Henry III of France has a son?

Henry III of France was the last Valois King of France and reigned during the French Wars of Religion. He is often referred to as the most capable son of Henry II and Catherine de'Medici. He was in his youth a successful general, defeating a large Protestant army at Jarnec in 1569 and considered a hardline Catholic during this period. During much of his reign, however, Henry associated himself with favorites that were associated with the Politique movement, which advocated that only a Strong and Powerful religiously moderate King could bring peace and order to France. For much of Henry's reign his younger brother and presumptive heir Francis, Duke of Alencon sought to undermine his brothers authority. The Duke of Alencon's position at court was strengthened by Henry's lack of a male heir. In 1584, The Duke of Alencon fell ill and died leaving the distant cousin and Protestant Henry of Navarre as heir.

In the months immediately following the Duke of Alencon's death, a number of leading nobles and courts favorites pressured Henry to divorce his wife Louise of Lorraine, who many believed as sterile following a miscarriage in 1576. If Henry had listened to their requests and divorced his wife, who would be some leading candidates to become his main consort?

Assuming Henry III lives longer and has a son that will eventually succeed him what effect would a surviving House of Valois have on the French Wars of Religions and the development of the French Monarchy?
 
Well, if Louise DOESN'T miscarry in 1576 and instead delivers a bouncing baby boy, it might do wonders for France. Having a rebellious Catholic brother and then a loyal-rebellious-loyal-you see where I'm going with this first Protestant-Catholic-Protestant-Catholic distant cousin as your heir doesn't necessarily make for great stability.

That said, perhaps Anna Vasa or Elisabeth Vasa of Sweden. The latter WAS considered and the former could take her aunt (Queen Anna I)'s place. Another candidate could be Catherine de Bourbon of Navarre. OTL she was offered for Alençon, but I see no reason she can't be matched with Henri instead.

However, besides an Italian princess (maybe Eleonora de Medici, Anna Caterina Gonzaga or Margherita Farnese), Henri's premier Catholic candidates are going to be his nieces (a Lorrainer or Spanish princess), a Wittelsbach (Maximiliana Maria of Bavaria) or a Habsburg archduchess.
 
I think your best marriage option would be Henry's Spanish nieces: Isabella Clara Eugenia or Catherine Michelle.

Isabella would be the more ideal match of the two as her political and intellectual leanings are similar to Henry and she ruled like a Politique in the Netherlands so its likely that this match would be happy. The only problem is that Isabella is already betrothed to Rudolf II of the HRE and that she produced no children in OTL.

Catherine likewise was described as beautiful, intelligent, arrogant and aware of her social status. Ironically these are some similar traits used to describe Henry himself. Even more important is that Catherine produced 10 children in her marriage to Charles Emmanuel of Savoy.


An added bonus of Henry marrying one of these two princesses is that they have the potential of robbing the Catholic League of their Spanish Patronage as it was Spanish Gold that enabled them originally to pose such a threat to Henry III's reign.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infanta_Catherine_Michelle_of_Spain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_Clara_Eugenia
 
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