A destiny fulfilled - An Eleanor of Austria TL
- Thread starter isabella
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We will see... Margaret is fully in favor of both English matches but she is powerless. Of the ones with power: Henry VIII naturally want them, Charles (who is still 13 years old) is still favorable but Ferdinand of Aragon is working for changing his mind while Maximilian has not taken a definitive decision. So Thomas Boleyn and Charles Brandon have a delicate job to do and we will see if they will be up to the task.
Hopefully it works out then! Maximilian needs to make a decision to help secure the match
The matches are not at risk on the English side: Henry need a new bride and for age, rank and ancestry Eleanor is the only option and Charles and Mary are long engage. Maximilian and Charles are starting to have some doubts as they are stirred up by Ferdinand of Aragon, who wanted different things who would go exclusively in his own interest
Charles has put his sight on a fully uninterested woman and pointed too high. Maybe he will be luckier next time who he will try this game. Still his courting of Margaret has full support from Henry and he is doing his part in the negotiations pretty well.Thomas will be, I'm not sure about Charles!
The problem of Brandon (and Henry is the same) is who they believe who all the women need/want a man in their bed and can not understand who things are different for some of them
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Hopefully Mary and Charles do end up marrying here, as the Henry-Eleanor match may help secure it...
The Henry-Eleanor negotiations will take time and they will NOT married soon.
That's true, but one of the pairs is already married then it may help the chances of the other match happening.
1514 (March) - “It is time to let go the past once for all and look at the future”
Archduchess Margaret of Austria was nervous and nobody would ever deny who she had all the right to be in that state: preparatives for the imminent wedding of Archduke Charles, Duke of Burgundy were in full course and that already was a big victory for Margaret as Charles in the last months had been pushed to take in consideration different matches, specially from his maternal grandfather Ferdinand II of Aragon, who had menaced more than once to made his namesake grandson as heir of Aragon and Castile, if Charles refuted the match with the young Princess Renee of France, who the Spanish King had arranged for his heir, specially if the Duke refuted it for marrying that English old maid. Charles had been close to fall in the trap, when the portrait of the English princess who Margaret had commissioned to Sittow had arrived brought by Charles Brandon, now ennobled as Duke of Suffolk (a gift from Henry VIII, his best friend, who likely was trying to made him worthier of her hand, as neither men had understood who she was NOT interested in remarry and do NOT need a man) who had started again his courting, forcing Margaret to sent another letter (in which she sweared who she was NOT encouraging Brandon’s courting and had NO intention of doing anything with him, at least unrelated to arranging the weddings of Charles and Eleanor) to her over worried father in Vienna.
Brandon was fastidious but charming and was definitely doing a good job in praising the English princess to the young Duke. Charles had been enchanted by the portrait, Brandon had sweared to him who was a good likeness while Sir Thomas Boleyn, the English Ambassador, reminded to the Duke who princess Mary was acknowledged as one of the most beautiful princesses of Europe, if not the most beautiful, while Claude of France was without doubt not a beauty and her younger sister was only three years old.
Emperor Maximilian in the end had agreed who he had nothing to gain from breaking Charles‘ English betrothal for Ferdinand’s sake, specially when Charles had already chosen the English Princess (who was without doubt a very good match) over the Hungarian Princess Anne who he had hoped to marry to one of his grandsons (the engagement, or better engagements as the heir of Hungary and Bohemia had been engaged to Mary of Austria at the same time, had been signed when Philip was still alive and Maximilian had been sure who either Charles or Ferdinand would be available for princess Anne) but was becoming extremely likely who the still 10 years old Anne would instead become his fourth wife. At that point Maximilian had agreed to let Charles choose his bride among the four princesses (at the last moment the 10 years old Isabella of Portugal, already a renowned beauty, was added to his official betrothed Mary of England, Anne of Hungary and Renee of France) and to reinstate Eleanor’s English engagement while Isabella was to be engaged to Maximilian Sforza, Duke of Milan and Mary’s betrothal to Louis of Hungary confirmed.
