That's quite not what is stated, it's not "seven children, but only five - four boys and one girl - survived to adulthood", it's ...
List of monarchs III
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That's quite not what is stated, it's not "seven children, but only five - four boys and one girl - survived to adulthood", it's ...
Yeah, I think the hyphen's in the wrong place. It's meant to be what you first said. It's a simple typo, no more, no less
Augusta I of Canada (1768-1810), r. 1789-1810, m. Lord Charles Fitzroy
- 1) Charles I of Canada (1790-1814, r. 1810-1812, didn’t marry
- 2) William I of Canada (1792-1867), r. 1812-1867, m. 1814, Princess Caroline of Denmark (1793-1881)
- 1) Charles I of Canada (1790-1814, r. 1810-1812, didn’t marry
- 2) William I of Canada (1792-1867), r. 1812-1867, m. 1814, Princess Caroline of Denmark (1793-1881)
a) Charles II of Canada (1816-1888), r. 1867-1888, m. 1845, Princess Françoise of Orleans (1816-1898)
- 1) William II of Canada (1846-1929), r. 1888-1929, m. Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom (1840-1901)
a) Five children (4 sons and 1 daughter), with two others dying before reaching adulthood
- 2) Eight other children (4 sons and 5 daughters)
b) Six other children (4 sons and 3 daughters)
- 3) Two other sonsIt was a typo sorry about that.
Depends on the next claimant. It didn't happen during William II's era because when Franz Ferdinand died, Germany didn't help Austria in pressuring Serbia. This was because OTL Princess Victoria was the mother to Kaiser Willhelm II whereas in this TL she is married to William II, thus the Kaiser wasn't born and a more level-headed Kaiser took the throne.
However the world is still a powder keg and just needs another trigger.
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I am assuming also that Canada doesn't have that many overseas colonial holdings if at all, and is not actively invovled in the alliance system that enveloped Europe at this time.
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Yep. What happens in Europe doesn't affect Canada. If WW1 starts, unless Canada is directly attacked, all's good.
POD: "Edward the Confessor had always hoped to have an heir by Edith of Wessex ..."
No Wars - Civil, of Succession, or World
Kings of England
1042 to 1066 : Edward the Confessor
1066 to 1088 : Aethelred III (House of Wessex) (i)
(i) Aethelred III was born in 1051, at the point where his parents had begun to consider that they might have to look elsewhere for an heir and Edward the Confessors brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson, had attempted to position himself to be that heir. Aethelred was named after his grandfather, Aethelred the Unready, and from shortly after his birth, engaged to his cousin, Margaret, granddaughter of his dead uncle, Edmund Ironside. His maternal uncle, Harold, attempted to convince the Witenagemot to displace Aethelred as King in 1066 as Aethelred was only 15, citing the precedence of the children of Edmund Ironside being passed over in favour of Edward the Confessor.
Aethelreds claim was solidified by his marriage, her brother Edgar had been persuaded to abdicate his own claim and he was only fourteen, making Margaret the senior claimant though a woman. The Witenagemot recognised Margaret as Lady Protectoress for the first two years of her husband's reign as she was six years Aethelreds senior. By 1070, Aethelred and Margaret had produced three sons, and would have five more children before Aethelred died in 1088 at the age of 37.
William of Normandy who had been courted as a possible heir should Aethelred have died without issue had turned to King Malcolm of Scotland and had undertaken an invasion via England's northern borders. By 1076, William could be said to safely hold Northumbria and as such had styled himself as King of Northumbria. To counter this presence, Aethelred and Edith married their eldest son to Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William Normandy by his wife, Matilda, and their other sons to equally advantageous matches. By the time that Aethelred III died, he had become a grandfather.
He was succeeded by ............
No Wars - Civil, of Succession, or World
Kings of England
1042 to 1066 : Edward the Confessor
1066 to 1088 : Aethelred III (House of Wessex) (i)
(i) Aethelred III was born in 1051, at the point where his parents had begun to consider that they might have to look elsewhere for an heir and Edward the Confessors brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson, had attempted to position himself to be that heir. Aethelred was named after his grandfather, Aethelred the Unready, and from shortly after his birth, engaged to his cousin, Margaret, granddaughter of his dead uncle, Edmund Ironside. His maternal uncle, Harold, attempted to convince the Witenagemot to displace Aethelred as King in 1066 as Aethelred was only 15, citing the precedence of the children of Edmund Ironside being passed over in favour of Edward the Confessor.
Aethelreds claim was solidified by his marriage, her brother Edgar had been persuaded to abdicate his own claim and he was only fourteen, making Margaret the senior claimant though a woman. The Witenagemot recognised Margaret as Lady Protectoress for the first two years of her husband's reign as she was six years Aethelreds senior. By 1070, Aethelred and Margaret had produced three sons, and would have five more children before Aethelred died in 1088 at the age of 37.
William of Normandy who had been courted as a possible heir should Aethelred have died without issue had turned to King Malcolm of Scotland and had undertaken an invasion via England's northern borders. By 1076, William could be said to safely hold Northumbria and as such had styled himself as King of Northumbria. To counter this presence, Aethelred and Edith married their eldest son to Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William Normandy by his wife, Matilda, and their other sons to equally advantageous matches. By the time that Aethelred III died, he had become a grandfather.
He was succeeded by ............
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POD: "Edward the Confessor had always hoped to have an heir by Edith of Wessex ..."
No Wars - Civil, of Succession, or World
Kings of England
1042-1066 : Edward the Confessor
1066-1088 : Aethelred III (House of Wessex) [1]
1088-1129: Edward the Affable (House of Wessex) [2]
(i) Aethelred III was born in 1051, at the point where his parents had begun to consider that they might have to look elsewhere for an heir and Edward the Confessors brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson, had attempted to position himself to be that heir. Aethelred was named after his grandfather, Aethelred the Unready, and from shortly after his birth, engaged to his cousin, Margaret, granddaughter of his dead uncle, Edmund Ironside. His maternal uncle, Harold, attempted to convince the Witenagemot to displace Aethelred as King in 1066 as Aethelred was only 15, citing the precedence of the children of Edmund Ironside being passed over in favour of Edward the Confessor.
Aethelreds claim was solidified by his marriage, her brother Edgar had been persuaded to abdicate his own claim and he was only fourteen, making Margaret the senior claimant though a woman. The Witenagemot recognised Margaret as Lady Protectoress for the first two years of her husband's reign as she was six years Aethelreds senior. By 1070, Aethelred and Margaret had produced three sons, and would have five more children before Aethelred died in 1088 at the age of 37.
William of Normandy who had been courted as a possible heir should Aethelred have died without issue had turned to King Malcolm of Scotland and had undertaken an invasion via England's northern borders. By 1076, William could be said to safely hold Northumbria and as such had styled himself as King of Northumbria. To counter this presence, Aethelred and Edith married their eldest son to Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William Normandy by his wife, Matilda, and their other sons to equally advantageous matches. By the time that Aethelred III died, he had become a grandfather.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward Ætheling.
[2] Edward, was born in 1067, a year after his father took the throne. Named after both his grandfathers, Edward the Confessor and Edward the Exile.
Growing up in his father’s court, Edward would usually be found shadowing the Chancellor, assisting in Domestic Affairs, (such as hosting dignitaries) or discussing foreign affairs.
He married in 1086, to his betroth, Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William, King of Northumbria and Duke of Normandy. The wedding was well attended by nobility across the English isles and a few nobility in North Western Europe, due to the young heirs friendliness with many barons, earls, dukes and even a few kings.
Upon his fathers death in 1088, 21 year old, Edward was the unquestionably favourite of the Witenagemot, especially with William II King of Northumbria, fighting with his brother, Robert II, Duke of Normandy following the death of their father, William the Bastard, a year earlier.
The fourth of his name, his epithet came from his friendly diplomatic personality as well as his famous saying at court, being “One can never have too many friends, wether near or far.” This he formed with marriages, military alliances and titles to his loyal subjects.
Together with Gertrude of Flanders, they had nine children, although only two sons, King Edward would use his seven daughters to arrange good marriages. His eldest daughter, Margaret was married to Prince Henry Salian of Germany, later Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor.
These alliances allowed for him to keep the peace in England, creating a prosperous nation through the increase trade, well manned farmland and full control in the counties, with the few military enlisted serving to squash any rebellious spirits and warding off any raiders.
His death in early January 1129, at the age of 62, is attributed to exhaustion following the king hosting a Christmas feast lasting two weeks. He was succeeded by ____________.
No Wars - Civil, of Succession, or World
Kings of England
1042-1066 : Edward the Confessor
1066-1088 : Aethelred III (House of Wessex) [1]
1088-1129: Edward the Affable (House of Wessex) [2]
(i) Aethelred III was born in 1051, at the point where his parents had begun to consider that they might have to look elsewhere for an heir and Edward the Confessors brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson, had attempted to position himself to be that heir. Aethelred was named after his grandfather, Aethelred the Unready, and from shortly after his birth, engaged to his cousin, Margaret, granddaughter of his dead uncle, Edmund Ironside. His maternal uncle, Harold, attempted to convince the Witenagemot to displace Aethelred as King in 1066 as Aethelred was only 15, citing the precedence of the children of Edmund Ironside being passed over in favour of Edward the Confessor.
