DBWI: Henry VIII Divorces Catherine of Aragon

What if Catherine of Aragon failed to produce a single child for Henry VIII? It is quite plausible, as out of numerous pregnancies she only produced Henry of Cornwall and Princess Mary. Perhaps Prince Henry could be a stillborn and Mary is her only surviving child. Henry VIII had several mistresses so he could marry either Bessy Blount or Mary Boleyn with the permission of the Pope.

Let's say that for whatever reason, the Pope refuses, perhaps something like being
in Charles V's captivity. What would Henry do then? As ASB as this sounds, could he convert to Protestantism?!

What effects would this have on England? Could the Protestants win in Scotland? Would the Hapsburg empire last? Could France and Scotland stay United? What if?
 
I can't imagine a man as religious and as papist as good Henry VIII ever having even asked for a divorce.

That being said, Catherine of Aragon did lose three other children - and if I recall correctly, the future Henry IX came close to death within a month or two of his birth.

If Henry IX died early on, who knows?
 
I'm quite confused on what exactly you are asking; their only surviving child was Princess Mary, Henry VIII did ask for a divorce and the Pope did refuse because he was the HRE prisoner. What is the divergence?
 
Why would Henry get divorced? I mean it would piss off his son-in-law the Emperor, not something good. Second didn't he remarry after Catherine's death? To Christina of Denmark, I believe. So why not just wait for her to die if he doesn't have a son?
 
Top