Charles interest in the Hungarian or Portuguese match was under zero and between Brandon‘s words and the portrait and Margaret‘s warning who offending an ally was NEVER a good idea and reminder who he and Mary were already married by proxy, Charles had been persuaded who renouncing to the stunning 18 years old Mary for a long and uncertain wait for the 3 years old Renee would be a folly and the date of the wedding had been settled for April and was agreed who the bride would be escorted by her brother, who would then celebrate his own engagement to Eleanor and meet his bride-to-be before their own wedding (who would not happen before Eleanor’s 16th birthday or at least after the end of Henry’s year of mourning).
Eleanor was both excited and nervous at the idea of finally meeting the English King (and to think who that man had already a big place in her life and mind for years) and Anne Boleyn’s descriptions of England and Brandon‘s incessant praises of his handsome, noble and generous King ans best friend had often made her laugh, but sounded genuine and had helped Eleanor to reconcile with the match and forgive the earlier slight. Brandon had tried to justify his friend and explain her Henry’s character and she had decided who she would give her remonstrances to the English King as Henry would need to ask personally forgiveness for his earlier slight but she would be comprensive and never talk of it again.
“It is time to let go the past once for all and look at the future, Eleanor” that was the thing who she repeated to herself constantly, but she knew in her heart who she would be unable to do that before finally meeting the English King and she would be unable to say what emotion was the strongest in her, while waiting for her brother’s wedding.
Eleanor had no idea of what the future would reserve to her and what would be her life in England, but she knew one thing for sure amd had told that to her aunt in not uncertain terms: Mademoiselle Boleyn’s dream of a long period in Burgundy would remain such as she wanted the girl in her household. She just hoped who the girl would not be too much displeased for it as Anne’s while much younger, was without doubt one of her favorite companions...
Brandon was fastidious but charming and was definitely doing a good job in praising the English princess to the young Duke. Charles had been enchanted by the portrait, Brandon had sweared to him who was a good likeness while Sir Thomas Boleyn, the English Ambassador, reminded to the Duke who princess Mary was acknowledged as one of the most beautiful princesses of Europe, if not the most beautiful, while Claude of France was without doubt not a beauty and her younger sister was only three years old.
Emperor Maximilian in the end had agreed who he had nothing to gain from breaking Charles‘ English betrothal for Ferdinand’s sake, specially when Charles had already chosen the English Princess (who was without doubt a very good match) over the Hungarian Princess Anne who he had hoped to marry to one of his grandsons (the engagement, or better engagements as the heir of Hungary and Bohemia had been engaged to Mary of Austria at the same time, had been signed when Philip was still alive and Maximilian had been sure who either Charles or Ferdinand would be available for princess Anne) but was becoming extremely likely who the still 10 years old Anne would instead become his fourth wife. At that point Maximilian had agreed to let Charles choose his bride among the four princesses (at the last moment the 10 years old Isabella of Portugal, already a renowned beauty, was added to his official betrothed Mary of England, Anne of Hungary and Renee of France) and to reinstate Eleanor’s English engagement while Isabella was to be engaged to Maximilian Sforza, Duke of Milan and Mary’s betrothal to Louis of Hungary confirmed.
Charles interest in the Hungarian or Portuguese match was under zero and between Brandon‘s words and the portrait and Margaret‘s warning who offending an ally was NEVER a good idea and reminder who he and Mary were already married by proxy, Charles had been persuaded who renouncing to the stunning 18 years old Mary for a long and uncertain wait for the 3 years old Renee would be a folly and the date of the wedding had been settled for April and was agreed who the bride would be escorted by her brother, who would then celebrate his own engagement to Eleanor and meet his bride-to-be before their own wedding (who would not happen before Eleanor’s 16th birthday or at least after the end of Henry’s year of mourning).
