A reborn Lotharingia - A Renaissance TL

[isabella]

In the end the betrothal between Charles, Dauphin of France and the English princess Elizabeth of York was broken by the English King in March 1483, mere days before signing a wedding contract for his eldest daughter, quickly followed by a wedding by-proxy and her departure for the continent, first to her aunt’s court in Lotharingia, then to Aachen were she would meet her new husband.
In less than a month Elizabeth of York changed her status from English princess and fiancé of the Dauphin of France to that of Archduchess of Austria and daughter-in-law of the Emperor.

The new Archduchess Elisabeth was more than a little scared of meeting her new husband as she knew who he had lost a much beloved wife just a year earlier and both his small sons before that and was surely still grieving for his lost family.
She had meet little Margaret, Maximilian’s only child, in Burgundy and had taken the girl with her (sure was planned who Margaret would now join her father and stepmother in Austria but seeing the Archduchess taking directly care of the four year old girl was rather surprising).
Still Elisabeth’s worrying and fears were definitely exaggerated as Frederick III was pleased of Maximilian’s choice of bride as a young, beautiful girl, from a very fertile family and daughter of a King was a match over his expectations (and considering who the girl arrived also with a good trousseau and a decent dowry and he had all the reasons for hoping in many grandchildren he was practically overjoyed).
Maximilian had accepted the match, mostly resigned to his destiny, and only for protecting his daughter and her siblings, with the secondary objective to prevent his father from arranging him another wedding, and had forced himself to not think to Mary and get ready to do his duty and then depart for reaching both his fathers-in-law (the former and the new one) in their war against Louis XI.
Still meeting Elisabeth and specially seeing her with his own little daughter had impressed him: she was a young and kind girl, eager to pleasing him and absolutely stunning so doing his duty would not be hard and he had hope to be able to find again happiness with her.
In any case few days after their wedding were all the time he was able to give to her for now, but they would have all the time once the French King had learned his lesson as he had all the intention to return to his daughter and new wife.

 

[Awkwardvulture]

Elisabeth and Maximillian seem happy... Yay!!!!

 

[isabella]

Elisabeth and Maximillian seem happy... Yay!!!!

Well they are hopeful and determined to try to make work their wedding, but they are still total strangers. Also Elisabeth miss already a lot her family (Elizabeth’s attachment to Margaret started because she has the same age of her youngest sisters) and Maximilian still miss the family who he has lost... Still they have good chances to be happy together

 

[isabella]

His own death in August 1483 was the only thing who saved Louis XI from witnessing the failure of everything he had tried to build and French defeat, but the fact who his death was followed only few months laters by that of his widow Charlotte was likely France’s salvation.
Charles I, King of all Lorraines and Edward IV, King of England had easily received the support of most of Louis XI’s internal enemies, starting with his unhappy son-in-law, Louis, Duke d’Orleans and with Francis II, Duke of Brittany.
Maximilian of Austria also had joined both his former and his current fathers-in-law (something a little strange for him, but the two men were brothers-in-law) on the battlefield as he also counted the King of France among his enemies, and at the end of the first year of campaign he would say to know much better his new father-in-law than his new bride (who was already pregnant, with great joy of his father).

As Anne of Beaujeu had wanted peace and France was clearly the losing part, Charles I in the end had obtained almost everything he had wanted in the peace treaties of the war: recognition of his independence from France, with recognition of his full sovereignty over the Counties of Flanders, Artois, Charolais and the Duchy of Burgundy (and other bits of Lorraine and Burgundy).
Among the lands of Charles (including the ones who had belonged to Nicholas) only the County of Vermandois (plus Boulogne, Ponthieu and Picardy for which such independence was not asked as they were the promised dowry of princess Isabelle) remained French* and so Charles was thinking to add it to Isabelle’s dowry as he do not wanted leave any French land to his grandson, believing who the having the Emperor as overlord was more than enough.