Aethelreds claim was solidified by his marriage, her brother Edgar had been persuaded to abdicate his own claim and he was only fourteen, making Margaret the senior claimant though a woman. The Witenagemot recognised Margaret as Lady Protectoress for the first two years of her husband's reign as she was six years Aethelreds senior. By 1070, Aethelred and Margaret had produced three sons, and would have five more children before Aethelred died in 1088 at the age of 37.
William of Normandy who had been courted as a possible heir should Aethelred have died without issue had turned to King Malcolm of Scotland and had undertaken an invasion via England's northern borders. By 1076, William could be said to safely hold Northumbria and as such had styled himself as King of Northumbria. To counter this presence, Aethelred and Edith married their eldest son to Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William Normandy by his wife, Matilda, and their other sons to equally advantageous matches. By the time that Aethelred III died, he had become a grandfather.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward Ætheling.
[2] Edward, was born in 1067, a year after his father took the throne. Named after both his grandfathers, Edward the Confessor and Edward the Exile.
Growing up in his father’s court, Edward would usually be found shadowing the Chancellor, assisting in Domestic Affairs, (such as hosting dignitaries) or discussing foreign affairs.
He married in 1086, to his betroth, Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William, King of Northumbria and Duke of Normandy. The wedding was well attended by nobility across the English isles and a few nobility in North Western Europe, due to the young heirs friendliness with many barons, earls, dukes and even a few kings.
Upon his fathers death in 1088, 21 year old, Edward was the unquestionably favourite of the Witenagemot, especially with William II King of Northumbria, fighting with his brother, Robert II, Duke of Normandy following the death of their father, William the Bastard, a year earlier.
The fourth of his name, his epithet came from his friendly diplomatic personality as well as his famous saying at court, being “One can never have too many friends, wether near or far.” This he formed with marriages, military alliances and titles to his loyal subjects.
Together with Gertrude of Flanders, they had nine children, although only two sons, King Edward would use his seven daughters to arrange good marriages. His eldest daughter, Margaret was married to Prince Henry Salian of Germany, later Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor.
These alliances allowed for him to keep the peace in England, creating a prosperous nation through the increase trade, well manned farmland and full control in the counties, with the few military enlisted serving to squash any rebellious spirits and warding off any raiders.
His death in early January 1129, at the age of 62, is attributed to exhaustion following the king hosting a Christmas feast lasting two weeks. He was succeeded by ____________.
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This only shows those figures relevant to the TL thus far -
Aethelred (II) the Unready, b. 966, r. 978 to 1013, d. 1016, m1. Aelfgifu of York, m2. Emma of Normandy
Aethelred (II) the Unready, b. 966, r. 978 to 1013, d. 1016, m1. Aelfgifu of York, m2. Emma of Normandy
1a)
1b) Edmund (II) Ironside, b. 990, r. Early to Late 1016, m. Edith (of unrecorded provenance)
a) Edward the Exile, b. 1016 to 1057, m. Agatha (of unrecorded provenance)
1) Margaret of Wessex, b. 1046, m. Aethelred III
x) see below for line of Margaret
2) Edgar Aethling, b. 1052, abdicated claim to English throne upon his sisters marriage
3) Christina of Wessex, b. pre. 1057
b) Edmund Aethling b. 1015, d. 1054, m. Hedwig of Hungary, no reported legitimate issue
2k) Edward (III) the Confessor, b. 1003, r. 1043 to 1066, m. Edith Godwinson of Wessex
a) Aethelred III, b. 1051, d. 1088, m. Margaret of Wessex, briefly Lady Protectoress of England (b. 1045)
1) Edward (IV) the Affable, b. 1067, r. 1088 to 1129, m. Gertrude of Flanders
a) Margaret of Wessex, b. 10XX, m. Henry V (Salian), Holy Roman Emperor
x) eight further children including two sons
x) seven other children, including at least two other sons
POD: "Edward the Confessor had always hoped to have an heir by Edith of Wessex ..."
No Wars - Civil, of Succession, or World
Kings of England
1042-1066 : Edward the Confessor
1066-1088 : Aethelred III (House of Wessex) [1]
1088-1129: Edward the Affable (House of Wessex) [2]
1129-1184: Edgar II (House of Wessex) [3]
[3]
Edgar was the firstborn of Edward and Gertrude, being born in 1090. A fiery and hot-tempered man with a deeply cruel streak, he was not well-loved by his siblings and even terrified his parents. Unfortunately nothing would stop him from succeeding, except for death, but he was strong and healthy unlike his little brother (and for that exact reason the younger prince was "encouraged" to enter the church). When he succeeded as king, he was already a widower and with seven male heirs from his late wife. He even had two grandsons while serving as heir apparent.
Under his rule he continued his father's foreign policies, however he was not a diplomatic man and often offended foreign monarchs. This once resulted in an invasion, which luckily he crushed, but his popularity was not so high afterwards. His second marriage to a governess of his daughter caused widespread scandal as it was viewed as a bad alliance, since she was greatly beautiful but came from minor nobility with no great estates. He was not like his father in character, though, and cared little for friendships. Instead he often challenged some of his strongest male subjects to physical fights up until he once fell and cracked his spine which paralyzed him
In his old age he traveled across his domains performing some public charity, leaving his heir as regent. But his temper was as bad as ever, and after starting a fight which he could not win, he died of his injuries and was succeeded by ___
No Wars - Civil, of Succession, or World
Kings of England
1042-1066 : Edward the Confessor
1066-1088 : Aethelred III (House of Wessex) [1]
1088-1129: Edward the Affable (House of Wessex) [2]
1129-1184: Edgar II (House of Wessex) [3]
(i) Aethelred III was born in 1051, at the point where his parents had begun to consider that they might have to look elsewhere for an heir and Edward the Confessors brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson, had attempted to position himself to be that heir. Aethelred was named after his grandfather, Aethelred the Unready, and from shortly after his birth, engaged to his cousin, Margaret, granddaughter of his dead uncle, Edmund Ironside. His maternal uncle, Harold, attempted to convince the Witenagemot to displace Aethelred as King in 1066 as Aethelred was only 15, citing the precedence of the children of Edmund Ironside being passed over in favour of Edward the Confessor.
Aethelreds claim was solidified by his marriage, her brother Edgar had been persuaded to abdicate his own claim and he was only fourteen, making Margaret the senior claimant though a woman. The Witenagemot recognised Margaret as Lady Protectoress for the first two years of her husband's reign as she was six years Aethelreds senior. By 1070, Aethelred and Margaret had produced three sons, and would have five more children before Aethelred died in 1088 at the age of 37.
William of Normandy who had been courted as a possible heir should Aethelred have died without issue had turned to King Malcolm of Scotland and had undertaken an invasion via England's northern borders. By 1076, William could be said to safely hold Northumbria and as such had styled himself as King of Northumbria. To counter this presence, Aethelred and Edith married their eldest son to Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William Normandy by his wife, Matilda, and their other sons to equally advantageous matches. By the time that Aethelred III died, he had become a grandfather.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward Ætheling.
[2] Edward, was born in 1067, a year after his father took the throne. Named after both his grandfathers, Edward the Confessor and Edward the Exile.
Growing up in his father’s court, Edward would usually be found shadowing the Chancellor, assisting in Domestic Affairs, (such as hosting dignitaries) or discussing foreign affairs.
He married in 1086, to his betroth, Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William, King of Northumbria and Duke of Normandy. The wedding was well attended by nobility across the English isles and a few nobility in North Western Europe, due to the young heirs friendliness with many barons, earls, dukes and even a few kings.
Upon his fathers death in 1088, 21 year old, Edward was the unquestionably favourite of the Witenagemot, especially with William II King of Northumbria, fighting with his brother, Robert II, Duke of Normandy following the death of their father, William the Bastard, a year earlier.
The fourth of his name, his epithet came from his friendly diplomatic personality as well as his famous saying at court, being “One can never have too many friends, wether near or far.” This he formed with marriages, military alliances and titles to his loyal subjects.
Together with Gertrude of Flanders, they had nine children, although only two sons, King Edward would use his seven daughters to arrange good marriages. His eldest daughter, Margaret was married to Prince Henry Salian of Germany, later Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor.
These alliances allowed for him to keep the peace in England, creating a prosperous nation through the increase trade, well manned farmland and full control in the counties, with the few military enlisted serving to squash any rebellious spirits and warding off any raiders.
His death in early January 1129, at the age of 62, is attributed to exhaustion following the king hosting a Christmas feast lasting two weeks. He was succeeded by ____________.
Aethelreds claim was solidified by his marriage, her brother Edgar had been persuaded to abdicate his own claim and he was only fourteen, making Margaret the senior claimant though a woman. The Witenagemot recognised Margaret as Lady Protectoress for the first two years of her husband's reign as she was six years Aethelreds senior. By 1070, Aethelred and Margaret had produced three sons, and would have five more children before Aethelred died in 1088 at the age of 37.
