They possibly would, and that's not counting how livid the Cortes and Grandees would be at this....
An Imperial Match: Anne Boleyn marries Charles V
- Thread starter pandizzy
- Start date
It seems thus that Anne will never have a peaceful first year of marriage, no matter who is her husband.
IIRC 1520 was when Henry and Katherine stopped sleeping together. Considering that women hit menopause earlier then (between thirty and thirty five) the 1518 pregnancy might've been her last realistic chance
Threeway split perhaps? Juana la Loca reinstated as queen of Castile, Ferdinand in Austria and Karl in Burgundy?
Just to confirm it is likely to be considered morganatic. This didn't apply to all the Empire though and I recall the Emperor could "demorganise" a marriage under certain conditions though it might need agreement from the Diet.
Do the territories really need to split? I mean, OTL Henry fought tooth and nail to get Anne as his wife, and he won in the end. In TTL, there's not even the whole first wife still living to make it stick. I can see the Spaniards revolting, but him losing everything except Burgundy because of one woman feels very... harsh and bleak.
Harsh yes but it could prove a good example to future generations of monarchs: Don't marry for love unless you want to get screwed over.
Well keep in mind he had a tenuous hold on Spain anyways. Half of the nobility thought he was a damn foreigner and Castile had not so fond memories of his father and maternal grandfather squabbling over who should rule Castile after Isabella dropped dead so they already would have been suspicious of him.
It’s your timeline, so what you want. If you can find a way to make the marriage work go for it.
Maybe have Ferdinand of Austria, die or have Charles be in Spain when he married Anne, that makes overthrowing him harder.
Well then maybe screw him over in a good way? I.E. He loses Spain but retains Austria and Burgundy?
Otherwise you're free to do whatever really we're just along for the ride 🤷♂️
At this point, Carlos already has ended the Comuneros and another revolt, so I think his hold is a little bit stronger. And this is when he returns to Spain saying, "First, I wanted you to serve me, now I want you to advise me."
True, he does have the resources of Burgundy and the Empire behind him to quash any future revolts... It just won't be harmonious...
I'm sure it will be helped by Anne still having not said she wishes all the Spaniards were at the bottom of the sea.
29th of May, 1522.
Dover, England. 29th of May, 1522.
King Henry VIII of England was a most handsome fellow. He stood at six foot two, almost a head taller than all of those around him, and had a fair complexion, with his beard shining like spun gold under the sunlight. Charles watched the man from the corner of his eye as the monarch showed off his navy, pointing at the different warships he had commissioned for the attack on France. He was handsome, yes, that much could not be denied. More handsome than Charles himself would ever be.
But the King of England was also unpredictable. Once, he and Francis of France had signed a Treaty of Perpetual Peace, where their two heirs would marry each other and finally unite their kingdoms. Now, Henry intended to see his young daughter, barely a girl, let alone a woman that could produce children, as the Holy Roman Empress. He also desired to retake his ancestral title of King of France and would have Charles help him, in return for assisting him with reclaiming the Duchy of Burgundy that had been stolen from his ancestors.
It was an agreement that Charles could not deny. When they succeeded, there would be glory ripe for taking, but what would stop Henry from turning his warships to Spain, or to the Netherlands? Burgundy was a very rich and large territory, after all, and there was no way to stop Henry’s ambitions. He did not know how to curb his desire for greatness and glory to himself and his bloodline, even if he had to find it through a Princess, rather than a Prince.
Charles told himself to be careful around his uncle. He may not be as powerful as the young Emperor, but Henry was proud beyond his dreams and pride goes before the fall. He will see slights where there are none and offenses laced with good intentions. It would be hard to keep such a wild man by his side, but it had to be done. For him and for his family.
And so, they rode together, each atop their own destrier, with Charles riding a borrowed one from the royal stables. A hundred escorts accompanied them, keeping their flanks safe from the few peasants that dared to look at the two highborns around the shore. Soon, Henry would lead Charles to Canterbury and to Greenwich, where they would meet his aunt, Queen Katherine, and the court.
Perhaps his little bride would be there too, but Charles doubted it. Much like his parents had done once, the English had a tendency to educate their children away from their eyes and he didn’t know how far away from the sickly airs of the court Mary was kept. Most likely, he’d see her at the end of his visit, but he wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t lay eyes upon her at all.
“Your Imperial Majesty,” said the King, drawing his attention, “There is something I have given much thought over the last few days.”
“What is it, Your Majesty?” asked Charles, “Is there something wrong?”
“No, of course not.” Henry waved with his hand, as if the subject wasn’t of importance, “I merely wonder where you will live with my daughter, after the marriage. You have many lands, but I think much travel will not do her good, especially once the little ones begin to arrive. Children need stability and a permanent home.”
Mary was only six-years-old. It was strange to think of her as a future wife, a future mother, but that was the fate of all Princesses. They had to serve their fathers by marrying well and producing new heirs for the thrones of Europe.
“I believe we shall reside in Castile, Your Majesty,” said Charles.
“Really?” said King Henry, “Why?”
Charles did not want to answer this question, but it was in Henry’s duty to be worried for his daughter and his yet unborn grandchildren, “Since I am not marrying an Iberian princess, my advisors think having my family live in the peninsula might appease my subjects.” He tilted his head, slightly, “And I believe it will give much comfort to Her Majesty to know that her grandchildren live in the same castles of her childhood.”
Henry nodded and a smile spread across his face, “Yes, I believe it will. The Queen will be overjoyed to hear of this.”
Charles nodded and smiled as well, but his stomach still twisted in disgust. Mary was just a child. Too young to give her consent for the betrothal. He regretted tying himself to such a young girl who could not hope to bear children for another decade, but he needed the English. Their position was vital if he ever wanted to wage war against France again and only marriage could assure an eternal alliance between the two kingdoms.
He didn’t like this betrothal, nor this impending marriage just six years away, but he would do his duty. It had to be done. For his family and for his kingdom, though not for himself. Never for himself.
Ooh I really like this, especially with the doubts that Charles is already having about marrying Mary...