Edward IV also had reasons for being extremely happy about the outcome of the war as Anne de Beaujeu had decided to keep him friendly so after accepting the betrothal of Isabelle of Lorraine to the Prince of Wales (and the fact who England‘s continental possessions would become again very consistent thanks to her dowry), she offered money and a betrothal between her brother Charles VIII and Cecily of England (with the wedding to be celebrated soon as both groom and bride were already of age this time).
The Duke of Brittany had obtained from the war the assurance of no intervention from France in the internal affairs of his lands (including the weddings of his children and his succession if he had no son) while Maximilian had intervened only for helping both his fathers-in-law and was satisfied to know who France was well in check.
The only bright spot of that dreadful situation for Anne was who at least she was not forced to concede anything to Orléans as the latter had abandoned the war as soon his hated father-in-law was dead.
The Duke d’Orleans currently was busy in trying to get more power as First Prince of Blood, searching to force his sister-in-law to leave the regency of France to him and supporting his other brother-in-law’s claim to the Crown of Navarre.
Anne would have liked much better for her brother a wedding with their cousin Catherine, Queen of Navarre but that damned war and Orléans had made that impossible as she was unable to send help to her aunt Madeleine and the latter, needing help against her own brother-in-law, had accepted the proposal of Alain d’Albret of a wedding between his son and heir John and Queen Catherine and the two were already engaged.
Still at least Albret involved in Navarre was one less trouble at home and a Frenchman like him was much better than the heir of Aragon and Castile (who was offered by his parents, interested in annexing Navarre).

*Anjou and Maine also were under the French crown, but while they belonged to Charles II of Lorraine-Burgundy, they were not destined to be kept united to the rest of their dominions

 

[isabella]

His own death in August 1483 was the only thing who saved Louis XI from witnessing the failure of everything he had tried to build and French defeat, but the fact who his death was followed only few months laters by that of his widow Charlotte was likely France’s salvation.
Charles I, King of all Lorraines and Edward IV, King of England had easily received the support of most of Louis XI’s internal enemies, starting with his unhappy son-in-law, Louis, Duke d’Orleans and with Francis II, Duke of Brittany. Maximilian of Austria also had joined both his former and his current fathers-in-law (something a little strange for him, but the two men were brothers-in-law) on the battlefield as he also counted the King of France among his enemies, and at the end of the first year of campaign he would say to know much better his new father-in-law than his new bride (who was already pregnant, with great joy of his father).
As Anne, Duchess of Beaujeu had wanted peace and France was clearly the losing part, Charles I in the end had obtained almost everything he had wanted in the peace treaties of the war: recognition of his independence from France, with recognition of his full sovereignty over the Counties of Flanders, Artois, Charolais and the Duchy of Burgundy (and other bits of Lorraine and Burgundy). Among the lands of Charles (including the ones of Nicholas) the County of Vermandois (plus Boulogne, Ponthieu and Picardy for which such independence was not asked as they were the promised dowry of princess Isabelle) remained French and so Charles was thinking to add it to Isabelle’s dowry as he do not wanted leave any French land to his grandson, believing who the having the Emperor as overlord was more than enough.
Edward IV also had reasons for being extremely happy about the outcome of the war as Anne de Beaujeu had decided to keep him friendly so after accepting the betrothal of Isabelle of Lorraine to the Prince of Wales (and the fact who England‘s continental possessions would become again very consistent thanks to her dowry), she offered money and a betrothal between her brother Charles VIII and Cecily of England (with the wedding to be celebrated soon as both groom and bride were already of age this time). The Duke of Brittany had obtained from the war the assurance of no intervention from France in the internal affairs of his lands (including the weddings of his children and his succession if he had no son) while Maximilian had intervened only for helping both his fathers-in-law and was satisfied to know who France was well in check. The only bright spot of that dreadful situation for Anne was who at least she was not forced to concede anything to Orléans as the latter had abandoned the war as soon his hated father-in-law was dead. The Duke d’Orleans currently was busy in trying to get more power as First Prince of Blood, searching to force his sister-in-law to leave the regency of France to him and supporting his other brother-in-law’s claim to the Crown of Navarre. Anne would have liked much better for her brother a wedding with their cousin Catherine, Queen of Navarre but that damned war and Orléans had made that impossible as she was unable to send help to her aunt Madeleine and the latter, needing help against her own brother-in-law, had accepted the proposal of Alain d’Albret of a wedding between his son and heir John and Queen Catherine and the two were already engaged. Still at least Albret involved in Navarre was one less trouble at home and a Frenchman like him was much better than the heir of Aragon and Castile (who was offered by his parents, interested in annexing Navarre).