William of Normandy who had been courted as a possible heir should Aethelred have died without issue had turned to King Malcolm of Scotland and had undertaken an invasion via England's northern borders. By 1076, William could be said to safely hold Northumbria and as such had styled himself as King of Northumbria. To counter this presence, Aethelred and Edith married their eldest son to Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William Normandy by his wife, Matilda, and their other sons to equally advantageous matches. By the time that Aethelred III died, he had become a grandfather.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward Ætheling.
[2] Edward, was born in 1067, a year after his father took the throne. Named after both his grandfathers, Edward the Confessor and Edward the Exile.
Growing up in his father’s court, Edward would usually be found shadowing the Chancellor, assisting in Domestic Affairs, (such as hosting dignitaries) or discussing foreign affairs.
He married in 1086, to his betroth, Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William, King of Northumbria and Duke of Normandy. The wedding was well attended by nobility across the English isles and a few nobility in North Western Europe, due to the young heirs friendliness with many barons, earls, dukes and even a few kings.
Upon his fathers death in 1088, 21 year old, Edward was the unquestionably favourite of the Witenagemot, especially with William II King of Northumbria, fighting with his brother, Robert II, Duke of Normandy following the death of their father, William the Bastard, a year earlier.
The fourth of his name, his epithet came from his friendly diplomatic personality as well as his famous saying at court, being “One can never have too many friends, wether near or far.” This he formed with marriages, military alliances and titles to his loyal subjects.
Together with Gertrude of Flanders, they had nine children, although only two sons, King Edward would use his seven daughters to arrange good marriages. His eldest daughter, Margaret was married to Prince Henry Salian of Germany, later Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor.
These alliances allowed for him to keep the peace in England, creating a prosperous nation through the increase trade, well manned farmland and full control in the counties, with the few military enlisted serving to squash any rebellious spirits and warding off any raiders.
His death in early January 1129, at the age of 62, is attributed to exhaustion following the king hosting a Christmas feast lasting two weeks. He was succeeded by ____________.
[3]
Edgar was the firstborn of Edward and Gertrude, being born in 1090. A fiery and hot-tempered man with a deeply cruel streak, he was not well-loved by his siblings and even terrified his parents. Unfortunately nothing would stop him from succeeding, except for death, but he was strong and healthy unlike his little brother (and for that exact reason the younger prince was "encouraged" to enter the church). When he succeeded as king, he was already a widower and with seven male heirs from his late wife. He even had two grandsons while serving as heir apparent.
Under his rule he continued his father's foreign policies, however he was not a diplomatic man and often offended foreign monarchs. This once resulted in an invasion, which luckily he crushed, but his popularity was not so high afterwards. His second marriage to a governess of his daughter caused widespread scandal as it was viewed as a bad alliance, since she was greatly beautiful but came from minor nobility with no great estates. He was not like his father in character, though, and cared little for friendships. Instead he often challenged some of his strongest male subjects to physical fights up until he once fell and cracked his spine which paralyzed him
In his old age he traveled across his domains performing some public charity, leaving his heir as regent. But his temper was as bad as ever, and after starting a fight which he could not win, he died of his injuries and was succeeded by ___
This only shows those figures relevant to the TL thus far -
Aethelred (II) the Unready, b. 966, r. 978 to 1013, d. 1016, m1. Aelfgifu of York, m2. Emma of Normandy
Aethelred (II) the Unready, b. 966, r. 978 to 1013, d. 1016, m1. Aelfgifu of York, m2. Emma of Normandy
1a)
1b) Edmund (II) Ironside, b. 990, r. Early to Late 1016, m. Edith (of unrecorded provenance)
a) Edward the Exile, b. 1016 to 1057, m. Agatha (of unrecorded provenance)
1) Margaret of Wessex, b. 1046, m. Aethelred III
x) see below for line of Margaret
2) Edgar Aethling, b. 1052, abdicated claim to English throne upon his sisters marriage
3) Christina of Wessex, b. pre. 1057
b) Edmund Aethling b. 1015, d. 1054, m. Hedwig of Hungary, no reported legitimate issue
2k) Edward (III) the Confessor, b. 1003, r. 1043 to 1066, m. Edith Godwinson of Wessex
a) Aethelred III, b. 1051, d. 1088, m. Margaret of Wessex, briefly Lady Protectoress of England (b. 1045)
1) Edward (IV) the Affable, b. 1067, r. 1088 to 1129, m. Gertrude of Flanders
a) Margaret of Wessex, b. 10XX, m. Henry V (Salian), Holy Roman Emperor
b) Edgar II, b. 1090, r. 1129 to 1184, m1. Unknown Wife, m2. Unnamed Governess
x) at least even sons, one daughter and at least two grandchildren
x) seven further children including a son
x) seven other children, including at least two other sons
POD: "Edward the Confessor had always hoped to have an heir by Edith of Wessex ..."
No Wars - Civil, of Succession, or World
Kings of England
1042-1066 : Edward the Confessor
1066-1088 : Aethelred III (House of Wessex) [1]
1088-1129: Edward the Affable (House of Wessex) [2]
1129-1184: Edgar II (House of Wessex) [3]
1184-1201: Leopold the Austrian (House of Wessex) [4]
(4) Any discussion of Leopold the Austrian must begin with the tragedy that befel the heirs of his elderly uncle. For Edgar II had seven sons and a daughter by his first wife, several of whom grew to adulthood and at least one of whom had children of his own, by his second wife, he was less favoured, he had only daughters and all of those died in infancy. After he was paralysed, he grew to depend on his sons, especially his eldest Alfred, who Edgar believed would be King of England after him. But Alfred, whose own children, both daughters had predeceased him, one of the sweating sickness, and one in childbirth with her first child (the child died a handful of days later), had no heir of his own.
Slowly - and as sure as night turns into day - across his lengthy fifty five years reign, the lines of Edgar II became extinct. Which rather created a problem -
Edgar's sister, Margaret, had married the Holy Roman Emperor, and when their brother, Aethelstan had been encouraged to enter the church, he had fled to Aachen and his brother-in-laws court. There he eventually married Agnes of Babenburg, niece of the Holy Roman Emperor by Leopold, Margrave of Austria and his wife, Agnes of Germany. Aethelstan and Agnes had four children, the eldest of whom was Leopold of Wessex, later to be Leopold, King of England.
Leopold was born in 1127 and by 1157, after a childless marriage to an Austrian noblewoman whose name has been lost to time, he remarried to Scholastique of Champagne, daughter of Theobald, Count of Champagne, a descendant of William, King of Northumbria and Duke of Normandy. This marriage was much more fruitful, and they produced four children. By the time it became clear that Edgar's line was dwindling and a potential succession crisis was at hand, the Witenagemot made a preemptive move - inviting Leopold of Austria, his wife, and his four children, to England and become heir to the throne of England. Nobody living remembered the chaos of the previous century or the period in 1066 where England had no monarch, but they had all heard tales and that situation needed to be avoided.
As such, Leopold, with the support of the Witan and the backing of his Salian cousins in the Holy Roman Empire, was created as First Aethling of England, a title that would be granted to the designated heir by tradition, whether they ultimately chose to use it or not. And it was Leopold who was left as Lord Protector of the Realm (Regent being a much later title for the concept, but often applied to the role anachronistically) whilst Edgar undertook his grand tour of the realm which ended in his death. So by 1184, Leopold was King - only much later earning his epithet.
A minor rebellion erupted upon his succession at those who resented being ruled by an Austrian, even if his Austrian blood was from his mother. By the same concept, Edward the Confessor had been Norman, and Edgar II had been Flemish, and no objection had arisen to their divine right there. The rebellions were quelled by the visit of Pope Clement III to England, who blessed the poor and reinforced that Leopold had been chosen by God to lead England into a glorious and prosperous future. This was the first visit of a reigning Pope to England, but it would not be the last. Leopold was so glad of the visit that he instructed his children that the next grandson born was to be named Clement. Clement Aethling was born in 1190, and Pope Clement III died the following year.
Leopold the Austrian would reign for only another ten years, but given that he had been fifty seven at the time that he had become King, this was not altogether unexpected. With the precedence of his own succession and installation as First Aethling being applied to his own eventual heir, England was at least attempting to ensure that future successions were as equally smooth as his own.
Leopold died in December 1201 at Winchester Castle of old age at seventy four, to be succeeded by .........
This only shows those figures relevant to the TL thus far -
Aethelred (II) the Unready, b. 966, r. 978 to 1013, d. 1016, m1. Aelfgifu of York, m2. Emma of Normandy
No Wars - Civil, of Succession, or World
Kings of England
1042-1066 : Edward the Confessor
1066-1088 : Aethelred III (House of Wessex) [1]
1088-1129: Edward the Affable (House of Wessex) [2]
1129-1184: Edgar II (House of Wessex) [3]
1184-1201: Leopold the Austrian (House of Wessex) [4]
(i) Aethelred III was born in 1051, at the point where his parents had begun to consider that they might have to look elsewhere for an heir and Edward the Confessors brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson, had attempted to position himself to be that heir. Aethelred was named after his grandfather, Aethelred the Unready, and from shortly after his birth, engaged to his cousin, Margaret, granddaughter of his dead uncle, Edmund Ironside. His maternal uncle, Harold, attempted to convince the Witenagemot to displace Aethelred as King in 1066 as Aethelred was only 15, citing the precedence of the children of Edmund Ironside being passed over in favour of Edward the Confessor.
