Anne of Brittany, Queen of France, dies from illness during autumn of 1499, before birth of Claude, leaving no surviving children. So Brittany is likely just absorbed by France, I doubt Anne's distant cousins would be allowed to claim it. Louis would obviously remarry, and with different wife propably has more chance to extend Valois-Orléans line. Death of Queen Anne also means, that her cousin and namesake Anne de Foix-Candale is less likely to be offered in marriage, although Germaine, niece of Louis XII, would not be less valuable on marriage market.
Louis XII in OTL seek for alliance with Jagiellons in 1500 against common enemy- Habsburgs. Alliance was to be sealed with marriages of Jagiellon Kings of Poland and Hungary with Germaine and Anne de Foix (because Louis had no more closely related relatives to offer). John Albert of Poland would die soon, so his marriage would not be anyone' problem, but Vladislaus is more likely to marry Germaine de Foix (who also was offered to him IOTL) than Anne de Foix, who is less important ITTL. But ITTL also Louis XII needs to marry and John Albert of Poland would obviously offer him his youngest sister Elisabeth (b. 1482). That was the time, when Poland for the first time in history tried seriously alliance with France and such marriage would strenghten planned coalition against Habsburgs. How likely is it?
So now we could have:
-Louis XII leaving male heir, preventing François I from taking throne.
-unlike "Louis XII has a son with Mary Tudor" son of Louis XII could be teenager at the time of father's death and would not have half-sister with rights to Brittany married to First Prince of Blood (so France's internal situation would be more stable).
-also Mary Tudor is never married to Louis XII (but could be married to his son instead?)
-Hungary has another Queen (Germaine de Foix), so by default, Aragon has another queen too (Françoise d'Alençon?).
What else would change?
 
Wasn't it stated already in Anne's marriage contract with Charles VIII, that in case of her childless death her husband would inherit Brittany?
 
Yeah. I do believe Anne's marriage contract said that Brittany would go to her husband in the event of her childless death. Even though Anne has a few relatives who should inherit the French court's not going to allow Brittany to pass out of the French king's hands at this point.

It would be interesting to see Louis XII marry Elisabeth Jagiellon. It would bring Poland into the French sphere and potentially turn them against the Hapsburgs. Could this eventually lead to a more stable Polish situation?

If Mary Tudor marries Louis' son with Elisabeth then that means France will have a stake in the English Succession should the Tudors still have trouble as iOTL. Which could be interesting.
 
My fantasy scenario. Kate has a few kids - including a daughter - who gets married to James V of Scotland
Do you think that CoA is more likely candidate to became Queen of France than Elisabeth Jagiellon? Would Fernando & Isabel break Catherine's engagement if Louis XII is available?
 
Do you think that CoA is more likely candidate to became Queen of France than Elisabeth Jagiellon? Would Fernando & Isabel break Catherine's engagement if Louis XII is available?

France is more powerful than England. Plus the Tudors are a new dynasty and they weren't very sure about the match OTL. Queen of France NOW might trump being Queen of England in the future
 
France is more powerful than England. Plus the Tudors are a new dynasty and they weren't very sure about the match OTL. Queen of France NOW might trump being Queen of England in the future
Then Catherine wins easily, Ferdinand and Louis also had period of cooperation in early 1500s and Spain is closer to France than Poland or Hungary.
 
Last edited:
Then Catherine being Queen of France is a realistic idea?
I think that Catherine would be happier with Louis than Henry VIII, not that hard to figure out.

Louis XII of France d 1516 m Catherine of Aragon b 1485

Issue:

Princess Isabelle b 1503
Louis XIII of France b 1505
Princess Marie b 1508
Princess Anne b 1510 d 1512
Prince Jean of France b 1512
Princess Louise of France b 1515

Arthur can marry Elizabeth of Denmark, she is the same age.
 
This probably depends on whether or not the Catholic Monarchs can get over their distaste/hatred of the French enough to break off the engagement with England to marry Catherine to Louis XII. Weren't they also trying to form a series of marriage alliances against France at this time?
 
Another speedbump can be if Arthur Tudor dies in 1500 rather than 1502. Then the focus on matchmaking will be for Henry, duke of York instead.
 
This probably depends on whether or not the Catholic Monarchs can get over their distaste/hatred of the French enough to break off the engagement with England to marry Catherine to Louis XII. Weren't they also trying to form a series of marriage alliances against France at this time?
Ferdinand was able to cooperate with Louis on few occassions and even married his niece. Also, Catherine in France means, that Catholic Monarchs have pair of eyes and ears in Paris.
 
Henry VII's probably going to want a bride with English blood for Arthur too. If Catherine's not available then he might need to look elsewhere for potential brides with the necessary requirements.
 
This probably depends on whether or not the Catholic Monarchs can get over their distaste/hatred of the French enough to break off the engagement with England to marry Catherine to Louis XII. Weren't they also trying to form a series of marriage alliances against France at this time?

Isabel had a personal pique against the English as well (being jilted by Edward IV for Elizabeth Wydeville) which was part of the reason that they were so difficult in agreeing to the English proposal.

Fernando comes across as more alive to political realities, and is devious enough to decide to screw the English (and Maximilian/Philipp) over by going with the French here. Isabel of Aragon died before the POD, and Philipp started with his style antics shortly thereafter. When Fernando protested to Maximilian about it, Max's response was to start titling HIMSELF as king of Portugal.
 
Margaret is also a option for Arthur. But I think a virgin bride would be preferable instead.

True, but since Portugal has the highest Lancastrian claim, but no infantas I could see them offering a proxy. Margarethe has Portuguese blood from both her parents, and when Philipp/Juana were stranded in England OTL, Margarethe was offered as a wife for either Henry VII/VIII, and Max thought his daughter's objections proved no great obstacle.
 
Top