James IV marries Cecily of York

Done on the recommendation of
@The Professor.

So, here's something I'm considering for a timeline, it's been noted that Edward IV had at one point considered betrothing his daughter Cecily of York to the future James IV of Scotland. For various reasons this marriage didn't go through, but what if it had?

One imagines that it would need to occur during Edward IV's reign, or perhaps during a brief interlude in his son's or brother's reign. Regardless, the marriage happens, James and Cecily are married. What happens next? Does Richard III attempt his coup and declare his brother's children illegititmate? If so, what happens when the Princes in the Tower go missing? Who does who side with? Does Tudor still make a claim for the throne? Does James III invade or is he too busy holding the fort down in Scotland?

If Tudor still claims the throne and somehow defeats Richard, what happens then?
 
There is a narrow scope for it to happen during her father's reign and for her to actually be in Scotland - the alliance was agreed in 74 when the future James IV was only a year old - it was unpopular and helped contribute to James III's domestic problems - given the ages it is hard for you to get Cecily to Scotland in that window - in 80 to 82 England and Scotland are often at war - in 82 Edward mounted a full invasion with James' brother Albany and Gloucester.
Best bet would be 82 - have James III die in battle or murdered - Albany becomes regent for James IV and a marriage treaty is forced on the Scots as a peace settlement - Cecily being of age is sent north despite the fact James is only 9 to ensure the Scots cant back out of the deal.
Assuming Richard III happens as in OTL - and given the mess Scotland is in they are unlikely in the short term to do anything - if Tudor still invades and wins then he might get Scots help in addition to that of France - he marries Elizabeth of York as in otl - and James nearly of age decides to renegotiate the terms of his betrothal to Cecily before marrying her in 88.
 
There is a narrow scope for it to happen during her father's reign and for her to actually be in Scotland - the alliance was agreed in 74 when the future James IV was only a year old - it was unpopular and helped contribute to James III's domestic problems - given the ages it is hard for you to get Cecily to Scotland in that window - in 80 to 82 England and Scotland are often at war - in 82 Edward mounted a full invasion with James' brother Albany and Gloucester.
Best bet would be 82 - have James III die in battle or murdered - Albany becomes regent for James IV and a marriage treaty is forced on the Scots as a peace settlement - Cecily being of age is sent north despite the fact James is only 9 to ensure the Scots cant back out of the deal.
Assuming Richard III happens as in OTL - and given the mess Scotland is in they are unlikely in the short term to do anything - if Tudor still invades and wins then he might get Scots help in addition to that of France - he marries Elizabeth of York as in otl - and James nearly of age decides to renegotiate the terms of his betrothal to Cecily before marrying her in 88.
Alright that sounds good to me. And then what happens if Henry, Elisabeth, and their children die during the 1490s?
 
Lol - James IV invades demanding the throne - whilst the English proclaim the Earl of Warwick who suddenly finds himself betrothed to one of the younger unmarried York girls lol (Anne of York married Howard in 95, Catherine married Courtenay around the same time.
 
Lol - James IV invades demanding the throne - whilst the English proclaim the Earl of Warwick who suddenly finds himself betrothed to one of the younger unmarried York girls lol (Anne of York married Howard in 95, Catherine married Courtenay around the same time.
Alrighty, and if this is after Warwick has been executed?
 
You've obviously got a plan so maybe the best way is to state the objective and then see if there are any major obstacles?

If Warwick dies then his sister, Margaret Countess of Salisbury is still alive and so are the various de la Poles offspring. I would think there would be a strong faction supporting their claim over a foreign king. Plus there are the usual pretenders of the princes in the tower such as Simnal and Warbeck (and their probable imitators).

In the chaos even Stanley, Earl of Derby may get involved as Kingmaker or perhaps the Courtenays from Devon will press a claim from Catherine, Cecily's younger sister.
 
You've obviously got a plan so maybe the best way is to state the objective and then see if there are any major obstacles?

If Warwick dies then his sister, Margaret Countess of Salisbury is still alive and so are the various de la Poles offspring. I would think there would be a strong faction supporting their claim over a foreign king. Plus there are the usual pretenders of the princes in the tower such as Simnal and Warbeck (and their probable imitators).

In the chaos even Stanley, Earl of Derby may get involved as Kingmaker or perhaps the Courtenays from Devon will press a claim from Catherine, Cecily's younger sister.

So the objective is to get the Stewarts on the throne by the late 1490s, early 1500s.

James IV is to be married to Cecily of York, and their eldest son is to be recognised as Prince of Wales.

Henry VII, Elizabeth of York, Arthur, Henry, Mary and Margaret are to be dead by the mid 1490s

Edward, Earl of Warwick can either be alive or be dead by the time the last of the Tudors goes.
 
You could have an invasion circa 1490, and have a son of James and Cecily marry Margaret Tudor, thereby marrying the elder sister's claims with the younger sister's position. Arthur is quietly killed or sent to be the son of a baker, either way he's gone. Henry Tudor is dead and Elizabeth of York is privately told she's a nun now. The Stewarts have all the English claims in their hands, because I imagine the Earl of Warwick is dead.
 
You could have an invasion circa 1490, and have a son of James and Cecily marry Margaret Tudor, thereby marrying the elder sister's claims with the younger sister's position. Arthur is quietly killed or sent to be the son of a baker, either way he's gone. Henry Tudor is dead and Elizabeth of York is privately told she's a nun now. The Stewarts have all the English claims in their hands, because I imagine the Earl of Warwick is dead.
Alrighty, that works also. I imagine James will have to bribe various officials also
 
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