Eleanor was both excited and nervous at the idea of finally meeting the English King (and to think who that man had already a big place in her life and mind for years) and Anne Boleyn’s descriptions of England and Brandon‘s incessant praises of his handsome, noble and generous King ans best friend had often made her laugh, but sounded genuine and had helped Eleanor to reconcile with the match and forgive the earlier slight. Brandon had tried to justify his friend and explain her Henry’s character and she had decided who she would give her remonstrances to the English King as Henry would need to ask personally forgiveness for his earlier slight but she would be comprensive and never talk of it again.
“It is time to let go the past once for all and look at the future, Eleanor” that was the thing who she repeated to herself constantly, but she knew in her heart who she would be unable to do that before finally meeting the English King and she would be unable to say what emotion was the strongest in her, while waiting for her brother’s wedding.
Eleanor had no idea of what the future would reserve to her and what would be her life in England, but she knew one thing for sure amd had told that to her aunt in not uncertain terms: Mademoiselle Boleyn’s dream of a long period in Burgundy would remain such as she wanted the girl in her household. She just hoped who the girl would not be too much displeased for it as Anne’s while much younger, was without doubt one of her favorite companions...
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It's nice to see that Eleanor is at least willing to move past Henry's past transgressions against her, and that she'll have an important ally in the form of Anne Boleyn. Great update!
She is Joanna‘s daughter AND Joanna had no trouble in fulfilling that part. And Henry need that son (here also he had by Catherine: a stillborn daughter, a son who lived less than two months and another stillborn son) and right now James V of Scotland is the next-in-line
She is taking in consideration the fact who she was barely a name for Henry and she is starting to understand who men often are idiots (as she would say to het sister-in-law, with shared giggles after that). Anne is very young, but is a bright and smart girl and Eleanor like her. And as Anne is English by birth she is a maid of honour who Henry can NOT send back at home.
Also Brandon was good in making her talk about Henry, so he know her ”secret” and will tell that to Henry, so the King will made a couple of great gestures who will make Eleanor really happy (she will understood the reason and, maybe surprisingly appreciated them still more)
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Well i think charles made the right call to maintain his engagement to mary since henry has not broken it off ittl. but i wonder, will louis xii remarry after anne of brittany's death ittl?
In OTL Charles was the first to delaying and becoming elusive about the marriage. Henry understood who Charles was NOT reliable and used Mary for sealing the peace with France (well he offered to Louis the choice between his sisters: the widowed Margaret and Mary and Louis choose the latter as he was attracted by her beauty)... Good question: Ferdinand of Aragon had offered Eleanor to him without consulting either Charles or Maximilian. The latter‘s reaction was offering to Charles free choice for his bride among three candidates (four after the ambassadors of Castile and Portugal asked to include also the infanta Isabella) while Charles was already inclined to choose the English matches and the arrival of the portrait had just taken away his last doubts. Mary was stunning and seeing her with his gifts and a Burgundian dress, well, made him really happy.
Another candidate (or two) will be offered to Louis but I will NOT say anything more
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1514 (April) - Arrival
Sea travelling was always strange and unpredictable, when it was not downright dangerous (as her mother’s journey for Castile and her aunt to it had been years earlier) was the first thought of Eleanor, when they were informed who the English fleet was sighted, a full day earlier than expected. “Charles will be so furious to have decided to go hunting with his companions in the wrong day. He wanted so much being the first to receive his bride and now she will arrive while he is not here.“ noted Archduchess Isabella, almost 13 now, while she, her sister and aunt hurried to get ready for properly receiving their guests. Charles’ return was expected only in the late evening or early morning and while a messenger was sent to inform him was unlikely who he would be able to return before supper. The look of admonishment from their aunt, already worried for Eleanor’s ability to keep her nerves under control as the girl was very nervous for the meeting, was luckily enough for stopping Isabella before she said something more compromising (like the amount of time who Charles spent daily in looking at the portrait of his bride-to-be) while Sir Thomas Boleyn and other Englishmen were present.