Updated. Not written here but Maximilian and Elizabeth married in May 1483 and their first child is already born at the end of January 1484

 

[CaptainShadow]

His own death in August 1483 was the only thing who saved Louis XI from witnessing the failure of everything he had tried to build and French defeat, but the fact who his death was followed only few months laters by that of his widow Charlotte was likely France’s salvation.
Charles I, King of all Lorraines and Edward IV, King of England had easily received the support of most of Louis XI’s internal enemies, starting with his unhappy son-in-law, Louis, Duke d’Orleans and with Francis II, Duke of Brittany. Maximilian of Austria also had joined both his former and his current fathers-in-law (something a little strange for him, but the two men were brothers-in-law) on the battlefield as he also counted the King of France among his enemies, and at the end of the first year of campaign he would say to know much better his new father-in-law than his new bride (who was already pregnant, with great joy of his father).
As Anne, Duchess of Beaujeu had wanted peace and France was clearly the losing part, Charles I in the end had obtained almost everything he had wanted in the peace treaties of the war: recognition of his independence from France, with recognition of his full sovereignty over the Counties of Flanders, Artois, Charolais and the Duchy of Burgundy (and other bits of Lorraine and Burgundy). Among the lands of Charles (including the ones of Nicholas) the County of Vermandois (plus Boulogne, Ponthieu and Picardy for which such independence was not asked as they were the promised dowry of princess Isabelle) remained French and so Charles was thinking to add it to Isabelle’s dowry as he do not wanted leave any French land to his grandson, believing who the having the Emperor as overlord was more than enough.
Edward IV also had reasons for being extremely happy about the outcome of the war as Anne de Beaujeu had decided to keep him friendly so after accepting the betrothal of Isabelle of Lorraine to the Prince of Wales (and the fact who England‘s continental possessions would become again very consistent thanks to her dowry), she offered money and a betrothal between her brother Charles VIII and Cecily of England (with the wedding to be celebrated soon as both groom and bride were already of age this time). The Duke of Brittany had obtained from the war the assurance of no intervention from France in the internal affairs of his lands (including the weddings of his children and his succession if he had no son) while Maximilian had intervened only for helping both his fathers-in-law and was satisfied to know who France was well in check. The only bright spot of that dreadful situation for Anne was who at least she was not forced to concede anything to Orléans as the latter had abandoned the war as soon his hated father-in-law was dead. The Duke d’Orleans currently was busy in trying to get more power as First Prince of Blood, searching to force his sister-in-law to leave the regency of France to him and supporting his other brother-in-law’s claim to the Crown of Navarre. Anne would have liked much better for her brother a wedding with their cousin Catherine, Queen of Navarre but that damned war and Orléans had made that impossible as she was unable to send help to her aunt Madeleine and the latter, needing help against her own brother-in-law, had accepted the proposal of Alain d’Albret of a wedding between his son and heir John and Queen Catherine and the two were already engaged. Still at least Albret involved in Navarre was one less trouble at home and a Frenchman like him was much better than the heir of Aragon and Castile (who was offered by his parents, interested in annexing Navarre).

Anne wasn't Duchess of Beaujeu she was Duchess of Bourbon.

 

[Awkwardvulture]

It seems that Charles and Edward have won a great victory, Charles gaining recognition and Edward an advantageous marriage and a good chunk of land... Great job!

 

[isabella]

Anne wasn't Duchess of Beaujeu she was Duchess of Bourbon.

She is not yet Duchess of Bourbon, as her brother-in-law is still alive, I forgotten to take away the Duchess title or change it in Lady while editing.

