Catherine of Braganza dies in 1673

[VVD0D95]

According to a biography of james Ii by John Miller, the same year the test act was being debated, Catherine of Braganza was deeply ill and some wondered if she might die, say she does die, what happens next? Does Charles II remarry, and if so to who? And what does this do to the test act?

My initial thought is that the test act will likelt srill pass and remain in force until Charles has married and scored a legitimate heir, after that who knows.

As for possible brides, I’ve taken a liking to ulrika of Denmark the mother of Charles xii of Sweden, or potentially a French sponsored bride.

What do you all think?

 

[ranichi17]

Maybe Frances "La Belle Stuart" since there were already some at court who were pushing for Charles to divorce Catherine and marry her instead? She would've already been widowed by then.
A French match, especially if Catholic, would be deeply unpopular, so Charles might go for Ulrika instead if it has to be a foreign match.

 

[VVD0D95]

Maybe Frances "La Belle Stuart" since there were already some at court who were pushing for Charles to divorce Catherine and marry her instead? She would've already been widowed by then.
A French match, especially if Catholic, would be deeply unpopular, so Charles might go for Ulrika instead if it has to be a foreign match.

Oh now that is interesting though one does imagine Charles would have to push for james to remarry abroad so as to maintain the standards of the dynasty should he marry Frances

 

[Anarch King of Dipsodes]

IMO, Charles would marry whoever brought the largest dowry. I have no idea who that would be. Though probably not a Scandinavian.

 

[isabella]

I think who both Charles and James would remarry abroad now, but if Catherine died BEFORE September James would NOT remarry to Maria Beatrice d’Este

 

[VVD0D95]

IMO, Charles would marry whoever brought the largest dowry. I have no idea who that would be. Though probably not a Scandinavian.

If the French sponsors ulrika dowry?

I think who both Charles and James would remarry abroad now, but if Catherine died BEFORE September James would NOT remarry to Maria Beatrice d’Este

Oh how so?

 

[isabella]

If the French sponsors ulrika dowry?
Oh how so?

Pretty likely who Charles will marry (again) the biggest dowry he can get.
Because Mary was unwilling to marry (she would have liked becoming a nun) and her mother had high ambitions for her so if Catherine die before the match is signed and agreed is guaranteed who it will not go ahead

 

[VVD0D95]

Pretty likely who Charles will marry (again) the biggest dowry he can get.
Because Mary was unwilling to marry (she would have liked becoming a nun) and her mother had high ambitions for her so if Catherine die before the match is signed and agreed is guaranteed who it will not go ahead

This is true, so perhaps Charles marries ulrika or another French sponsored bride whilst James potentially gets married to the wurttemberg princess who was being mooted for him

 

[isabella]

This is true, so perhaps Charles marries ulrika or another French sponsored bride whilst James potentially gets married to the wurttemberg princess who was being mooted for him

Unless Charles can get an Archduchess as bride. The Emperor’s youngest half-sister, Maria Josepha, is available (Eleonora would be widowed by the Polish King only at the end of the year). Claudia Felicitas is likely out (as she would be engaged to Leopold shortly after Margarita’s death in March), unless Leopold go marrying directly his third wife (and that is not impossible, specially if Catherine died before or just after Margarita), so in the end all three can work depending from the moment of Catherine’s death and when Charles start to search a new bride

 

[VVD0D95]

Unless Charles can get an Archduchess as bride. The Emperor’s youngest half-sister, Maria Josepha, is available (Eleonora would be widowed by the Polish King only at the end of the year). Claudia Felicitas is likely out (as she would be engaged to Leopold shortly after Margarita’s death in March), unless Leopold go marrying directly his third wife (and that is not impossible, specially if Catherine died before or just after Margarita), so in the end all three can work depending from the moment of Catherine’s death and when Charles start to search a new bride

Hmm this is true, though with the test act being debated, would Charles risk public upcry ar another catholic marriage or would he feel strong enough not to care?

And let’s say Catherine dies at the beginning of March 1673, before Margaret

 

[Kellan Sullivan]

According to a biography of james Ii by John Miller, the same year the test act was being debated, Catherine of Braganza was deeply ill and some wondered if she might die, say she does die, what happens next? Does Charles II remarry, and if so to who? And what does this do to the test act?

My initial thought is that the test act will likelt srill pass and remain in force until Charles has married and scored a legitimate heir, after that who knows.

As for possible brides, I’ve taken a liking to ulrika of Denmark the mother of Charles xii of Sweden, or potentially a French sponsored bride.

What do you all think?

