Agnes of Hohenstaufen Marries Philippe II of France

In 1193, Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich VI, wished to create a political alliance with France. He offered his cousin, Agnes of Hohenstaufen, to wed Philippe II. However, Agnes’ mother made use of her husband’s absence to marry Agnes to her original betrothed, the Welf prince, Heinrich V.


In the Romantic era – especially Gabbe’s play and Spontini’s opera (which inspired this WI) – Agnes was hailed as the girl who singlehandedly brought about the reconciliation between the Hohenstaufens and the Welfs – even though her mother is the one who made the marriage happen. Not to mention, Agnes’ eponymous daughter is the ancestor of all later Wittelsbachs.


Thus, what if Agnes had become queen of France instead? Say Heinrich V doesn’t go to Schloss Stahleck because he fears a trap or some sort; or Agnes’ father takes her with him to court in the prospect of the French marriage. What becomes of Isambour of Denmark in this scenario?
 
In 1193, Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich VI, wished to create a political alliance with France. He offered his cousin, Agnes of Hohenstaufen, to wed Philippe II. However, Agnes’ mother made use of her husband’s absence to marry Agnes to her original betrothed, the Welf prince, Heinrich V.


In the Romantic era – especially Gabbe’s play and Spontini’s opera (which inspired this WI) – Agnes was hailed as the girl who singlehandedly brought about the reconciliation between the Hohenstaufens and the Welfs – even though her mother is the one who made the marriage happen. Not to mention, Agnes’ eponymous daughter is the ancestor of all later Wittelsbachs.


Thus, what if Agnes had become queen of France instead? Say Heinrich V doesn’t go to Schloss Stahleck because he fears a trap or some sort; or Agnes’ father takes her with him to court in the prospect of the French marriage. What becomes of Isambour of Denmark in this scenario?

The main thing at hand is the Plantagenêt-Capet feud. I do not see a difference (other than a butterflied one, such as Philip falling on his head while going to bed with his young wife) in the way things go OTL. The Danish alliance was not really effective against the English.

I think of two main differences.

1. Philip Augustus could have several other sons with Agnes, including an heir to Palatinate. It may shift the later Capetians focus towards the Rhine. If there is a third French prince around in the 1210', Philipp could try to marry him to Joan of Flanders. Not sure it would work, given the usual rejection of the french candidates by the Flanders' élite.

2. The Welf-Hohenstaufen reconciliation is not sealed by marriage, so Henry VI position is less secured north of the Alps. Would he go for Sicily nonetheless ? If alt-Frederic II is not Sicilian-educated, how different would his politics be ?
 
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The main thing at hand is the Plantagenêt-Capet feud. I do not see a difference (other than a butterflied one, such as Philip falling on his head while going to bed with his young wife) in the way things go OTL. The Danish alliance was not really effective against the English.

I think of two main differences.

1. Philip Augustus could have several other sons with Agnes, including an heir to Palatinate. It may shift the later Capetians focus towards the Rhine. If there is a third French prince around in the 1210', Philipp could try to marry him to Joan of Flanders. Not sure it would work, given the usual rejection of the french candidates by the Flanders' élite.

2. The Welf-Hohenstaufen reconciliation is not sealed by marriage, so Henry VI position is less secured north of the Alps. Would he go for Sicily nonetheless ? If alt-Frederic II is not Sicilian-educated, how different would his politics be ?

Can the French inherit the Palatinate? Will anyone allow them to? And what might the consequences of there being a Capet elector - I know this is before the Golden Bull, but it could make for fun times.

If the Welf-Hohenstaufen reconciliation is not sealed, is it likely that the reconciliation is short-lived? Or is it past the point of fighting between the two houses? What could the effects be of them not making nice? For Germany and for Europe in general.
 
The Sicilian gambit was a flanking maneuver against the Pope and one that was quite brilliant; why else would the Papacy have devoted half a century to seeing it and the Hohenstaufen undone. Had he or his younger brother survived... perhaps the Hohenstaufen could become Medieval Habsburgs, and split between a Sicilian and German branch, the former probably conquering/inheriting part of Greece or Spain or North Africa if they get the chance.