Aethelreds claim was solidified by his marriage, her brother Edgar had been persuaded to abdicate his own claim and he was only fourteen, making Margaret the senior claimant though a woman. The Witenagemot recognised Margaret as Lady Protectoress for the first two years of her husband's reign as she was six years Aethelreds senior. By 1070, Aethelred and Margaret had produced three sons, and would have five more children before Aethelred died in 1088 at the age of 37.
William of Normandy who had been courted as a possible heir should Aethelred have died without issue had turned to King Malcolm of Scotland and had undertaken an invasion via England's northern borders. By 1076, William could be said to safely hold Northumbria and as such had styled himself as King of Northumbria. To counter this presence, Aethelred and Edith married their eldest son to Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William Normandy by his wife, Matilda, and their other sons to equally advantageous matches. By the time that Aethelred III died, he had become a grandfather.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward Ætheling.
[2] Edward, was born in 1067, a year after his father took the throne. Named after both his grandfathers, Edward the Confessor and Edward the Exile.
Growing up in his father’s court, Edward would usually be found shadowing the Chancellor, assisting in Domestic Affairs, (such as hosting dignitaries) or discussing foreign affairs.
He married in 1086, to his betroth, Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William, King of Northumbria and Duke of Normandy. The wedding was well attended by nobility across the English isles and a few nobility in North Western Europe, due to the young heirs friendliness with many barons, earls, dukes and even a few kings.
Upon his fathers death in 1088, 21 year old, Edward was the unquestionably favourite of the Witenagemot, especially with William II King of Northumbria, fighting with his brother, Robert II, Duke of Normandy following the death of their father, William the Bastard, a year earlier.
The fourth of his name, his epithet came from his friendly diplomatic personality as well as his famous saying at court, being “One can never have too many friends, wether near or far.” This he formed with marriages, military alliances and titles to his loyal subjects.
Together with Gertrude of Flanders, they had nine children, although only two sons, King Edward would use his seven daughters to arrange good marriages. His eldest daughter, Margaret was married to Prince Henry Salian of Germany, later Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor.
These alliances allowed for him to keep the peace in England, creating a prosperous nation through the increase trade, well manned farmland and full control in the counties, with the few military enlisted serving to squash any rebellious spirits and warding off any raiders.
His death in early January 1129, at the age of 62, is attributed to exhaustion following the king hosting a Christmas feast lasting two weeks. He was succeeded by ____________.
[3]
Edgar was the firstborn of Edward and Gertrude, being born in 1090. A fiery and hot-tempered man with a deeply cruel streak, he was not well-loved by his siblings and even terrified his parents. Unfortunately nothing would stop him from succeeding, except for death, but he was strong and healthy unlike his little brother (and for that exact reason the younger prince was "encouraged" to enter the church). When he succeeded as king, he was already a widower and with seven male heirs from his late wife. He even had two grandsons while serving as heir apparent.
Under his rule he continued his father's foreign policies, however he was not a diplomatic man and often offended foreign monarchs. This once resulted in an invasion, which luckily he crushed, but his popularity was not so high afterwards. His second marriage to a governess of his daughter caused widespread scandal as it was viewed as a bad alliance, since she was greatly beautiful but came from minor nobility with no great estates. He was not like his father in character, though, and cared little for friendships. Instead he often challenged some of his strongest male subjects to physical fights up until he once fell and cracked his spine which paralyzed him
In his old age he traveled across his domains performing some public charity, leaving his heir as regent. But his temper was as bad as ever, and after starting a fight which he could not win, he died of his injuries and was succeeded by ___.
Aethelreds claim was solidified by his marriage, her brother Edgar had been persuaded to abdicate his own claim and he was only fourteen, making Margaret the senior claimant though a woman. The Witenagemot recognised Margaret as Lady Protectoress for the first two years of her husband's reign as she was six years Aethelreds senior. By 1070, Aethelred and Margaret had produced three sons, and would have five more children before Aethelred died in 1088 at the age of 37.
William of Normandy who had been courted as a possible heir should Aethelred have died without issue had turned to King Malcolm of Scotland and had undertaken an invasion via England's northern borders. By 1076, William could be said to safely hold Northumbria and as such had styled himself as King of Northumbria. To counter this presence, Aethelred and Edith married their eldest son to Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William Normandy by his wife, Matilda, and their other sons to equally advantageous matches. By the time that Aethelred III died, he had become a grandfather.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward Ætheling.
[2] Edward, was born in 1067, a year after his father took the throne. Named after both his grandfathers, Edward the Confessor and Edward the Exile.
Growing up in his father’s court, Edward would usually be found shadowing the Chancellor, assisting in Domestic Affairs, (such as hosting dignitaries) or discussing foreign affairs.
He married in 1086, to his betroth, Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William, King of Northumbria and Duke of Normandy. The wedding was well attended by nobility across the English isles and a few nobility in North Western Europe, due to the young heirs friendliness with many barons, earls, dukes and even a few kings.
Upon his fathers death in 1088, 21 year old, Edward was the unquestionably favourite of the Witenagemot, especially with William II King of Northumbria, fighting with his brother, Robert II, Duke of Normandy following the death of their father, William the Bastard, a year earlier.
The fourth of his name, his epithet came from his friendly diplomatic personality as well as his famous saying at court, being “One can never have too many friends, wether near or far.” This he formed with marriages, military alliances and titles to his loyal subjects.
Together with Gertrude of Flanders, they had nine children, although only two sons, King Edward would use his seven daughters to arrange good marriages. His eldest daughter, Margaret was married to Prince Henry Salian of Germany, later Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor.
These alliances allowed for him to keep the peace in England, creating a prosperous nation through the increase trade, well manned farmland and full control in the counties, with the few military enlisted serving to squash any rebellious spirits and warding off any raiders.
His death in early January 1129, at the age of 62, is attributed to exhaustion following the king hosting a Christmas feast lasting two weeks. He was succeeded by ____________.
[3]
Edgar was the firstborn of Edward and Gertrude, being born in 1090. A fiery and hot-tempered man with a deeply cruel streak, he was not well-loved by his siblings and even terrified his parents. Unfortunately nothing would stop him from succeeding, except for death, but he was strong and healthy unlike his little brother (and for that exact reason the younger prince was "encouraged" to enter the church). When he succeeded as king, he was already a widower and with seven male heirs from his late wife. He even had two grandsons while serving as heir apparent.
Under his rule he continued his father's foreign policies, however he was not a diplomatic man and often offended foreign monarchs. This once resulted in an invasion, which luckily he crushed, but his popularity was not so high afterwards. His second marriage to a governess of his daughter caused widespread scandal as it was viewed as a bad alliance, since she was greatly beautiful but came from minor nobility with no great estates. He was not like his father in character, though, and cared little for friendships. Instead he often challenged some of his strongest male subjects to physical fights up until he once fell and cracked his spine which paralyzed him
In his old age he traveled across his domains performing some public charity, leaving his heir as regent. But his temper was as bad as ever, and after starting a fight which he could not win, he died of his injuries and was succeeded by ___.
(4) Any discussion of Leopold the Austrian must begin with the tragedy that befel the heirs of his elderly uncle. For Edgar II had seven sons and a daughter by his first wife, several of whom grew to adulthood and at least one of whom had children of his own, by his second wife, he was less favoured, he had only daughters and all of those died in infancy. After he was paralysed, he grew to depend on his sons, especially his eldest Alfred, who Edgar believed would be King of England after him. But Alfred, whose own children, both daughters had predeceased him, one of the sweating sickness, and one in childbirth with her first child (the child died a handful of days later), had no heir of his own.
Slowly - and as sure as night turns into day - across his lengthy fifty five years reign, the lines of Edgar II became extinct. Which rather created a problem -
Edgar's sister, Margaret, had married the Holy Roman Emperor, and when their brother, Aethelstan had been encouraged to enter the church, he had fled to Aachen and his brother-in-laws court. There he eventually married Agnes of Babenburg, niece of the Holy Roman Emperor by Leopold, Margrave of Austria and his wife, Agnes of Germany. Aethelstan and Agnes had four children, the eldest of whom was Leopold of Wessex, later to be Leopold, King of England.
Leopold was born in 1127 and by 1157, after a childless marriage to an Austrian noblewoman whose name has been lost to time, he remarried to Scholastique of Champagne, daughter of Theobald, Count of Champagne, a descendant of William, King of Northumbria and Duke of Normandy. This marriage was much more fruitful, and they produced four children. By the time it became clear that Edgar's line was dwindling and a potential succession crisis was at hand, the Witenagemot made a preemptive move - inviting Leopold of Austria, his wife, and his four children, to England and become heir to the throne of England. Nobody living remembered the chaos of the previous century or the period in 1066 where England had no monarch, but they had all heard tales and that situation needed to be avoided.
