1560: Of Guise & Stuarts (Ft. de Valois, Habsburgs & Tudors)
The years following following the Italian War of 1551 - 1559 were for England rather peaceful - the only tension being the near eternal one between England and it's two closest neighbors - Scotland and France. And even then, no serious threat of outright war between the three realms - though Mary Stuart was relatively close in the line of succession, nobody in England seriously wanted her as Queen and with Philip around Mary's chance to claim the throne had long since slipped from her fingers - if she even really had one to begin with. Even Elizabeth - now the Duchess (Consort) of Savoy, calmly resounded to a peaceful life in Italy - no longer having to deal with frequently being in the tower or under house arrest, though she did miss her old friend Kat Ashley and was not all to excited at first about married life. Still, the Duke did prove himself an intelligent man; having been capable of resurrecting his realm essentially from the dead. Something everyone was sure the Burgundians or Greeks would love to accomplish. He was certainly a better man than Sir Thomas Seymour was towards her.
Still, Italy was a much different place than that of England - and she had to make sure that no matter what her true faith was, she conformed with what the law expected of her in public. That said, Elizabeth did enjoy herself being in by far one of the most cultural and artistic places in the known world - originator of the renaissance and many of the arts of which she was a patron.
At home, things were changing quite drastically. For one, the weather was becoming more favorable - meaning that just as the royal navy was getting properly rebuilt and the tax system reformed there were finally good harvests on the horizon as well. With Pope Pius IV installed, there was also more papal support of Mary's counter-reformation as well, and there was ultimately little parliament could do to prevent the arrival of papal legates and Jesuits onto England's shores to continue dealing with the remnants of Henry & Edward's heresy. What few remained not burned were more than likely nursing their delusions that perhaps the younger Philip will be swayed to their ways of worship, despite his mother's vast security network constructed to prevent that very thing from happening,
Thankfully for Mary, these annoying pests were a dying breed - quite literally depending on who they were, and their fanciful delusions would be the only comfort they receive under her reign.
They were not dying as much in Scotland though, and it wasn't for lack of trying on Mary de Guise's part. The issue was that Mary had previous tolerated the protestants, allowing them to gain political power and legitimacy before she then properly rescinded the policy like any true believer would. Even if she managed to crush the protestants in the northern realm though, that wouldn't change the resentment many Scots had for the thought of their nation becoming little more than a part of the French kingdom. It was not something that Mary, Queen of the English wanted either. Though she didn't want it to become Protestant either.
Little did she know that this situation would soon settle itself without any intervention on her part. Mary de Guise was able to decisively defeat the Lords of the Congregation in key battles early in the year of 1560, firmly uprooting the protestant hold on Scotland and sending the surviving lords into either recantation, exile or hiding. She was not able to capture John Knox however, who remained seemingly in hiding within Scotland or perhaps elsewhere in Europe like a cancerous tumor. However, the Protestant reformation had seemingly been crushed in Scotland - and soon enough the French issue sorted itself out when Mary de Guise died of dropsy but a few months later in June of 1560. This destabilized the French's hold over Scotland, as there was nobody really able to take up the mantle of Mary the Queen's regency while she herself remained in France; as a result, the nation was essentially run by the Scottish parliament as the next best thing.
It should be stated also that despite the distaste for increased French control and the issue of Protestantism, Mary de Guise was and even is in modern day well remembered by the Scottish people as a decent and formidable consort as well as regent. However, political opinion was at the very least more 'divided' in regards to the queen for whom she served as regent - it was very much true that such a long time living in France left the queen of Scots arguably more a French woman than a Scottish one. She wasn't an outright hated monarch by her people, though there were certainly some unsure about the situation at least; especially given how she was also the consort of France, thus sparking debate regarding what should happen once she produces heirs. That was a question Mary in London wrestled with endlessly, and she had no power over the decision making in that situation. It would be natural to assume that the French and Scottish thrones would simply separate should they have more than one son, but you can never guarantee how many children you sire nor how many live to adulthood.