It seems that Charles and Edward have won a great victory, Charles gaining recognition and Edward an advantageous marriage and a good chunk of land... Great job!

Yes, Charles and Edward won. Anne is trying to get the best deal possible from a bad situation: Isabelle of Lorraine and her lands are destined to England (who will have again a big continental holdings), Anne of Brittany is out of question and Catherine of Navarre is lost. Her brother need a bride and heirs soon (as right now Orleans is the heir presumptive) and Cecily is simply the best match available around. Also the fact who Cecily and both her parents had very large families with a lot of children and who her elder sister, Archduchess Elisabeth was pregnant in few days after the wedding and her first child is reported to be healthy and strong are other reasons for which Anne had chosen Cecily: at least she can hope in nephews and nieces soon.

 

[isabella]

The French campaign was an overwhelming success for the Anglo-Lotharingian Coalition and that alone was worthy of a massive celebration, but the final outcome of the campaign was unbelievable as the English King turned out to be the biggest victor of all: not only had he secured the engagement of the Prince of Wales to Isabella of Lorraine (whose dowry alone would give to England a continental foothold, greatly expanding the lands around Calais) but he was also able to marry his second daughter, Cecily to the King of France (wedding talks with Scotland would start again soon as Edward had all the intentions to marry Catherine, now the last available of his children, to James III’s heir, the future James IV of Scotland) after marrying his eldest to the Emperor's heir.

Elizabeth's marriage, at least for now, seemed successful, as she was already pregnant with her second child after the birth of her daughter, Eleanor in the beginning of the year, and both her letters and the Imperial ambassadors reported that her father-in-law was fond of her.
The last time he had seen him, Maximilian, after receiving Elisabeth’s letter with the announcement of her new pregnancy, had joked that he was sure that “if my second child is a son, strong and healthy like his sister, Elisabeth will become father's favorite person in the world."

If the prospective of a crown for all his four daughters made Edward a jubilant man, he was equally worried for his beloved brother Richard, for the Duke of Gloucester’s misfortune was as great as the success of his brother: the death of his only son in the preceding March had broken him and the poor health of his beloved Duchess was pushing his mental health to the brink. Edward IV is said to have prayed that his brother would be able to survive Anne’s perharps inevitable death as England, and Edward still needed him.
The King of England felt his own time on earth coming to an end and his son, while promising, was still too young to rule England alone and Edward had hoped to leave Gloucester behind to look after him and keep the Scottish borders under control for him, but now that looked unlikely to happen, and as such securing little Catherine’s match in Scotland became an absolute priority.
His Anne’s future as Queen of Lorraine was secure and his second son, Richard, Duke of York was already married to another Anne, the heiress of Norfolk, while little Bridget, his youngest child, belonged to the Church, so, once Cecily was married in France and Catherine engaged in Scotland he was free to leave this world without regrets.

Edward, fourth of his name, King of England and of France, Lord of Ireland was able to live long enough to sign the wedding contract for his daughter, Catherine and James, Duke of Rothesay and to be informed of the birth of his eldest grandson, Archduke Ernst of Austria, son of the newly elected King of the Romans but also to see the death of the still young Duchess of Gloucester and the terrible effect who had on his last brother. Edward IV’s death in the beginning of August 1485 was followed a few days later of that of his beloved and loyal brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester “who followed him, as he had in life, in death” and both were greatly mourned in England.

 

[isabella]

And another update is here. Edward IV and Richard of Gloucester died, Cecily is married in France, Catherine engaged in Scotland and Maximilian was elected King of the Romans and has two healthy children (a girl and a boy) in two years of marriage to Elisabeth.

@CaptainShadow thanks for the help and while I killed Richard and his family more or less at their OTL death dates he would be fondly remembered by his brother’s family and Edward the Great and Richard/Gloucester the Loyal will remain in the history of the England

 

[Awkwardvulture]

Very interesting, and it's nice to see that Elizabeth is fairly popular in the Empire... I wonder who will be regent for this Edward V, with his paternal uncles all dead perhaps one of his maternal uncles, like Anthony Woodville would step in, or maybe his mother will be regent, or at least part of the regency council (though I am aware that the idea of a Queen Mother as regent is hardly popular in England).. Nice update!!!

