Henry V of England

What would his reign have been like had the French invasions never occured? Was the war with France even necessary? Alternate marriages if not Catherine of France?
 
If Henry V had invaded France, he probably would have focused on establishing English control over the whole of Ireland. Henry may have attempted the pacification of Wales and used his prisoner James I of Scotland to maintain some level of peace on his northern border. At the beginning of his reign, England was in the middle of a 28 year truce with France that was not due to expire until 1424. Even if Henry had not invaded France, he would have been still been obliged to defend the remaining English territories in France. So peace would have depended on the attitude of the French. In OTL, there were war parties in both kingdoms who wanted to restart the war.

As for if the war with France was necessary, it would depend or whether or not Henry V could control the war party in England clamoring for war. In OTL, the war party was a factor in the overthrow of Richard II, who wanted peace with France. Henry IV was able to use the war party to secure his ascension to the throne. The war party looked upon the House of Lancaster as a dynasty that would actively war with France. Also a successful invasion of France was considered by many in England as the only way to achieve a beneficial peace.

In OTL, Henry V extended an offer of marriage to Isabella of Portugal (the future wife of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy) but the negotiations did not go anywhere. Perhaps in this TTL, Henry is more persistent in his negotiations and marries Isabella, which would butterfly away Charles the Bold.
 
I see him trying to solidify England's position in the British Isles. A conquest of Ireland is quite probable, but so is an invasion of Scotland like Edward III's. Edward was really quite close to conquering Scotland before the war with France started. After its' failure, Edward III's puppet king Edward Balliol resigned his claim to Edward III. I could easily see Henry V reviving this claim and then conquering Scotland.
Another direction his reign might take would be negotiating with the various French factions to be restored a larger part of Aquitaine. He made a treaty to this effect before the Agincourt campaign, and I could potentially see it be accepted in return for Henry staying out of the French civil war. This would give Henry a lot more resources in southern France to take advantage of for his British conquests.
As for a wife, Isabel of Portugal is possible, or another French bride. It would be great to see Henry V have a competent son instead of the idiot Henry VI. In this scenario, the Wars of the Roses could be avoided and the House of Lancaster could retain the English throne for centuries.
Scipio
 
I think a Marriage with Blanche of Navarre might do wonders for Henry V because his progeny will be more senior cognate descendants of the last senior Capets than the Valois and the war can be delayed and gain Navarre as well and his ITTL son might marry Isabella of Armagnac if she is not butterflied.
 
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