This issue would also resolve itself before Mary could even really act on it however, as late in the year of 1560 it was revealed that Charles IX was now King of France - Francis II having died of a sudden ear infection in December to the grief of his mother, the powerful Catherine de Medici - who now continued to serve as regent yet again. There was talk down the grapevine of the idea that he had been poisoned by the Huguenots, though this seemed doubtful. This also meant that Mary, Queen of Scots would now be actually reigning within Scotland rather than France - and her hand in marriage was now up for grabs. Of course, she was far too old for the young Prince of Wales to marry, and in truth Mary would prefer her cousin to marry someone who wasn't the ruler of a powerful foreign realm - not that she had any actual influence over the matter, of course.
This also further weakened the French control over Scotland, as besides the auld alliance they now had little reason to actually stay in Scotland itself.
Now there was but one Mary to worry about. Or not, considering the event of her being a serious threat hinged on the health of Mary's children.
1561 - 1565: Fall of a Queen
With Scotland and France no longer literally in the same bed as one another - though still rather close, Mary could focus on the various other problems facing both herself and the rest of England as a whole.
For one thing, she had recently gone through the menopause. In fact, it had started not long at all after she had reached her 44th birthday - though around the same time she did start noticing strange lumps upon her breasts that appeared and felt abnormal. As the months and about a year progressed, she also noticed portions of her right breast appeared to have a texture akin to that of an orange. She at first had dismissed it as something of a rash or inflammation, perhaps some minor illness that she got from time spent outside of any palace. For the time being, she focused on spending time with her family and watching her kingdom heal during this time of peace. With the weather finally improving, harvests would finally prove to be good for the realm in the coming years - something which frankly she had long been waiting for. Philip was also developing into a fine young man; he enjoyed playing with the (catholic) boys that he grew friendships with, and even from a young age he understand the importance of firmly maintaining the catholic faith. He could be a bit prideful though, perhaps developed because his mother did dote on him whenever she was able to be around him. His sister Catherine, at only about four years old now, was about your average young princess; her education was still just beginning. Mary treated her much the same though, if not spoiled her even more considering she was her only daughter.
Mary did not get to see her children as much as she would have liked, being a reigning queen and all, though she greatly enjoyed every moment in which she was. A fond memory of hers in particular comes from January of 1561, in which she permitted the performance of the play
Gorboduc before herself and her children at court in Whitehall.
Not all of her family were doing so well however; for instance, when she learned that her sister had produced a child on the 12th of January 1562, she hadn't even known Elizabeth was successfully impregnated. She had honestly expected her half-sister to be reluctant towards consummation. Of course, the duke of Savoy was a bit lukewarm about the birth - as it was that of a daughter, christened Anna di Savoia ("Anna of Savoy" in English). Mary couldn't help but grumble a bit at the choice of name for her niece, knowing
exactly who the namesake was. Still, that was Elizabeth's child and not hers.
At least Anna would be given a proper Catholic education, and Emmanuel Philibert was no Henry. Surely there was still time for him to procure a son, Elizabeth was the younger Tudor sister after all.
The same could not be said for the Spanish end of the family however - apparently Elisabeth de Valois' first successfully child had been a daughter as well, and Don Carlos had not been pleased with it so Mary had read. While he didn't do anything such as become a protestant over it, he did have a heated 'argument' with his wife over the matter of Isabella's birth in March of 1562. Possibly it had started with a simple remark from the prince, and his wife's response to his words only made him irrationally upset. All Mary was told about it in the correspondence was that her husband had to personally intervene to prevent the situation from escalating further. In all honestly, the things Mary heard about her step-son made her somewhat glad that she was technically barred from staying in Spain. She also heard that he had recently suffered a head injury though managed to recover from it - the correspondence did not say whether or not it was from this incident or before however. Mary would only later find out from the Spanish Ambassadors that it was from an unrelated incident.
There was also the matter of her health as well, considering Mary was taking notice that as time went on one of her breasts was notably bigger than that of the other - and they quite simply didn't feel quite right anymore. The ideas her physicians gave her didn't sit well with her either, the most frightful of their diagnoses being that she may have had the dreaded cancer.
She underwent recommended treatments for it just in case, though none of what she tried was ever very successful. In fact, as time went on she would notice even more alarming issues develop - such as lumps developing in rather unsavory places along her upper body, and increased itchiness that she struggled to not toy with as well.
