Henry II Curtmantle fitzEmpress and Count of Flanders?

[The Professor]

What about marrying Henry II marrying Marie of Boulogne.

Because it's less likely than alternate marriages since she's in holy orders.

 

[darthfanta]

Henry also becomes the Count of Anjou from his father's inheritance. If the Anarchy ends like OTL with him becoming King of England, then even without the Aquitanian inheritance he still will have a solid territorial bloc in northern France. Flanders won't be a walk in the park, but he has the resources... the problem is if the current Count of Flanders calls for his liege to help. Then, I suppose that the French monarchy won't put much of a fight. Until Phillip II Augustus, they were in a rather weakened position.

I think, however, that an English expansionism into Flanders might alarm the HRE, considering its emperors had their own designs to the Low Countries. I doubt that Henry's status as Matilda's son will do wonders if the HRE decides to back up Flanders.

Let's say that England prevails and Flanders is incorporated into this alt-Angevin monarchy... I think it overall will tend to be somewhat stable than OTL with its immense fiefs in western France. Holding Flanders might be easier and perhaps this allows for a more secure continental English dominion.

Probably too busy fighting in Italy or other German vassals to do anything of note.The problem about the Hohenstaufen emperors and their Salian predecessors was that there’s only one emperor and whenever the emperor’s off to fight his Italian vassals,the German ones rebel.

 

[The Professor]

Probably too busy fighting in Italy or other German vassals to do anything of note.The problem about the Hohenstaufen emperors and their Salian predecessors was that there’s only one emperor and whenever the emperor’s off to fight his Italian vassals,the German ones rebel.

OTL the Welf married fitzEmpress's daughter Matilda in 65 and stayed at the English court during his exile.
Assuming his adventures in the HRE run close to OTL and he's married to an alt-daughter of fitzEmpress then an English presence in the low countries could be useful.

 

[Alex Zetsu]

What about marrying Henry II marrying Marie of Boulogne.

It's a descent alternative if Eleanor declines, but I think Eleanor is still TTL Henry Fitzpress's first choice. Unless Marie is smoking hot or something and he decides boobs over Eleanor's huge tracts of land

 

[kasumigenx]

It's a descent alternative if Eleanor declines, but I think Eleanor is still TTL Henry Fitzpress's first choice. Unless Marie is smoking hot or something and he decides boobs over Eleanor's huge tracts of land

Or if Eleanor suddenly pops a son in 1151 after her daughter Alice.

 

[The Professor]

It's a descent alternative if Eleanor declines, but I think Eleanor is still TTL Henry Fitzpress's first choice. Unless Marie is smoking hot or something and he decides boobs over Eleanor's huge tracts of land

Or if Eleanor suddenly pops a son in 1151 after her daughter Alice.

Since this thread is predicated on Eleanor not being available her absence still does not make Henry's adoptive sister and abbess more likely as Henry's spouse.
The peace with Stephen in 53 involved him adopting Henry rather than betrothing him to his daughter in a nunnery.

 

[kasumigenx]

Since this thread is predicated on Eleanor not being available her absence still does not make Henry's adoptive sister and abbess more likely as Henry's spouse.
The peace with Stephen in 53 involved him adopting Henry rather than betrothing him to his daughter in a nunnery.

His daughter is still a possible heiress to Boulogne if his son, William still dies childless.

 

[The Professor]

His daughter is still a possible heiress to Boulogne if his son, William still dies childless.

Still doesn't make her likely to marry. Look at the fuss Matthias caused by abducting her OTL from her Abbey.

 

[The Professor]

Further to this I'm thinking about Arms. Since 3 lions passant guardant won't happen.
Ideas?

 

[isabella]

Since this thread is predicated on Eleanor not being available her absence still does not make Henry's adoptive sister and abbess more likely as Henry's spouse.
The peace with Stephen in 53 involved him adopting Henry rather than betrothing him to his daughter in a nunnery.

Marie became a nun between the years 1148 and 1155 (she is born in 1136, can not have become a nun before 12 and was an nun and elected abbess at 19), while Henry married Eleanor in 1152. If Eleanor is unavailable and maybe Eustache dies earlier than OTL and Marie has still not taken the vows a wedding between Henry and Marie is not impossible...

 

[darthfanta]

I think Flanders should be easier to keep given the wool trade.