As such, Leopold, with the support of the Witan and the backing of his Salian cousins in the Holy Roman Empire, was created as First Aethling of England, a title that would be granted to the designated heir by tradition, whether they ultimately chose to use it or not. And it was Leopold who was left as Lord Protector of the Realm (Regent being a much later title for the concept, but often applied to the role anachronistically) whilst Edgar undertook his grand tour of the realm which ended in his death. So by 1184, Leopold was King - only much later earning his epithet.
A minor rebellion erupted upon his succession at those who resented being ruled by an Austrian, even if his Austrian blood was from his mother. By the same concept, Edward the Confessor had been Norman, and Edgar II had been Flemish, and no objection had arisen to their divine right there. The rebellions were quelled by the visit of Pope Clement III to England, who blessed the poor and reinforced that Leopold had been chosen by God to lead England into a glorious and prosperous future. This was the first visit of a reigning Pope to England, but it would not be the last. Leopold was so glad of the visit that he instructed his children that the next grandson born was to be named Clement. Clement Aethling was born in 1190, and Pope Clement III died the following year.
Leopold the Austrian would reign for only another ten years, but given that he had been fifty seven at the time that he had become King, this was not altogether unexpected. With the precedence of his own succession and installation as First Aethling being applied to his own eventual heir, England was at least attempting to ensure that future successions were as equally smooth as his own.
Leopold died in December 1201 at Winchester Castle of old age at seventy four, to be succeeded by .........
This only shows those figures relevant to the TL thus far -
Aethelred (II) the Unready, b. 966, r. 978 to 1013, d. 1016, m1. Aelfgifu of York, m2. Emma of Normandy
1a)
1b) Edmund (II) Ironside, b. 990, r. Early to Late 1016, m. Edith (of unrecorded provenance)
a) Edward the Exile, b. 1016 to 1057, m. Agatha (of unrecorded provenance)
1) Margaret of Wessex, b. 1046, m. Aethelred III
x) see below for line of Margaret
2) Edgar Aethling, b. 1052, abdicated claim to English throne upon his sisters marriage
3) Christina of Wessex, b. pre. 1057
b) Edmund Aethling b. 1015, d. 1054, m. Hedwig of Hungary, no reported legitimate issue
2k) Edward (III) the Confessor, b. 1003, r. 1043 to 1066, m. Edith Godwinson of Wessex
a) Aethelred III, b. 1051, r. 1066 to 1088, m. Margaret of Wessex, briefly Lady Protectoress of England (b. 1045)
1) Edward (IV) the Affable, b. 1067, r. 1088 to 1129, m. Gertrude of Flanders
a) Margaret of Wessex, b. 10XX, m. Henry V (Salian), Holy Roman Emperor
b) Edgar II, b. 1090, r. 1129 to 1184, m1. Unknown Wife, m2. Unnamed Governess
1) Alfred Aethling
2) Emma of Wessex
x) six other sons
c) Aethelstan Aethling, b. 1095, d. 1170, m. Agnes of Babenburg (1108 to 1163)
1) Leopold the Austrian, b. 1127, r. 1184 to 1201, m1. Unknown Austrian Noblewoman, m2. Scholastique of Champagne
- x) four children from 1157, and several grandchildren including Clement Aethling born in 1190
x) three other sons of Aethelstan Aethling and Agnes of Babenburg
x) seven further children of Edward the Affable and Gertrude of Flanders
x) seven other children, including at least two other sons of Aethelred III and Margaret of Wessex
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Exactly that - more or less. I want people to find conflict elsewhere. Far too many posts have "and then there was a civil war ..." and see World Wars occur on schedule and for roughly the same reasons and between vaguely the same parties, I want to see what can be done if that crutch can't be relied on.
POD: "Edward the Confessor had always hoped to have an heir by Edith of Wessex ..."
No Wars - Civil, of Succession, or World
Kings of England
1042-1066 : Edward the Confessor
1066-1088 : Aethelred III (House of Wessex) [1]
1088-1129: Edward the Affable (House of Wessex) [2]
1129-1184: Edgar II (House of Wessex) [3]
1184-1201: Leopold the Austrian (House of Wessex) [4]
1201-1202: Aethelstan the Brief (House of Wessex) [5]
[5] Aethelstan was born in 1157 as the first child of Leopold the Austrian and Scholastique of Champagne. A sickly child from birth, Aethelstan's miraculous survival to adulthood would be widely celebrated across England as many had thought that he wouldn't survive childhood. Marrying Constance of Brittany (sister of William I, Duke of Brittany) in 1181, Aethelstan and his wife struggled to have surviving children with only one surviving. Upon the death of his father Leopold in 1201, Aethelstan became King of England. Unfortunately the King died in February the following year from pneumonia after a particularly harsh winter in London. He was succeeded by his ________.
No Wars - Civil, of Succession, or World
Kings of England
1042-1066 : Edward the Confessor
1066-1088 : Aethelred III (House of Wessex) [1]
1088-1129: Edward the Affable (House of Wessex) [2]
1129-1184: Edgar II (House of Wessex) [3]
1184-1201: Leopold the Austrian (House of Wessex) [4]
1201-1202: Aethelstan the Brief (House of Wessex) [5]
(i) Aethelred III was born in 1051, at the point where his parents had begun to consider that they might have to look elsewhere for an heir and Edward the Confessors brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson, had attempted to position himself to be that heir. Aethelred was named after his grandfather, Aethelred the Unready, and from shortly after his birth, engaged to his cousin, Margaret, granddaughter of his dead uncle, Edmund Ironside. His maternal uncle, Harold, attempted to convince the Witenagemot to displace Aethelred as King in 1066 as Aethelred was only 15, citing the precedence of the children of Edmund Ironside being passed over in favour of Edward the Confessor.
Aethelreds claim was solidified by his marriage, her brother Edgar had been persuaded to abdicate his own claim and he was only fourteen, making Margaret the senior claimant though a woman. The Witenagemot recognised Margaret as Lady Protectoress for the first two years of her husband's reign as she was six years Aethelreds senior. By 1070, Aethelred and Margaret had produced three sons, and would have five more children before Aethelred died in 1088 at the age of 37.
William of Normandy who had been courted as a possible heir should Aethelred have died without issue had turned to King Malcolm of Scotland and had undertaken an invasion via England's northern borders. By 1076, William could be said to safely hold Northumbria and as such had styled himself as King of Northumbria. To counter this presence, Aethelred and Edith married their eldest son to Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William Normandy by his wife, Matilda, and their other sons to equally advantageous matches. By the time that Aethelred III died, he had become a grandfather.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward Ætheling.
[2] Edward, was born in 1067, a year after his father took the throne. Named after both his grandfathers, Edward the Confessor and Edward the Exile.
Growing up in his father’s court, Edward would usually be found shadowing the Chancellor, assisting in Domestic Affairs, (such as hosting dignitaries) or discussing foreign affairs.
He married in 1086, to his betroth, Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William, King of Northumbria and Duke of Normandy. The wedding was well attended by nobility across the English isles and a few nobility in North Western Europe, due to the young heirs friendliness with many barons, earls, dukes and even a few kings.
Upon his fathers death in 1088, 21 year old, Edward was the unquestionably favourite of the Witenagemot, especially with William II King of Northumbria, fighting with his brother, Robert II, Duke of Normandy following the death of their father, William the Bastard, a year earlier.
The fourth of his name, his epithet came from his friendly diplomatic personality as well as his famous saying at court, being “One can never have too many friends, wether near or far.” This he formed with marriages, military alliances and titles to his loyal subjects.
Together with Gertrude of Flanders, they had nine children, although only two sons, King Edward would use his seven daughters to arrange good marriages. His eldest daughter, Margaret was married to Prince Henry Salian of Germany, later Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor.
These alliances allowed for him to keep the peace in England, creating a prosperous nation through the increase trade, well manned farmland and full control in the counties, with the few military enlisted serving to squash any rebellious spirits and warding off any raiders.
His death in early January 1129, at the age of 62, is attributed to exhaustion following the king hosting a Christmas feast lasting two weeks. He was succeeded by his son Edgar Ætheling.
[3]
Edgar was the firstborn of Edward and Gertrude, being born in 1090. A fiery and hot-tempered man with a deeply cruel streak, he was not well-loved by his siblings and even terrified his parents. Unfortunately nothing would stop him from succeeding, except for death, but he was strong and healthy unlike his little brother (and for that exact reason the younger prince was "encouraged" to enter the church). When he succeeded as king, he was already a widower and with seven male heirs from his late wife. He even had two grandsons while serving as heir apparent.
Under his rule he continued his father's foreign policies, however he was not a diplomatic man and often offended foreign monarchs. This once resulted in an invasion, which luckily he crushed, but his popularity was not so high afterwards. His second marriage to a governess of his daughter caused widespread scandal as it was viewed as a bad alliance, since she was greatly beautiful but came from minor nobility with no great estates. He was not like his father in character, though, and cared little for friendships. Instead he often challenged some of his strongest male subjects to physical fights up until he once fell and cracked his spine which paralyzed him
In his old age he traveled across his domains performing some public charity, leaving his heir as regent. But his temper was as bad as ever, and after starting a fight which he could not win, he died of his injuries and was succeeded by his nephew Leopold.