Now what happens here depends on the next few decades, which were quite eventful (Mongols, 4th Crusade, Saladin, Reconquista, Philippe Capet, the Anarchy, end of the Hohenstaufens, Sicilian Vespers, denoument of the three-way contest over Pomerania, Northern Crusades, Albigensian Crusade...). A lot of which can and probably will change with such a PoD.

The immediate question in my mind, assuming butterfly genocide, is how seriously is the Capetian claim to either or both of the HRE or Sicily during the Anarchy. the French did in fact consider throwing their hat in the ring and both a Spanish/Castillan and English monarch stood for election as well; the French would almost certainly be able to make a similar bid and would have a better chance of securing it IMHO.
 
A marriage to Agnes would create lots of butterflies..

Another possible wife of Philippe Auguste is Richeza Matilda of Saxony, however if Matilda marries Philippe there will be no Blanche of Castile as queen of France due to Matilda being a niece of Richard I.
 
Another possible wife of Philippe Auguste is Richeza Matilda of Saxony, however if Matilda marries Philippe there will be no Blanche of Castile as queen of France due to Matilda being a niece of Richard I.

Not looking for other wives for Philippe, simply asking what him marrying Agnes would change.
 
The Sicilian gambit was a flanking maneuver against the Pope and one that was quite brilliant; why else would the Papacy have devoted half a century to seeing it and the Hohenstaufen undone. Had he or his younger brother survived... perhaps the Hohenstaufen could become Medieval Habsburgs, and split between a Sicilian and German branch, the former probably conquering/inheriting part of Greece or Spain or North Africa if they get the chance.

Now what happens here depends on the next few decades, which were quite eventful (Mongols, 4th Crusade, Saladin, Reconquista, Philippe Capet, the Anarchy, end of the Hohenstaufens, Sicilian Vespers, denoument of the three-way contest over Pomerania, Northern Crusades, Albigensian Crusade...). A lot of which can and probably will change with such a PoD.

The immediate question in my mind, assuming butterfly genocide, is how seriously is the Capetian claim to either or both of the HRE or Sicily during the Anarchy. the French did in fact consider throwing their hat in the ring and both a Spanish/Castillan and English monarch stood for election as well; the French would almost certainly be able to make a similar bid and would have a better chance of securing it IMHO.

Could be quite interesting to see a Capet ruling both the empire and the king of France, but I'm not sure how likely the German princes would be to support it. The English and Castilian monarchs don't share a border with the empire, or want nice bits of it to add to their own kingdom.

I'm guessing that because nobody's mentioned possible repercussions of the Welfs and the Hohenstaufens reconciling, that the rivalry was a spent force by this time? Or that it would've ended with or without the marriage?

What would Heinrich VI gain from the match to Philippe, though? The benefits seem to be all on the French side - new young wife, possible inheritance of a prosperous piece of land, etc etc.
 
Considering how quickly the Welf-Stauffer went down as soon as Henry VI died I don't really consider Agnes marriage to be that important tbh.

As for a French-HRe union, I don't really think they'll go for it, they have literally nothing to gain there without compromising their own position in France.
 
Considering how quickly the Welf-Stauffer went down as soon as Henry VI died I don't really consider Agnes marriage to be that important tbh.

As for a French-HRe union, I don't really think they'll go for it, they have literally nothing to gain there without compromising their own position in France.

This is looking at it the wrong way.

Medieval French kings were very much interested in gaining the HRE title and made several bids, including during the Anarchy. This goes back to the whole "Carolingian Empire" thing which basically was a question of which Francia was the proper heir.

I would also, again, point out that the Capetians could also claim Sicily this way, as the Barcelona did, if and when the Staufers die out.
 
This is looking at it the wrong way.

Medieval French kings were very much interested in gaining the HRE title and made several bids, including during the Anarchy. This goes back to the whole "Carolingian Empire" thing which basically was a question of which Francia was the proper heir.

I would also, again, point out that the Capetians could also claim Sicily this way, as the Barcelona did, if and when the Staufers die out.
This is new to me, the only French king I knew that made a bid was Francis I.
 
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