 

[CaptainShadow]

Very interesting, and it's nice to see that Elizabeth is fairly popular in the Empire... I wonder who will be regent for this Edward V, with his paternal uncles all dead perhaps one of his maternal uncles, like Anthony Woodville would step in, or maybe his mother will be regent, or at least part of the regency council (though I am aware that the idea of a Queen Mother as regent is hardly popular in England).. Nice update!!!

He's 14 so of age and thus doesn't require a regency.

I'd expect Bourchier/Suffolk to serve as regent if required.

 

[Awkwardvulture]

He's 14 so of age and thus doesn't require a regency.

I'd expect Bourchier/Suffolk to serve as regent if required.

I guess he technically doesn't but in practice I wouldn't expect to rule in his own right until he is 15 or 16...

 

[isabella]

Very interesting, and it's nice to see that Elizabeth is fairly popular in the Empire... I wonder who will be regent for this Edward V, with his paternal uncles all dead perhaps one of his maternal uncles, like Anthony Woodville would step in, or maybe his mother will be regent, or at least part of the regency council (though I am aware that the idea of a Queen Mother as regent is hardly popular in England).. Nice update!!!

He's 14 so of age and thus doesn't require a regency.

I'd expect Bourchier/Suffolk to serve as regent if required.

Bourchier would cover the role, if and when required. No need of a proper regency council here. Dorset, Rovers and Richard Grey will be influential, but the same is true for Suffolk, Lincoln, Buckingham and Hastings

 

[isabella]

I guess he technically doesn't but in practice I wouldn't expect to rule in his own right until he is 15 or 16...

True and Bourchier would be the head of the royal council

 

[isabella]

The first two years of Maximilian and Elisabeth’s marriage were signed by the French campaign who kept Maximilian away for most of the time, but not enough for stopping him from getting Elisabeth pregnant twice, with their wedding at the beginning of May 1483 and their first child, Archduchess Eleanor born at the end of January of the following year.
Then the few days in which Maximilian was able to share her bed, before departing in April for the last part of the campaign, were again sufficient because Maximilian was informed of her new pregnancy with letters from both his young wife and his jubilant father during the negotiations for the peace with France.
Archduke Ernest was born in the first days of 1485, cementing his mother’s place in the affections of her father-in-law who was overjoyed to have finally a grandson who he was able to see and hold (as he had never meet Philip and Francis, the two short lived sons of Maximilian and Mary). Little Archduchess Margaret also adored her stepmother and liked a lot being again an older sister (and that helped the poor girl to overcome the grief for the death of her mother and brothers and the separation from her other siblings).
Maximilian continued presence in Austria and his elections as King of the Romans in the first half of 1485 helped a lot Frederick to stabilize his domain: the relationship between father and son, while never warm, was at his best and if the two men usually do not see things in the same way, at least they respected the opinion of the other and Elisabeth, usually acted as peacemaker, preventing their disagreement to become too serious.
Maximilian was an able commander and his first wedding to Mary of Lotharingia had brought him financial security and the money needed for keep Austria secure from its neighbors, specially the King of Hungary, who was his father’s sworn enemy but was kept at bay by the return of Maximilian and before that, well, Frederick had done good use of the money who he received by Charles the Bold for his crown.
Maximilian and Charles the Bold had also planned another joint campaign as both feel the necessity to stop the Swiss Confederacy (Maximilian because their lands were formally part of the Empire and wanted recover the ancestral lands of the Habsburgs lost 70 years earlier to the Swiss, while Charles has a long standing feud with them and only the need to deal first once for all with the French King had stopped them from starting sooner such campaign.