(4) Any discussion of Leopold the Austrian must begin with the tragedy that befel the heirs of his elderly uncle. For Edgar II had seven sons and a daughter by his first wife, several of whom grew to adulthood and at least one of whom had children of his own, by his second wife, he was less favoured, he had only daughters and all of those died in infancy. After he was paralysed, he grew to depend on his sons, especially his eldest Alfred, who Edgar believed would be King of England after him. But Alfred, whose own children, both daughters had predeceased him, one of the sweating sickness, and one in childbirth with her first child (the child died a handful of days later), had no heir of his own.
Slowly - and as sure as night turns into day - across his lengthy fifty five years reign, the lines of Edgar II became extinct. Which rather created a problem -
Edgar's sister, Margaret, had married the Holy Roman Emperor, and when their brother, Aethelstan had been encouraged to enter the church, he had fled to Aachen and his brother-in-laws court. There he eventually married Agnes of Babenburg, niece of the Holy Roman Emperor by Leopold, Margrave of Austria and his wife, Agnes of Germany. Aethelstan and Agnes had four children, the eldest of whom was Leopold of Wessex, later to be Leopold, King of England.
Leopold was born in 1127 and by 1157, after a childless marriage to an Austrian noblewoman whose name has been lost to time, he remarried to Scholastique of Champagne, daughter of Theobald, Count of Champagne, a descendant of William, King of Northumbria and Duke of Normandy. This marriage was much more fruitful, and they produced four children. By the time it became clear that Edgar's line was dwindling and a potential succession crisis was at hand, the Witenagemot made a preemptive move - inviting Leopold of Austria, his wife, and his four children, to England and become heir to the throne of England. Nobody living remembered the chaos of the previous century or the period in 1066 where England had no monarch, but they had all heard tales and that situation needed to be avoided.
As such, Leopold, with the support of the Witan and the backing of his Salian cousins in the Holy Roman Empire, was created as First Aethling of England, a title that would be granted to the designated heir by tradition, whether they ultimately chose to use it or not. And it was Leopold who was left as Lord Protector of the Realm (Regent being a much later title for the concept, but often applied to the role anachronistically) whilst Edgar undertook his grand tour of the realm which ended in his death. So by 1184, Leopold was King - only much later earning his epithet.
A minor rebellion erupted upon his succession at those who resented being ruled by an Austrian, even if his Austrian blood was from his mother. By the same concept, Edward the Confessor had been Norman, and Edgar II had been Flemish, and no objection had arisen to their divine right there. The rebellions were quelled by the visit of Pope Clement III to England, who blessed the poor and reinforced that Leopold had been chosen by God to lead England into a glorious and prosperous future. This was the first visit of a reigning Pope to England, but it would not be the last. Leopold was so glad of the visit that he instructed his children that the next grandson born was to be named Clement. Clement Aethling was born in 1190, and Pope Clement III died the following year.
Leopold the Austrian would reign for only another ten years, but given that he had been fifty seven at the time that he had become King, this was not altogether unexpected. With the precedence of his own succession and installation as First Aethling being applied to his own eventual heir, England was at least attempting to ensure that future successions were as equally smooth as his own.
Leopold died in December 1201 at Winchester Castle of old age at seventy four, to be succeeded by his eldest son Aethelstan Ætheling.
Aethelreds claim was solidified by his marriage, her brother Edgar had been persuaded to abdicate his own claim and he was only fourteen, making Margaret the senior claimant though a woman. The Witenagemot recognised Margaret as Lady Protectoress for the first two years of her husband's reign as she was six years Aethelreds senior. By 1070, Aethelred and Margaret had produced three sons, and would have five more children before Aethelred died in 1088 at the age of 37.
William of Normandy who had been courted as a possible heir should Aethelred have died without issue had turned to King Malcolm of Scotland and had undertaken an invasion via England's northern borders. By 1076, William could be said to safely hold Northumbria and as such had styled himself as King of Northumbria. To counter this presence, Aethelred and Edith married their eldest son to Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William Normandy by his wife, Matilda, and their other sons to equally advantageous matches. By the time that Aethelred III died, he had become a grandfather.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward Ætheling.
[2] Edward, was born in 1067, a year after his father took the throne. Named after both his grandfathers, Edward the Confessor and Edward the Exile.
Growing up in his father’s court, Edward would usually be found shadowing the Chancellor, assisting in Domestic Affairs, (such as hosting dignitaries) or discussing foreign affairs.
He married in 1086, to his betroth, Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William, King of Northumbria and Duke of Normandy. The wedding was well attended by nobility across the English isles and a few nobility in North Western Europe, due to the young heirs friendliness with many barons, earls, dukes and even a few kings.
Upon his fathers death in 1088, 21 year old, Edward was the unquestionably favourite of the Witenagemot, especially with William II King of Northumbria, fighting with his brother, Robert II, Duke of Normandy following the death of their father, William the Bastard, a year earlier.
The fourth of his name, his epithet came from his friendly diplomatic personality as well as his famous saying at court, being “One can never have too many friends, wether near or far.” This he formed with marriages, military alliances and titles to his loyal subjects.
Together with Gertrude of Flanders, they had nine children, although only two sons, King Edward would use his seven daughters to arrange good marriages. His eldest daughter, Margaret was married to Prince Henry Salian of Germany, later Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor.
These alliances allowed for him to keep the peace in England, creating a prosperous nation through the increase trade, well manned farmland and full control in the counties, with the few military enlisted serving to squash any rebellious spirits and warding off any raiders.
His death in early January 1129, at the age of 62, is attributed to exhaustion following the king hosting a Christmas feast lasting two weeks. He was succeeded by his son Edgar Ætheling.
[3]
Edgar was the firstborn of Edward and Gertrude, being born in 1090. A fiery and hot-tempered man with a deeply cruel streak, he was not well-loved by his siblings and even terrified his parents. Unfortunately nothing would stop him from succeeding, except for death, but he was strong and healthy unlike his little brother (and for that exact reason the younger prince was "encouraged" to enter the church). When he succeeded as king, he was already a widower and with seven male heirs from his late wife. He even had two grandsons while serving as heir apparent.
Under his rule he continued his father's foreign policies, however he was not a diplomatic man and often offended foreign monarchs. This once resulted in an invasion, which luckily he crushed, but his popularity was not so high afterwards. His second marriage to a governess of his daughter caused widespread scandal as it was viewed as a bad alliance, since she was greatly beautiful but came from minor nobility with no great estates. He was not like his father in character, though, and cared little for friendships. Instead he often challenged some of his strongest male subjects to physical fights up until he once fell and cracked his spine which paralyzed him
In his old age he traveled across his domains performing some public charity, leaving his heir as regent. But his temper was as bad as ever, and after starting a fight which he could not win, he died of his injuries and was succeeded by his nephew Leopold.
(4) Any discussion of Leopold the Austrian must begin with the tragedy that befel the heirs of his elderly uncle. For Edgar II had seven sons and a daughter by his first wife, several of whom grew to adulthood and at least one of whom had children of his own, by his second wife, he was less favoured, he had only daughters and all of those died in infancy. After he was paralysed, he grew to depend on his sons, especially his eldest Alfred, who Edgar believed would be King of England after him. But Alfred, whose own children, both daughters had predeceased him, one of the sweating sickness, and one in childbirth with her first child (the child died a handful of days later), had no heir of his own.
Slowly - and as sure as night turns into day - across his lengthy fifty five years reign, the lines of Edgar II became extinct. Which rather created a problem -
Edgar's sister, Margaret, had married the Holy Roman Emperor, and when their brother, Aethelstan had been encouraged to enter the church, he had fled to Aachen and his brother-in-laws court. There he eventually married Agnes of Babenburg, niece of the Holy Roman Emperor by Leopold, Margrave of Austria and his wife, Agnes of Germany. Aethelstan and Agnes had four children, the eldest of whom was Leopold of Wessex, later to be Leopold, King of England.
Leopold was born in 1127 and by 1157, after a childless marriage to an Austrian noblewoman whose name has been lost to time, he remarried to Scholastique of Champagne, daughter of Theobald, Count of Champagne, a descendant of William, King of Northumbria and Duke of Normandy. This marriage was much more fruitful, and they produced four children. By the time it became clear that Edgar's line was dwindling and a potential succession crisis was at hand, the Witenagemot made a preemptive move - inviting Leopold of Austria, his wife, and his four children, to England and become heir to the throne of England. Nobody living remembered the chaos of the previous century or the period in 1066 where England had no monarch, but they had all heard tales and that situation needed to be avoided.
As such, Leopold, with the support of the Witan and the backing of his Salian cousins in the Holy Roman Empire, was created as First Aethling of England, a title that would be granted to the designated heir by tradition, whether they ultimately chose to use it or not. And it was Leopold who was left as Lord Protector of the Realm (Regent being a much later title for the concept, but often applied to the role anachronistically) whilst Edgar undertook his grand tour of the realm which ended in his death. So by 1184, Leopold was King - only much later earning his epithet.
