford until her death (although she and her father, the Duke of Suffolk, also could very well have been executed for heresy). Further, Elizabeth never would have been imprisoned on suspicion of treason due to the rebellion; likewise, the Earl of Pembroke would not have been able to regain Mary's favor by dealing with the rebels, and most likely would have passed out the rest of the reign quietly, assuming there weren't other chances for him to regain favor.
What does everyone think?
So, I have an idea for a timeline and I'm interested to hear feedback.
In 1553, after she came to the throne, there was much talk in England of Queen Mary I marrying her cousin, Edward Courtenay (later made Earl of Devon).
Courtenay was the son of the executed Marquess of Exeter, himself a grandson of Edward IV through his daughter Katherine. Though Courtenay had been imprisoned in the Tower most of his life, he had some very good arguments in his favor as a husband for Mary: he was an Englishman and not a foreigner, he was of blood royal and had a claim to the throne himself, he was Catholic, and his mother, the Dowager Marchioness of Exeter, was a close friend and supporter of the Queen.
Further, the idea had much support in England, especially amongst Mary's Council (to which the Imperial ambassador reported in 1553 that two thirds were in favor), and for a time, Courtenay believed he would marry the Queen as well. In fact, it was mainly only due to the influence of the Imperial ambassador that it was scrapped.
So, my POD would be in 1553, when Courtenay and Mary wed. Assuming that this took place and Mary managed to produce a healthy son, what do you think would happen? It would essentially secure a Catholic succession for England, and Mary's Spanish sympathies would mean that England would probably have played more of an active role in Continental affairs and be closely allied with the Habsburgs.
Now, before anyone argues that Courtenay would be too young to wed Mary, remember, he was the same age as King Philip II (both being born in 1527), and thus only eleven years Mary's junior. Obviously it was still possible for Mary to conceive, due to her honest belief in her false pregnancies in later years, and with a husband who would be at her side and willing to share her bed regularly, why not? She would only be thirty-eight at this time, after all.
Also, with Mary not marrying Philip, but instead taking Courtenay as a husband, there would be no Wyatt's Rebellion -- as many historians agree that it was mainly caused by a desire to stop the marriage of the Queen with a foreign prince and prevent the country from being overrun by foreigners at all costs. This means that The Lady Jane Grey would not be executed in 1554, and instead most likely remain in the Tower with her husband Guildford until her death (although she and her father, the Duke of Suffolk, also could very well have been executed for heresy). Further, Elizabeth never would have been imprisoned on suspicion of treason due to the rebellion; likewise, the Earl of Pembroke would not have been able to regain Mary's favor by dealing with the rebels, and most likely would have passed out the rest of the reign quietly, assuming there weren't other chances for him to regain favor.
What does everyone think?
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