She also fixated a lot on the reconstruction of her nation. The reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI had virtually destroyed all of the beautiful religious art and culture that was spread throughout England when Mary herself was young - and though she was unable to make parliament agree to undoing the dissolution of the monasteries, though she did give order that new ones could be constructed should the religious authorities see fit. As for art and culture, Mary knew that would just have to heal and regrow on it's own, and she was happy to see that it indeed was. More practically, she also made regular trips to the ports to inspect the ongoing construction of her royal navy: much to her liking, the construction of the vast fleet of ships was going according to schedule thanks to the more favorable weather granted to England by a now much more 'merciful' Lord. The economic reforms passed by Mary's government earlier also helped.
Though, none of this would change the fact that Mary was no longer in very good health - as her cancer progressed, her health decreased with it. Though she gained a weaker appearance in these later and more painful years of hers, she still had her strong Tudor will. She fought her disease with all that she honestly could, given the time in which she lived; though she also made sure to make preparations for her son's eventual succession and regency should she lose this war.
At the very least, developments were going good in England. During 1562 the naval commander John Hawkins helped get England involved in the lucrative trade of the New World; he was reportedly helping ship slaves from Sierra Leone to Spain's holdings in the Caribbean. Though the Spanish themselves did not seem to like the idea of the English 'butting in' on what was a very Spain-and-Portugal dominated New World, they seemed to at least tolerate it considering Mary was still technically their consort. Mary had also earlier in the year received word about the ongoing conflicts in France over the protestant Huguenots. She simply snorted a bit, shaking her head. Protestants, always a thorn in the backside of any honest Catholic lord or lady. A pity it was that they had virtually taken over Scandinavia, though it was still better than the Nordic kings being full-on
heathens like in the days of old.
The following year, in March of 1563, Mary would see the passing of the Poor Relief Act through Parliament, seeing to it that wealthier parishes offer their less fortunate neighbors - a further extension of Mary's many poor relief initiatives. There were also the ongoing French Wars of Religion, though Mary was content on letting France deal with that problem on it's own - her husband as well as the papacy were already assisting them and frankly she received more than enough complaints from her advisors after getting involved in the previous war with the French. From what she was being told, it was a bloody affair for sure but the Catholics were confident that the true faith would prevail in the end - which is what the ailing queen wanted to hear.
She did however, give orders to increase the garrison in Calais a bit, just in case the conflict happened to spill over.
As a result of the peace, Mary's final years proved to be relatively uneventful compared to her first. She knew well that her ailment was not her being with child, and at least had enough time to make her preparations for when she left this would should it be soon. Which of course, she hoped and fought hard so that it wouldn't - but it was clear that the stress of it all was only accelerating her declining health. Even so, at the very least July of 1564 saw Anthony Jenkinson return to England after getting a substantial increase in English trading rights within the Grand Duchy of Muscovy, still under the rule of Ivan IV. The Muscovites were not Catholic, but they weren't Protestant either. The Orthodox were the only 'heretics' who Mary 'tolerated'.
There was also a particular birth in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon around April of that year as well, though it would not prove to be very relevant for some time.
It would ultimately be one of the last eventful things to happen during Mary's reign, however. Once 1565 had rolled around, her cancer had progressed to it's final stages and it was clear to many within her privy council and inner circle that she was dying. By the time her 49th birthday, the queen was predominantly found laying in her bedchamber as she could feel her own end coming. The succession secured as Philip followed by Catherine, the concern was over who was to succeed the princess should she die without heirs. Though it was hoped that such an event was nothing to fear due to it's improbability, Mary still made it clear from her bed - and was passed through act of parliament unlike the illegal devise of her younger brother, that Philip was to immediately succeed her - should he die without heirs, then would be Catherine. Should she too die without heirs and if she is still alive, Elizabeth would succeed, and of course after her would be Anna provided she does not have any sons by that time. Some did argue that Elizabeth should not even be eligible for the throne anymore at all, though she was still Mary's sister and Henry VIII's daughter. Complaints were hushed anyway, with how unrealistic it seemed for both Philip
and Catherine to be outlived by their aunt while also not producing heirs of their own by that time. Mary also decreed that her husband was to be regent for their son's minority, though that was a decree that none of those around her felt was actually practical.