A minor rebellion erupted upon his succession at those who resented being ruled by an Austrian, even if his Austrian blood was from his mother. By the same concept, Edward the Confessor had been Norman, and Edgar II had been Flemish, and no objection had arisen to their divine right there. The rebellions were quelled by the visit of Pope Clement III to England, who blessed the poor and reinforced that Leopold had been chosen by God to lead England into a glorious and prosperous future. This was the first visit of a reigning Pope to England, but it would not be the last. Leopold was so glad of the visit that he instructed his children that the next grandson born was to be named Clement. Clement Aethling was born in 1190, and Pope Clement III died the following year.
Leopold the Austrian would reign for only another ten years, but given that he had been fifty seven at the time that he had become King, this was not altogether unexpected. With the precedence of his own succession and installation as First Aethling being applied to his own eventual heir, England was at least attempting to ensure that future successions were as equally smooth as his own.
Leopold died in December 1201 at Winchester Castle of old age at seventy four, to be succeeded by his eldest son Aethelstan Ætheling.
[5] Aethelstan was born in 1157 as the first child of Leopold the Austrian and Scholastique of Champagne. A sickly child from birth, Aethelstan's miraculous survival to adulthood would be widely celebrated across England as many had thought that he wouldn't survive childhood. Marrying Constance of Brittany (sister of William I, Duke of Brittany) in 1181, Aethelstan and his wife struggled to have surviving children with only one surviving. Upon the death of his father Leopold in 1201, Aethelstan became King of England. Unfortunately the King died in February the following year from pneumonia after a particularly harsh winter in London. He was succeeded by his ________.
POD: "Edward the Confessor had always hoped to have an heir by Edith of Wessex ..."
No Wars - Civil, of Succession, or World
Kings of England
1042-1066 : Edward the Confessor
1066-1088 : Aethelred III (House of Wessex) [1]
1088-1129: Edward the Affable (House of Wessex) [2]
1129-1184: Edgar II (House of Wessex) [3]
1184-1201: Leopold the Austrian (House of Wessex) [4]
1201-1202: Aethelstan the Brief (House of Wessex) [5]
1202-1267: Mary I (House of Wessex) [6]
[6]
Queen Mary I of England, portrayed by Michelle Jenner in a television series.
Mary was the only child of Aethelstan and Constance. She was named after the Virgin, a relatively safe name choice amidst the possible landmines. And her accession was greatly complicated by her gender and the fact that she had living uncles. Born two months after her father's death, she remained with her mother for the majority of her childhood. She was quickly crowned and anointed, and her uncles co-ruled as regents...well, until a harsh winter killed them all off (although it was certainly very convenient for Constance, nothing could be proved either way). Before that, they had been crowned by factions opposed to female rule (and once Mary grew older, those were the first people she executed).
To secure her hold on the throne, she declared herself queen by right of being her father's daughter and pushed forward laws which permitted female inheritance if there were no male heirs descended from senior lines. Her independent reign restored power and stability to the English monarchy following the conflicts which had risen from her regents' rule. To further emphasize her own reign, she exiled her mother from court. Her focus on detail and concentration on raising new revenues greatly helped local economy, proving herself a powerful and effective ruler. Shortly after reaching her majority, she would marry, and she bore her husband seven children. The marriage, however, was tumultuous as both spouses fought for power. Eventually, Mary would have her husband imprisoned.
In her old age she paid increasing attention to Church affairs and her personal faith, although she remained involved in governing England throughout her life. She appears to have had particular fondness for her youngest daughter, who was named after herself. She seems, as she mellowed in her twilight years, to have regretted the end to her marriage and requested to be buried besides her husband.
She died at the age of 65 and her heir would be crowned shortly after.
No Wars - Civil, of Succession, or World
Kings of England
1042-1066 : Edward the Confessor
1066-1088 : Aethelred III (House of Wessex) [1]
1088-1129: Edward the Affable (House of Wessex) [2]
1129-1184: Edgar II (House of Wessex) [3]
1184-1201: Leopold the Austrian (House of Wessex) [4]
1201-1202: Aethelstan the Brief (House of Wessex) [5]
1202-1267: Mary I (House of Wessex) [6]
(i) Aethelred III was born in 1051, at the point where his parents had begun to consider that they might have to look elsewhere for an heir and Edward the Confessors brother-in-law, Harold Godwinson, had attempted to position himself to be that heir. Aethelred was named after his grandfather, Aethelred the Unready, and from shortly after his birth, engaged to his cousin, Margaret, granddaughter of his dead uncle, Edmund Ironside. His maternal uncle, Harold, attempted to convince the Witenagemot to displace Aethelred as King in 1066 as Aethelred was only 15, citing the precedence of the children of Edmund Ironside being passed over in favour of Edward the Confessor.
Aethelreds claim was solidified by his marriage, her brother Edgar had been persuaded to abdicate his own claim and he was only fourteen, making Margaret the senior claimant though a woman. The Witenagemot recognised Margaret as Lady Protectoress for the first two years of her husband's reign as she was six years Aethelreds senior. By 1070, Aethelred and Margaret had produced three sons, and would have five more children before Aethelred died in 1088 at the age of 37.
William of Normandy who had been courted as a possible heir should Aethelred have died without issue had turned to King Malcolm of Scotland and had undertaken an invasion via England's northern borders. By 1076, William could be said to safely hold Northumbria and as such had styled himself as King of Northumbria. To counter this presence, Aethelred and Edith married their eldest son to Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William Normandy by his wife, Matilda, and their other sons to equally advantageous matches. By the time that Aethelred III died, he had become a grandfather.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward Ætheling.
[2] Edward, was born in 1067, a year after his father took the throne. Named after both his grandfathers, Edward the Confessor and Edward the Exile.
Growing up in his father’s court, Edward would usually be found shadowing the Chancellor, assisting in Domestic Affairs, (such as hosting dignitaries) or discussing foreign affairs.
He married in 1086, to his betroth, Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William, King of Northumbria and Duke of Normandy. The wedding was well attended by nobility across the English isles and a few nobility in North Western Europe, due to the young heirs friendliness with many barons, earls, dukes and even a few kings.
Upon his fathers death in 1088, 21 year old, Edward was the unquestionably favourite of the Witenagemot, especially with William II King of Northumbria, fighting with his brother, Robert II, Duke of Normandy following the death of their father, William the Bastard, a year earlier.
The fourth of his name, his epithet came from his friendly diplomatic personality as well as his famous saying at court, being “One can never have too many friends, wether near or far.” This he formed with marriages, military alliances and titles to his loyal subjects.
Together with Gertrude of Flanders, they had nine children, although only two sons, King Edward would use his seven daughters to arrange good marriages. His eldest daughter, Margaret was married to Prince Henry Salian of Germany, later Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor.
These alliances allowed for him to keep the peace in England, creating a prosperous nation through the increase trade, well manned farmland and full control in the counties, with the few military enlisted serving to squash any rebellious spirits and warding off any raiders.
His death in early January 1129, at the age of 62, is attributed to exhaustion following the king hosting a Christmas feast lasting two weeks. He was succeeded by his son Edgar Ætheling.
[3]
Edgar was the firstborn of Edward and Gertrude, being born in 1090. A fiery and hot-tempered man with a deeply cruel streak, he was not well-loved by his siblings and even terrified his parents. Unfortunately nothing would stop him from succeeding, except for death, but he was strong and healthy unlike his little brother (and for that exact reason the younger prince was "encouraged" to enter the church). When he succeeded as king, he was already a widower and with seven male heirs from his late wife. He even had two grandsons while serving as heir apparent.
Under his rule he continued his father's foreign policies, however he was not a diplomatic man and often offended foreign monarchs. This once resulted in an invasion, which luckily he crushed, but his popularity was not so high afterwards. His second marriage to a governess of his daughter caused widespread scandal as it was viewed as a bad alliance, since she was greatly beautiful but came from minor nobility with no great estates. He was not like his father in character, though, and cared little for friendships. Instead he often challenged some of his strongest male subjects to physical fights up until he once fell and cracked his spine which paralyzed him
In his old age he traveled across his domains performing some public charity, leaving his heir as regent. But his temper was as bad as ever, and after starting a fight which he could not win, he died of his injuries and was succeeded by his nephew Leopold.
(4) Any discussion of Leopold the Austrian must begin with the tragedy that befel the heirs of his elderly uncle. For Edgar II had seven sons and a daughter by his first wife, several of whom grew to adulthood and at least one of whom had children of his own, by his second wife, he was less favoured, he had only daughters and all of those died in infancy. After he was paralysed, he grew to depend on his sons, especially his eldest Alfred, who Edgar believed would be King of England after him. But Alfred, whose own children, both daughters had predeceased him, one of the sweating sickness, and one in childbirth with her first child (the child died a handful of days later), had no heir of his own.