Eleanor was trying to keep a calm appearance and let the others believe who she was fine, masking the terror who was eating her, in that last moments of quiet before the storm, as all her doubts, uncertainties, fears, hurt for the past rejection and an absurd fear who Henry would not like her at all and reject her again were taking possession of her mind. When she was able to reasoning she knew who that fears were fully unfounded and who, as all she wanted was King Henry marrying her and not also loving her, she was safe from another heartbreak as the English King was unlikely to ask her hand if he had other alternatives, but rational thinking was something far way from her mind in that moment.
Still she was an Archduchess of Austria and a princess of Burgundy and the future Queen of England so she would recover her control, place a pleasant expression on her face and follow her aunt in receiving their guest, instead of gather the hem of her rich dress and run away to the safety of her rooms or at least that was what Eleanor had all the intentions to do, but often things do not follow the plans...
Archduchess Margaret had received her guests with her usual regard for welcomed and important guests, excusing Charles’ absence (King Henry had merrily laughed hearing the reason for that absence and said only who hoped to be able to join the young Duke in his next excursion) and introducing Eleanor, who was barely able to say few words of welcome, and Isabella, who having nothing to fear was clearly livelier than her older sister. Henry would have likely guessed some of the reasons of Eleanor’s silence and demeanor also without Brandon’s insights but was glad who his friend had informed him of his betrothed’s thoughts as he had already prepared a special gift who hopefully would cheer Eleanor and be a good apology for the past. He had entrusted Suffolk, who was close to him, with the precious casket as he waited for the right moment for offering that to his future wife who looked to have recovered some spirit now who she was talking with his sister and not with him.
Catherine had been prettier and smarter than the much younger Eleanor, but had also a tendency to manipulate him, an often insufferable sense of superiority and a too intense religiosity who Eleanor was unlikely to have, and considering were all her qualities had brought Catherine, well another wife, able to do better her duty, was exactly what he and England needed. Still he would need to persuade also Eleanor to let go the past if he wanted a fresh start with a wife who do not hated him and if apologies were needed he was ready to do his part.
Eleanor was trying to keep a calm appearance and let the others believe who she was fine, masking the terror who was eating her, in that last moments of quiet before the storm, as all her doubts, uncertainties, fears, hurt for the past rejection and an absurd fear who Henry would not like her at all and reject her again were taking possession of her mind. When she was able to reasoning she knew who that fears were fully unfounded and who, as all she wanted was King Henry marrying her and not also loving her, she was safe from another heartbreak as the English King was unlikely to ask her hand if he had other alternatives, but rational thinking was something far way from her mind in that moment.
Still she was an Archduchess of Austria and a princess of Burgundy and the future Queen of England so she would recover her control, place a pleasant expression on her face and follow her aunt in receiving their guest, instead of gather the hem of her rich dress and run away to the safety of her rooms or at least that was what Eleanor had all the intentions to do, but often things do not follow the plans...
Archduchess Margaret had received her guests with her usual regard for welcomed and important guests, excusing Charles’ absence (King Henry had merrily laughed hearing the reason for that absence and said only who hoped to be able to join the young Duke in his next excursion) and introducing Eleanor, who was barely able to say few words of welcome, and Isabella, who having nothing to fear was clearly livelier than her older sister. Henry would have likely guessed some of the reasons of Eleanor’s silence and demeanor also without Brandon’s insights but was glad who his friend had informed him of his betrothed’s thoughts as he had already prepared a special gift who hopefully would cheer Eleanor and be a good apology for the past. He had entrusted Suffolk, who was close to him, with the precious casket as he waited for the right moment for offering that to his future wife who looked to have recovered some spirit now who she was talking with his sister and not with him.
Catherine had been prettier and smarter than the much younger Eleanor, but had also a tendency to manipulate him, an often insufferable sense of superiority and a too intense religiosity who Eleanor was unlikely to have, and considering were all her qualities had brought Catherine, well another wife, able to do better her duty, was exactly what he and England needed. Still he would need to persuade also Eleanor to let go the past if he wanted a fresh start with a wife who do not hated him and if apologies were needed he was ready to do his part.
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Great chapter! It's interesting to see Henry try to make amends with Eleanor, so hopefully it works...