ACH: Geoffrey (Henry II's bastard) wank

The challenge is to have a POD for Geoffrey, the Archbishop of York, the eldest bastard of Henry II of England. Specifically during his father's dying days in Chinon when he told Geoffrey that "You are my true son, the others are the bastards." and the POD is when Henry dictated a document disinheriting Richard, John, Geoffrey II, (the Duke of Brittany), of all rights to the English throne and the Duchy of Normandy and all Henry's other titles due to their 'treason and treachery' and gave all the rights to his eldest illegitimate son, Geoffrey.

The witness to the document being the French King.

Now make the reign of Geoffrey I, King of England, Duke of Normandy and of Aquitaine and Count of Anjou.

He can wind up losing the French lands (and might not have any real power for a while), but he has to remain the King of England, have a real reign, and be succeeded by a legitimate heir of his 'loins'. :D
 
Well, Aliènore d'Aquitaine might prove a problem, since she was on the same side as those "bastard" sons. So, maybe if she dies before Henry, then maybe...

Richard, Cœur de Lion is another problem. He was, after all the one who forced Geoffrey into the clerical skirts. And Geoffrey of Brittany and John Lackland seem to have taken their cues from Richard.
 
Well, Aliènore d'Aquitaine might prove a problem, since she was on the same side as those "bastard" sons. So, maybe if she dies before Henry, then maybe...

Richard, Cœur de Lion is another problem. He was, after all the one who forced Geoffrey into the clerical skirts. And Geoffrey of Brittany and John Lackland seem to have taken their cues from Richard.

Yes, but that declaration from Henry II disinheriting his 'treacherous sons' would be highly embarrassing, not to mention fodder for any would-be rebels for years afterward.

The French could keep Geoffrey on ice for a couple of years as a veiled threat towards Richard and John, Richard goes on Crusade and when management of England begins to fall and John starts setting himself up as an alternate King, a group of nobles gather and decide that Henry II's will was valid after all and with the support of France install Geoffrey as the King of England.
 
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