 

[isabella]

I need to arrive at the end of the decade before introducing Hungary (with a post who will cover 1485-1492), Italy (Milan, Naples and Ferrara 1488-1493), Spain (around second half of 1490s). England need an update to cover events of 1488-1495, Lotharingia need no update before 1490, so I guess who the next update will cover Cecily’s first years in France. I had forgotten: if someone is looking at the tree in the other threads for spoilers, well is not anymore a good source (like most of trees done before writing some story) as many things will go differently

 

[Awkwardvulture]

I'm glad to see that Elizabeth is being a good mediator, it seems that father and son will (hopefully) be able to work better against their enemies... It'll be interesting to see how Cecily fares in France.. Great update!

 

[isabella]

I'm glad to see that Elizabeth is being a good mediator, it seems that father and son will (hopefully) be able to work better against their enemies... It'll be interesting to see how Cecily fares in France.. Great update!

Frederick and Maximilian are working together much better than OTL. Elisabeth is doing her best for keeping the family unite with good results as the kids have no idea who their father and grandfather do not love each other (including Margaret, who is already seven). Cecily in France will be interesting... Still Anne‘s hopes in her likely will not be dashed, at least for the beginning

 

[isabella]

Anne de Beaujeu, Regent of France, had chosen princess Cecily of England as bride for her younger brother for only a reason: with all the more interesting girls out of France’s reach she was the only daughter of King readily available for her brother and if she must renounce to marrying her brother to an heiress then at least she would marry him to a proper princess. The fact who Cecily and both her parents came from large families and who her elder sister, the one who would have married Charles if their father had not searched a better match, had two children in less of two years of wedding was only a plus for Anne, who wished see quickly some nephews between her hated brother-in-law and the crown of France (a death of Charles who put Orléans on the throne would have been both disastrous for France and the end of her younger sister Jeanne AND Anne was firmly intended to doing everything she was able for prevent both things).

Cecily, or better, Cecile - as the new Queen of France had adopted the French version of her name since her landing in France - was a 15 years old girl who had perfectly clear who she was still the daughter of the enemy and who the French court, and possibly its King, do not liked the idea of her as Queen, else Elizabeth would be Queen here and she would be at home, waiting her Scottish match. Still she was ready to doing her duty and hopefully also her new husband would be willing to get the best from what the sort had giving them.

Charles was a 14 years old King, inexpert and quite confused by the events of the last years: father was gone, mother also and he had no idea of what he needed to do and Jeanne’s husband was making her unhappy and trying to pressure him in doing things who he had not understood. Well luckily Anne was there and she knew what needed to be done and had everything under control so if she was saying who dad’s last brilliant plan had backfired, they had lost the war and now he must marry the english princess (and not the one who he was supposed to marry earlier, as she was already married to another but her next sister) for reducing their loss well he would do it, for respect for the good Frenchmen who had lost their lives in the war, if not for other reasons... only he would have liked so much fighting that war, but father and Anne had not allowed him saying he was still too young... Well likely they were right and hopefully Cecily would be at least pretty (her sister was really pretty judging for her portrait but he had no the time for receiving one of his new bride-to-be before the wedding).

Charles and Cecile would find each other acceptable (after all Cecile was a pretty blonde with blue eyes) and willing to do his part so their wedding started at least with harmony if not happiness. Anne de Beaujeu was quite satisfied as Cecile looked to be the kind of girl who would not protest for being kept out of politics, she was pretty enough, had a passable French (but that and her inexistent Latin were two major faults who needed to be corrected), knew how dance and dress elegantly so had all the characteristic needed for becoming a good Queen of France. She needed only to continue to rule France, keep Orléans under surveillance (because she would never trust that scoundrel) and wait for a Dauphin.
Charles and Cecile were still very young so she was not exactly in hurry but still sooner was better than later. So she would made sure who Charles bedded her regularly and wait a couple of years before starting to press the issue with her sister-in-law, if that would be needed as she was counting of Cecile’s York fertility to make his effect and she would not be deluded as Dauphin Louis was born in March 1486, followed by princess Anne in June 1488, while she was able to keep in check almost all the French vassals and to keep Orléans well away from her brother and his dreams of wars and glory