Edward II of England Marries Differently

Edward II Marries?

  • Blanche of France

    Votes: 2 22.2%
  • Philippine of Flanders

    Votes: 3 33.3%
  • Isabel of Castile

    Votes: 4 44.4%
  • Isabelle of France

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    9
According to these sites Edward was betrothed abortively to several ladies before finally marrying the famed/notorious she-wolf, Isabelle of France.

They were:

Blanche of France (b. 1278) - sister of his stepmother; later married the king of Bohemia
Margaret of Norway, Queen of Scots (b. 1283) - the most famous match proposed
Philippine of Flanders (d.1306), daughter of Guy, Count of Flanders. Her dad got imprisoned by the French king in order to force his hand to break the betrothal. Philippine later died a prisoner at Blois. However, her sister, Isabelle, was named as a possible substitute.
Isabel of Castile (b.1283), eldest child of Sancho IV of Castile.

So - barring the Maid of Norway - please vote, and state the pros/cons behind your choice (don't have to, but it'd be nice to know that it's not just "I vote for Missy Smith because I don't like Isabelle de France". Thanks in advance
 
I voted for (and have suggested multiple times in the past) Isabel of Castile because, from what I've read, IOTL:

a. Edward II was aware and proud of his Castilian heritage, and before his deposition in 1327 tried to arrange marriages for his children and half-brother Thomas with infantes and infantas from Castile, Portugal and Aragon.
b. Edward might have gotten along better with Isabel due to being closer in age.
c. Edward I actually considered it himself, but had to decline because he had to make peace with France.
d. Going on from the above point, a chance to marry Isabel might have arisen in 1308 if the marriage negotiations between Edward II and Philip IV degenerated more than they did IOTL.

Another suggestion not listed here would be Margaret of France, Blanche's sister and second wife of his father, Edward I. She was closer in age to Edward II, and IOTL they got along well until he gave the Earldom of Cornwall to Piers Gaveston when it had supposedly been reserved for Margaret's second son, Edmund.
 
If Philippa survives her captivity she might marry the otl husband of Margaret of Burgundy, does this butterfly the tour de nesle affair.
 
I voted for (and have suggested multiple times in the past) Isabel of Castile because, from what I've read, IOTL:

a. Edward II was aware and proud of his Castilian heritage, and before his deposition in 1327 tried to arrange marriages for his children and half-brother Thomas with infantes and infantas from Castile, Portugal and Aragon.
b. Edward might have gotten along better with Isabel due to being closer in age.
c. Edward I actually considered it himself, but had to decline because he had to make peace with France.
d. Going on from the above point, a chance to marry Isabel might have arisen in 1308 if the marriage negotiations between Edward II and Philip IV degenerated more than they did IOTL.

Another suggestion not listed here would be Margaret of France, Blanche's sister and second wife of his father, Edward I. She was closer in age to Edward II, and IOTL they got along well until he gave the Earldom of Cornwall to Piers Gaveston when it had supposedly been reserved for Margaret's second son, Edmund.

Your threads were actually what inspired this one. I was thinking of a situation where Edward II marries a Castilian infanta, while Isabelle marries into Castile (to replace her sister that was betrothed to the heir to Castile)?
 
Your threads were actually what inspired this one. I was thinking of a situation where Edward II marries a Castilian infanta, while Isabelle marries into Castile (to replace her sister that was betrothed to the heir to Castile)?

Isabelle of France may have more chance of marrying a son of James II of Aragon, as Ferdinand IV of Castile (to whom both of her sisters had once been betrothed) was simultaneously betrothed to Constance of Portugal since 1291 and had married her in 1302.
 
Isabelle of France may have more chance of marrying a son of James II of Aragon, as Ferdinand IV of Castile (to whom both of her sisters had once been betrothed) was simultaneously betrothed to Constance of Portugal since 1291 and had married her in 1302.

And the dominos keep falling :)
 
Jonas, Jonas, Jonas - you left off Edward's choices: his first choice was Piers Gaveston and his second Hugh Despenser (the younger)! You can strike a blow for gay marriage 700 years before it becomes a cause! (Talk about being ahead of the curve!)
 
Jonas, Jonas, Jonas - you left off Edward's choices: his first choice was Piers Gaveston and his second Hugh Despenser (the younger)! You can strike a blow for gay marriage 700 years before it becomes a cause! (Talk about being ahead of the curve!)
If that happens the children of Margaret of France or the Barrois would claim the throne of England after the death of Edward II.
 
Jonas, Jonas, Jonas - you left off Edward's choices: his first choice was Piers Gaveston and his second Hugh Despenser (the younger)! You can strike a blow for gay marriage 700 years before it becomes a cause! (Talk about being ahead of the curve!)

Strike a blow for gay marriage and against King Edward II. Don't think he would have hung onto his crown very long were he to try something like that. Most likely Edward gets deposed in favour of his eldest half-brother.
 
James VI is basically similar to Edward II with intrigues in gender preference, I remember James VI took away the custody of his children away from Anne of Denmark, perhaps he does not want a repeat of the Isabella of France incident.

Perhaps Edward II needs someone like Anne of Denmark perhaps.
 
James VI is basically similar to Edward II with intrigues in gender preference, I remember James VI took away the custody of his children away from Anne of Denmark, perhaps he does not want a repeat of the Isabella of France incident.

Perhaps Edward II needs someone like Anne of Denmark perhaps.

Not really sure we can draw that conclusion. James may have been 'queen' or bisexual, but he at least knew (more or less) how to govern his country. Edward, if had the same preferences, is still coming up short (perhaps it was just a perfect storm of events (considering that @Philippe le Bel and @Space Oddity have both got Edward II's reign minus some factors, I figure they would know more) - or perhaps Edward really was a terrible ruler).
 
Not really sure we can draw that conclusion. James may have been 'queen' or bisexual, but he at least knew (more or less) how to govern his country. Edward, if had the same preferences, is still coming up short (perhaps it was just a perfect storm of events (considering that @Philippe le Bel and @Space Oddity have both got Edward II's reign minus some factors, I figure they would know more) - or perhaps Edward really was a terrible ruler).
A better Edward II reign is like James VI
 
Edward was a terrible ruler, but only due to a lack of agency rather than active malice. He took every success as evidence of the rightness of his actions and that of his favorites, every setback threw him into inaction and allowing his favorites to run things in his name. His sexuality is actually just as suspect as James VI's. It's so common now to see him depicted or spoken of as definitey gay or bisexual, but really it's ambiguous. He actually had one illegitimate son and fathered four on Isabelle, nothing like Henry II but not a bad run at all. Why did he not then confide in Isabelle? Well, she was a good bit younger than him and she was French, viewed almost as a spy of the French royal family. Edward could actually choose his favorites, and being something of a fool he of course chose the most flattering.

But there is some hope. If he could find a good, strong queen whom he loves and who has the support of the majority of the barons for whatever reason, his reign will turn out for the better. Edward II allowed the Despensers their run of the country and closed his eyes to all abuses, I can't see why he wouldn't allow a wife he loves and her friends to do the same. Isabelle's failing was that she was despised by Edward, and had to rely on the strength of Mortimer and his allies. If this alt-queen is good and dutiful in addition to being strong and loved by Edward (so allowing her to rely on Edward for her authority, rather than relying on barons and so sanctioning their abuses of the country) then Edward II may well become known as one of the better English kings despite doing little to aid his country except through circumstance.
 
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