Henry II lives longer

Henry II of France died in 1559 in a jousting accident, what if the lance that it him in the eye had missed ?
 
She was the, or a, power behind the throne during the reign of François II, who was technically of age when he succeeded, then formally Regent during the first three years of Charles IX. When he was declared of age, still just thirteen years old, she carried on running things, but was back to pulling the strings unofficially rather than being official ruler. This continued after the accession of Henri III, even though unlike his brothers he was fully adult when he succeeded.

So much for Catherine, for whom, like Henri IV, I have some sympathy despite all her misdeeds; she was a devoted mother at least, and did all she did trying to do her best for her sons and France. It was a very tough row she had to hoe. She is also credited with being the founding mother of French cuisine, the culinary practices she imported from Italy transforming and setting it on the path to renown. She was a considerable patron of other arts too, and the beginnings of ballet can be traced to her endowments and encouragement.

Back to Henri II and living longer. He was a vicious persecutor of Protestants, and Catherine as a practical matter was inclined to be more tolerant, though all efforts at accommodation failing due to the intransigence of Catholic and Protestant parties alike her long period of effective rule was stained by atrocities, the St Bartholomew's Day massacre being the most infamous of course. Ironically, it is possible to see a prolonging of Henri II's reign as averting the French Wars of Religion, or at least reducing their scale and impact. The Guises would have stayed on the sidelines and there would never have been the need to form a Catholic party as such, since the King was already doing all that they might.

And without the hope offered by Catherine's initial willingness to be reasonable and bargain, the Huguenot leaders might never have gotten into a position of enough strength for civil war to ignite, also as they would be facing an undivided establishment behind the King, rather than one fragmented between the Guises and the Queen Mother. That's one way things might have gone, anyway.
 
If Henry II had lived longer he probably wouldn't have allowed his daughter Marguerite to be married to Henry of Navarre. I wonder if he would have accepted marry her to the Duke of Guise, as she wished.
 
Henry II was still intolerant of the Huguenots so I still think there is a discontent simmering underneath the surface. Regarding the Duke of Guise, I doubt Henry II would allow the marriage. I know the Guises were a cadet branch of the House of Lorraine, but they were practically French noblemen and subjects. He'd probably seek out a grander match. Maybe one of the sons of the Holy Roman Emperor?
 
Henry II was still intolerant of the Huguenots so I still think there is a discontent simmering underneath the surface. Regarding the Duke of Guise, I doubt Henry II would allow the marriage. I know the Guises were a cadet branch of the House of Lorraine, but they were practically French noblemen and subjects. He'd probably seek out a grander match. Maybe one of the sons of the Holy Roman Emperor?

Before Henry of Navarre she was planned to marry Don Carlos, the son of Philip II of France, but since her sister Elisabeth married Philip I doubt it would happen. One candidate that pursued her hand a lot was king Sebastian of Portugal. IOTL Catherine de Medicis decided against it, maybe with Henry II alive he would accept the deal.
 
Gonzaga said:
Before Henry of Navarre she was planned to marry Don Carlos, the son of Philip II of France, but since her sister Elisabeth married Philip II doubt it would happen. One candidate that pursued her hand a lot was king Sebastian of Portugal. IOTL Catherine de Medicis decided against it, maybe with Henry II alive he would accept the deal.

Not so sure. Double marriage was seen as a way to strenghten alliances. They were few, but not uncommon in that era. Plus, Royal Families didn't always looked up at Consanguinity. There are plenty of Royal marriage who required a papal dispensiation because of consanguinity in History.

Now, it's true that the French would be more likely to marry Margaret to a possible ally against the Hapsburg : though Henri II would probably be more intransigeant than his wife in Religious matters, he would probably use a similar foreign policy agaisnt the Hapsburg "encirclement" (Spain+Austria).

In other words : double marriage could be to secure peace with Spain, while marrying Margaret to someone else would be seeking an ally against the Hapsburgs.
 
Not so sure. Double marriage was seen as a way to strenghten alliances. They were few, but not uncommon in that era. Plus, Royal Families didn't always looked up at Consanguinity. There are plenty of Royal marriage who required a papal dispensiation because of consanguinity in History.

Sure, but I mean that marrying Marguerite to the Spanish heir could be seen as a political waste. The Valois already had a connection with Madrid through Elisabeth, there wouldn't be a need for other Spanish marriage. Maybe an Austrian Habsburg would make more sense.

However, considering that Marguerite only married in 1572, she could actually become the fourth wife of Philip II himself, if her sister Elisabeth still dies in 1568 and both kings decide to keep the diplomatical ties.
 
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