After a long battle with what modern historians believe was more than likely breast cancer, Mary I of England passed on to be with God on the 10th of April, 1565. She was 49 years old. The bells throughout all of England tolled in mourning for the fallen queen once the servants surrounding her at the time noticed her silence and checked her pulse for confirmation. Within the hour, the young Prince of Wales and Princess Catherine were informed that their mother had passed. Being only 9-going-on-10 and 7 respectively, and close as noble children could possibly be their parents, the two did of course weep in grief for the woman who had cherished them from the moment they were born.
It was honestly painful for many of the servants to watch, with them begging to "see mama!" - particularly Catherine, the younger of the siblings.
Of course, everyone also knew what Mary's death meant. Yet again, England was in the hands of a 9 year old boy; only this time, a Catholic boy. With the heiress this time being a 7 year old girl.
QUEEN MARY I OF ENGLAND, IRELAND & FRANCE | 1553 - 1565
The young king's first act as king was to demand that his mother's wishes to be buried with his grandmother, Catherine of Aragon, be fulfilled. At first, it was interpreted that she was to be buried at Peterborough Cathedral; though Philip later said that he wanted the construction of a proper royal tomb at Westminster for the revered mother and daughter duo, to not only reunite the two in death but also properly commemorate them and their memory. Do stern was the young boy king's voice as he decreed this to his Nicholas Heath and the rest of the council, that they did well on seeing that it got done as soon as possible. The tomb of Mary and her mother Catherine of Aragon was in it's prime something to behold; only the finest of marble , stone and gold - even diamonds, were used in the construction and decoration - with the golden gate to the tomb having Mary's coat of arms etched onto it's center. Their coffins were of course directly apart from one another, resting side by side amongst the presence of angels, saints, and even the Virgin Mary herself.
Forever may they rest in peace.
1565: The Second Boy King
Philip, Prince of Wales, was properly coronated as King Philip the second of England, Ireland & 'France' at Westminster Abbey on May 30, 1565; technically having reached the age of 10 by then. Though legally he was a Habsburg rather than a Tudor, the ceremony was very much a Tudor affair. The procession of Philip and his vast entourage of lords, knights, bishops, lords, the council and even his sister the heiress through London was truly a spectacle; in attendance where virtually all of the incumbent English nobles. When he had reached the abbey and stepped out of his carriage adorned in only the finest of contemporary renaissance garbs, he and his sister were escorted inside of the church where the Archbishop of Canterbury - Sir Thomas Reynolds, gained the prestigious honor of crowning the young king. Such a a shame that Mary herself would have never been able to view this moment anyway, it was to certain that all that she and her mother would be beaming with pride if they were there - though the women had earned their rest. Amazingly, even the Duke & Duchess of Savoy - that is to say Aunt Elizabeth and her husband were invited to attend alongside the obligatory appearance of the elder Philip - King of Spain and on paper the regent of England, though in practice it was actually Nicholas Heath who served that role. Following Mary's will on that part was simply not seen as practical or desired. This day had been the first time Elizabeth visited England since her marriage, and as such one of the first times the king and his heiress properly met their cousin Anna.
Nevertheless, the technical end of the Tudor period and beginning of the Habsburg period was one of both grief as well as that of joyous celebration. Mary had managed to pull England back into communion with Rome, and would be remembered for also starting work on reforming the economy and restoring England as a proper naval power. The loss and recapture of Calais would be a more controversial memory of her reign, though the people of England grieved for the loss of a strong queen regardless. Her son, though young, would be tasked with continuing his mother's work while also making his own mark on history as well.
"The Queen is Dead; Long Live the King!"
OOC: "Mary Wars Episode II: Attack of the Cancer"
OOC+: Someone please tell me if the House of Savoy's male only succession was just always a thing or if it was like, enacted at a certain date? I can't really find any information about the succession laws of the Savoy dynasty Pre-United Italy when I researched to make sure. I know succession laws can be changed (and a son can still be born later) but still. 