Ulrika (likely who sees her named Anglicised to Wulfrica) will only be possible if Sweden and Denmark don't need to make nice, no? Or if Juliana von Hesse-Eschwege doesn't play hide the salami TWICE before she gets married (apparently the Queen Dowager was willing to overlook rhe first time, but twice looked worryingly like a pattern)
@Valena

 

[Kellan Sullivan]

Pretty likely who Charles will marry (again) the biggest dowry he can get.
Because Mary was unwilling to marry (she would have liked becoming a nun) and her mother had high ambitions for her so if Catherine die before the match is signed and agreed is guaranteed who it will not go ahead

Would her mother not try for Charles II instead then? Laura tried for Carlos II, so I'm guessing they had the finances to swing it.

 

[VVD0D95]

Ulrika (likely who sees her named Anglicised to Wulfrica) will only be possible if Sweden and Denmark don't need to make nice, no? Or if Juliana von Hesse-Eschwege doesn't play hide the salami TWICE before she gets married (apparently the Queen Dowager was willing to overlook rhe first time, but twice looked worryingly like a pattern)
@Valena

Hmm this is true

Would her mother not try for Charles II instead then? Laura tried for Carlos II, so I'm guessing they had the finances to swing it.

Wasn’t one if the big appeals of james the fact thay he was a catholic out and our, whilst Charles was openly Anglican tho?

 

[Kellan Sullivan]

Another option might be Klaudia Felizitas of Tyrol (if Catherine dies before Empress Margarita Teresa - say Gretl, who was reportedly some months pregnant at the time of her death, lives to carry the child to term, but dies in childbed).

Although PROTESTANT options would be rather scarce. Especially given Charles' personal dislike for "cold Germans" and that most of the "likely" German electoral houses (Pfalz, Wettin, Hohenzollern) had no candidates available in 1673. Bavaria DID but not sure how likely the OTL Dauphine was to end up in London when her own Habsburg grandmother blocked her becoming empress in 1676

 

[isabella]

Would her mother not try for Charles II instead then? Laura tried for Carlos II, so I'm guessing they had the finances to swing it.

Not likely, and I believe who neither Charles or Mary would be interested in marrying the other. James was more-or-less openly Catholic while Charles was firmly Anglican and would have raised his children as full Anglican so Mary (who was persuaded to marry James with the idea of becoming the mother of a future Catholic King of England) would not be interested in such match and Charles would not be interested at all in an aspirant nun

 

[VVD0D95]

Another option might be Klaudia Felizitas of Tyrol (if Catherine dies before Empress Margarita Teresa - say Gretl, who was reportedly some months pregnant at the time of her death, lives to carry the child to term, but dies in childbed).

Although PROTESTANT options would be rather scarce. Especially given Charles' personal dislike for "cold Germans" and that most of the "likely" German electoral houses (Pfalz, Wettin, Hohenzollern) had no candidates available in 1673. Bavaria DID but not sure how likely the OTL Dauphine was to end up in London when her own Habsburg grandmother blocked her becoming empress in 1676

I do think Claudia or Maria Joseph’s would be the most interesting, Claudia for her brains and Maria Joseph because she does seem to have been quite the looker which may well hold Charles attention

 

[isabella]

Another option might be Klaudia Felizitas of Tyrol (if Catherine dies before Empress Margarita Teresa - say Gretl, who was reportedly some months pregnant at the time of her death, lives to carry the child to term, but dies in childbed).

Although PROTESTANT options would be rather scarce. Especially given Charles' personal dislike for "cold Germans" and that most of the "likely" German electoral houses (Pfalz, Wettin, Hohenzollern) had no candidates available in 1673. Bavaria DID but not sure how likely the OTL Dauphine was to end up in London when her own Habsburg grandmother blocked her becoming empress in 1676

You are sure about that? Maria Anna Victoria was promised to the Dauphin since 1668, when she was 8 years old.
Claudia can very well be an option if Catherine die before Margarita (Leopold can go to marry his cousin in England and marry directly Eleonore), else Maria Josepha can work but also Eleonore, if Charles do not start to search another wife before the end of the years

I do think Claudia or Maria Joseph’s would be the most interesting, Claudia for her brains and Maria Joseph because she does seem to have been quite the looker which may well hold Charles attention

Claudia also was beautiful

 

[VVD0D95]

You are sure about that? Maria Anna Victoria was promised to the Dauphin since 1668, when she was 8 years old.
Claudia can very well be an option if Catherine die before Margarita (Leopold can go to marry his cousin in England and marry directly Eleonore), else Maria Josepha can work but also Eleonore, if Charles do not start to search another wife before the end of the years


Claudia also was beautiful

This is true

 

[VVD0D95]

If Charlie dies before his heir is of age, would Jim serve as regent, or would they scramble to find someone else?

 

[isabella]

If Charlie dies before his heir is of age, would Jim serve as regent, or would they scramble to find someone else?

Most likely James would be named as regent, pretty likely to be replaced by one of Charles II’s illegitimate sons if he go too Catholic