Just having watched THE MADNESS OF HENRY VIII on the National Geographic Channel last night, a POD occurred to me.
Henry VIII, during his frustrated attempts to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon, often flew into great rages. One especially notable one took place after the failure of the trial at the Black Friars Convent in June 1529, where Catherine ably defended herself from Henry's attacks on her and Henry was defied by John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, when Henry attempted to introduce a petition bearing Fisher's forged signature in support of his case against Catherine. Let's suppose that, during this particular rant, Henry suffers a stroke as a blood vessel in his brain bursts. He collapses to the floor, is carried away to his palace, and is pronounced dead the next morning.
Catherine of Aragon is now Regent of England, on behalf of her young daughter, Mary. Catherine had ruled ably as regent once before, when the King went to war against France in 1513, including repelling an invasion by the Scots. She was immensely popular with the people, and would probably be a good ruler. Several obvious consequences come immediately to mind.
--The marriage of Henry to Anne Boleyn has never happened, so no Elizabeth Tudor to later become Good Queen Bess.
--No break with the Catholic Church.
--Mary doesn't suffer years of abuse by Henry, and so has a much less vindictive and suspicious personality. She does not go down in history as a bloody tyrant, and may even be a much beloved ruler.
Some interesting questions...
--Who does Mary marry? My own thought is that it will not be Phillip of Spain. Who would be the other logical candidates?
--Will there be a legitmate heir? She had no children in OTL, but in OTL she didn't marry until she was 38 years old, and then died 4 years later...she didn't have much of a window of opportunity.
Thoughts?
Henry VIII, during his frustrated attempts to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon, often flew into great rages. One especially notable one took place after the failure of the trial at the Black Friars Convent in June 1529, where Catherine ably defended herself from Henry's attacks on her and Henry was defied by John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, when Henry attempted to introduce a petition bearing Fisher's forged signature in support of his case against Catherine. Let's suppose that, during this particular rant, Henry suffers a stroke as a blood vessel in his brain bursts. He collapses to the floor, is carried away to his palace, and is pronounced dead the next morning.
Catherine of Aragon is now Regent of England, on behalf of her young daughter, Mary. Catherine had ruled ably as regent once before, when the King went to war against France in 1513, including repelling an invasion by the Scots. She was immensely popular with the people, and would probably be a good ruler. Several obvious consequences come immediately to mind.
--The marriage of Henry to Anne Boleyn has never happened, so no Elizabeth Tudor to later become Good Queen Bess.
--No break with the Catholic Church.
--Mary doesn't suffer years of abuse by Henry, and so has a much less vindictive and suspicious personality. She does not go down in history as a bloody tyrant, and may even be a much beloved ruler.
Some interesting questions...
--Who does Mary marry? My own thought is that it will not be Phillip of Spain. Who would be the other logical candidates?
--Will there be a legitmate heir? She had no children in OTL, but in OTL she didn't marry until she was 38 years old, and then died 4 years later...she didn't have much of a window of opportunity.
Thoughts?
