The Queen from Cleves
So, this idea came about after a convo with
@VVD0D95 and others, where we discussed how otl's Elizabeth I could marry Philip II of Spain, but I wanted to take things a bit further and spare some of the people near Henry from some of their sorrows. His marriage to Anne of Cleves being happier leads to this ttl (along with some other butterflies). As I worked on it, I noticed that my planned matches all had opposite religions marry, so I ended up trying to make that happen with the other children's matches. This led to Arch-Catholic Mary marrying Protestant Philip, Protestant Elizabeth marrying Arch-Catholic Philip II, Arch-Protestant Edward VI having an affair with the Catholic leaning Thomas Wriothesley's daughter, Protestant William marrying the Catholic Elisabeth of France and Mary, Queen of Scots and more Catholic leaning Catherine FitzRoy marrying the Protestant leading Edward Seymour (I assume that she is more religiously aligned to the Howards)
@VVD0D95 @FalconHonour @BlueFlowwer @The_Most_Happy @Kellan Sullivan @TheBeanieBaron @RedKing
Henry VIII (1491-1549)*1 m1) Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536), had affair w. Elizabeth “Bessie” Blount (1498-1540), m2) Anne Boleyn (1501-1536), m3) Jane Seymour (1508-1537), m4) Anne of Cleves (1515-1562)*2, had affair w. Catherine Howard (1524-1562)*3 Had Issue by all six
1.
Henry, Duke of Cornwall (b. and d. 1511)
2.
Mary, Duchess of Palatinate-Neuburg (1516-1561) m. Philip, Duke of Palatinate-Neuburg (1503-1551) in 1540 - Had Issue*4
2a) Heinrich, Elector Palatinate (b. 1541)
2b) Katharina (b. 1543)
2c) Miscarriage (1544)
2d) Maria (1547-1548)
2e) Ludwig, Duke of Palatinate-Neuburg (b. 1550)
3.
Henry “FitzRoy”, Duke of Richmond and Somerset (1519-1536) m. Mary Howard (1519-1557) in 1533 - No Issue
4.
Elizabeth, Queen of Spain (1533-1603) m. Philip II of Spain (1527-1598) in 1549 - Had Issue*5
4a) Fernando VI, King of Spain (b. 1550)
4b) Isabella (b. 1552)
4c) Miscarriage (1553)
4d) Carlos, Duke of Burgundy (b. 1556)
4e) Maria (b. and d. 1558)
4f) Juana (b. 1561)
4g) Stillborn Son (b. 1563)
4h) Felipe (b. 1565 d. 1569)
4i) Ana (b. 1567)
4j) Enrique, Duke of Milan (b. 1569)
5.
Edward VI of England (1537-1558) had affair w. Katherine Wriothesley (b. 1539) - Had Issue*6
5a) Jane “FitzRoy” (b. 1557)
6.
William III and II of England and Scotland (1540-1598) m1. Elisabeth of France (1545-1561) in 1559,*7 m2. Mary, Queen of Scots (1542-1598) in 1561*8 - Had Issue by both
6a) Elizabeth (b. and d. 1561) - Twin of Anne
6b) Anne (b. 1561) - Twin of Elizabeth
6c) Mary (b. 1562)
6d) Arthur I of Albion (b. 1564)
6e) Amelia (b. 1566)
6f) Margaret (b. 1568 d. 1569)
6g) Henry, Duke of York and Albany (b. 1571 d. 1580)
6h) James, Duke of Somerset and Ross (b. and d. 1572)
6i) William, Duke of Somerset and Ross (b. 1574)
6j) Sybille (b. 1576 d. 1578)
6k) Matilda (b. 1577)
7.
Catherine “FitzRoy”, Marchioness of Hertford (1542-1604) m. Edward Seymour, 1st Marquess of Hertford (1539-1621) in 1560*9 - Had Issue
7a) Henry, Viscount Beauchamp (b. 1561 d. 1568)
7b) Mary (b. 1563)
7c) Stillborn Daughter (1564)
7d) William, 2nd Marquess of Hertford (b. 1566)
7e) Catherine (b. 1568)
7f) Stillborn Son (1569)
7g) Edward (b. and d. 1571)
7h) John, Baron Seymour (b. 1572)
7i) Miscarriage (1573)
7j) Jane (b. 1575)
7k) Thomas (b. 1578)
7l) Anne (b. 1580)
*1 Henry VIII lives a little longer ttl. Let's chalk it up to him having a bit better of a domestic life
*2 Henry sucks it up and consummates the marriage to Anne of Cleves on their wedding night. They manage to conceive and 9 months later, Anne gives birth to a Duke of York. Her pregnancy convinces Henry to stay married to her, and they end up having a harmonious relationship. They have no more children though. She is spared the cancer that killed her otl and dies in 1562 under the smallpox epidemic ironically like her husband's mistress.
*3 Henry has his affair with Catherine like otl, but ttl she remains his mistress and never becomes queen. Their relationship ends around the time she gives birth.
*4 With his marriage to Anne of Cleves being better, and with another child on the way, Henry allows Philip's suit and they marry
*5 A big one - England and Spain was trying for a stronger alliance in the 1540s and with Henry having two sons he engages Elizabeth to Philip for a Spanish alliance. He lives just long enough for the marriage to go through so arch-Protestant Edward VI doesn't get the chance to break it. Despite her Protestantism, Philip ends up falling for her, and Elizabeth helps turn Philip away from his worst Catholic impulses and the Dutch revolt is avoided for long enough that their second son can become ruler of Burgundy
*6 Edward lives longer ttl. Let's chalk it up to him having a brother so less pressure on him? He survives tb but is still weakened by it and dies in the 1558 flu epidemic. Before his death he has an affair with Thomas Wriothesley's daughter and they have an illegitimate daughter together
*7 Elisabeth is originally bethrothed to Edward VI like otl, and after his death, his bethrothal to Elisabeth of France is continued by his brother, William. Elisabeth sadly dies young after giving birth to twins
*8 After Francis' death, Mary returns to the British Isles, but bad weather means that her ship has to dock in England. Here she is "politely escorted" to London where she marries the widowed William III. The chance of uniting Scotland with England is too important to let William remain in widowhood. The marriage luckily turns into a lovematch for both parties despite the religious differences
*9 The ambitious Seymours strike again. Catherine becomes smitten with Edward, and he marries the king's illegitimate half sister in an attempt to raise his family's position again. While he doesn't become a duke like his father, his title is elevated to a marquessate