Slowly - and as sure as night turns into day - across his lengthy fifty five years reign, the lines of Edgar II became extinct. Which rather created a problem -
Edgar's sister, Margaret, had married the Holy Roman Emperor, and when their brother, Aethelstan had been encouraged to enter the church, he had fled to Aachen and his brother-in-laws court. There he eventually married Agnes of Babenburg, niece of the Holy Roman Emperor by Leopold, Margrave of Austria and his wife, Agnes of Germany. Aethelstan and Agnes had four children, the eldest of whom was Leopold of Wessex, later to be Leopold, King of England.
Leopold was born in 1127 and by 1157, after a childless marriage to an Austrian noblewoman whose name has been lost to time, he remarried to Scholastique of Champagne, daughter of Theobald, Count of Champagne, a descendant of William, King of Northumbria and Duke of Normandy. This marriage was much more fruitful, and they produced four children. By the time it became clear that Edgar's line was dwindling and a potential succession crisis was at hand, the Witenagemot made a preemptive move - inviting Leopold of Austria, his wife, and his four children, to England and become heir to the throne of England. Nobody living remembered the chaos of the previous century or the period in 1066 where England had no monarch, but they had all heard tales and that situation needed to be avoided.
As such, Leopold, with the support of the Witan and the backing of his Salian cousins in the Holy Roman Empire, was created as First Aethling of England, a title that would be granted to the designated heir by tradition, whether they ultimately chose to use it or not. And it was Leopold who was left as Lord Protector of the Realm (Regent being a much later title for the concept, but often applied to the role anachronistically) whilst Edgar undertook his grand tour of the realm which ended in his death. So by 1184, Leopold was King - only much later earning his epithet.
A minor rebellion erupted upon his succession at those who resented being ruled by an Austrian, even if his Austrian blood was from his mother. By the same concept, Edward the Confessor had been Norman, and Edgar II had been Flemish, and no objection had arisen to their divine right there. The rebellions were quelled by the visit of Pope Clement III to England, who blessed the poor and reinforced that Leopold had been chosen by God to lead England into a glorious and prosperous future. This was the first visit of a reigning Pope to England, but it would not be the last. Leopold was so glad of the visit that he instructed his children that the next grandson born was to be named Clement. Clement Aethling was born in 1190, and Pope Clement III died the following year.
Leopold the Austrian would reign for only another ten years, but given that he had been fifty seven at the time that he had become King, this was not altogether unexpected. With the precedence of his own succession and installation as First Aethling being applied to his own eventual heir, England was at least attempting to ensure that future successions were as equally smooth as his own.
Leopold died in December 1201 at Winchester Castle of old age at seventy four, to be succeeded by his eldest son Aethelstan Ætheling.
[5] Aethelstan was born in 1157 as the first child of Leopold the Austrian and Scholastique of Champagne. A sickly child from birth, Aethelstan's miraculous survival to adulthood would be widely celebrated across England as many had thought that he wouldn't survive childhood. Marrying Constance of Brittany (sister of William I, Duke of Brittany) in 1181, Aethelstan and his wife struggled to have surviving children with only one surviving. Upon the death of his father Leopold in 1201, Aethelstan became King of England. Unfortunately the King died in February the following year from pneumonia after a particularly harsh winter in London. He was succeeded by his posthumous daughter, Constance.
Aethelreds claim was solidified by his marriage, her brother Edgar had been persuaded to abdicate his own claim and he was only fourteen, making Margaret the senior claimant though a woman. The Witenagemot recognised Margaret as Lady Protectoress for the first two years of her husband's reign as she was six years Aethelreds senior. By 1070, Aethelred and Margaret had produced three sons, and would have five more children before Aethelred died in 1088 at the age of 37.
William of Normandy who had been courted as a possible heir should Aethelred have died without issue had turned to King Malcolm of Scotland and had undertaken an invasion via England's northern borders. By 1076, William could be said to safely hold Northumbria and as such had styled himself as King of Northumbria. To counter this presence, Aethelred and Edith married their eldest son to Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William Normandy by his wife, Matilda, and their other sons to equally advantageous matches. By the time that Aethelred III died, he had become a grandfather.
He was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward Ætheling.
[2] Edward, was born in 1067, a year after his father took the throne. Named after both his grandfathers, Edward the Confessor and Edward the Exile.
Growing up in his father’s court, Edward would usually be found shadowing the Chancellor, assisting in Domestic Affairs, (such as hosting dignitaries) or discussing foreign affairs.
He married in 1086, to his betroth, Gertrude of Flanders, niece of William, King of Northumbria and Duke of Normandy. The wedding was well attended by nobility across the English isles and a few nobility in North Western Europe, due to the young heirs friendliness with many barons, earls, dukes and even a few kings.
Upon his fathers death in 1088, 21 year old, Edward was the unquestionably favourite of the Witenagemot, especially with William II King of Northumbria, fighting with his brother, Robert II, Duke of Normandy following the death of their father, William the Bastard, a year earlier.
The fourth of his name, his epithet came from his friendly diplomatic personality as well as his famous saying at court, being “One can never have too many friends, wether near or far.” This he formed with marriages, military alliances and titles to his loyal subjects.
Together with Gertrude of Flanders, they had nine children, although only two sons, King Edward would use his seven daughters to arrange good marriages. His eldest daughter, Margaret was married to Prince Henry Salian of Germany, later Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor.
These alliances allowed for him to keep the peace in England, creating a prosperous nation through the increase trade, well manned farmland and full control in the counties, with the few military enlisted serving to squash any rebellious spirits and warding off any raiders.
His death in early January 1129, at the age of 62, is attributed to exhaustion following the king hosting a Christmas feast lasting two weeks. He was succeeded by his son Edgar Ætheling.
[3]
Edgar was the firstborn of Edward and Gertrude, being born in 1090. A fiery and hot-tempered man with a deeply cruel streak, he was not well-loved by his siblings and even terrified his parents. Unfortunately nothing would stop him from succeeding, except for death, but he was strong and healthy unlike his little brother (and for that exact reason the younger prince was "encouraged" to enter the church). When he succeeded as king, he was already a widower and with seven male heirs from his late wife. He even had two grandsons while serving as heir apparent.
Under his rule he continued his father's foreign policies, however he was not a diplomatic man and often offended foreign monarchs. This once resulted in an invasion, which luckily he crushed, but his popularity was not so high afterwards. His second marriage to a governess of his daughter caused widespread scandal as it was viewed as a bad alliance, since she was greatly beautiful but came from minor nobility with no great estates. He was not like his father in character, though, and cared little for friendships. Instead he often challenged some of his strongest male subjects to physical fights up until he once fell and cracked his spine which paralyzed him
In his old age he traveled across his domains performing some public charity, leaving his heir as regent. But his temper was as bad as ever, and after starting a fight which he could not win, he died of his injuries and was succeeded by his nephew Leopold.
(4) Any discussion of Leopold the Austrian must begin with the tragedy that befel the heirs of his elderly uncle. For Edgar II had seven sons and a daughter by his first wife, several of whom grew to adulthood and at least one of whom had children of his own, by his second wife, he was less favoured, he had only daughters and all of those died in infancy. After he was paralysed, he grew to depend on his sons, especially his eldest Alfred, who Edgar believed would be King of England after him. But Alfred, whose own children, both daughters had predeceased him, one of the sweating sickness, and one in childbirth with her first child (the child died a handful of days later), had no heir of his own.
Slowly - and as sure as night turns into day - across his lengthy fifty five years reign, the lines of Edgar II became extinct. Which rather created a problem -
Edgar's sister, Margaret, had married the Holy Roman Emperor, and when their brother, Aethelstan had been encouraged to enter the church, he had fled to Aachen and his brother-in-laws court. There he eventually married Agnes of Babenburg, niece of the Holy Roman Emperor by Leopold, Margrave of Austria and his wife, Agnes of Germany. Aethelstan and Agnes had four children, the eldest of whom was Leopold of Wessex, later to be Leopold, King of England.
Leopold was born in 1127 and by 1157, after a childless marriage to an Austrian noblewoman whose name has been lost to time, he remarried to Scholastique of Champagne, daughter of Theobald, Count of Champagne, a descendant of William, King of Northumbria and Duke of Normandy. This marriage was much more fruitful, and they produced four children. By the time it became clear that Edgar's line was dwindling and a potential succession crisis was at hand, the Witenagemot made a preemptive move - inviting Leopold of Austria, his wife, and his four children, to England and become heir to the throne of England. Nobody living remembered the chaos of the previous century or the period in 1066 where England had no monarch, but they had all heard tales and that situation needed to be avoided.
As such, Leopold, with the support of the Witan and the backing of his Salian cousins in the Holy Roman Empire, was created as First Aethling of England, a title that would be granted to the designated heir by tradition, whether they ultimately chose to use it or not. And it was Leopold who was left as Lord Protector of the Realm (Regent being a much later title for the concept, but often applied to the role anachronistically) whilst Edgar undertook his grand tour of the realm which ended in his death. So by 1184, Leopold was King - only much later earning his epithet.
A minor rebellion erupted upon his succession at those who resented being ruled by an Austrian, even if his Austrian blood was from his mother. By the same concept, Edward the Confessor had been Norman, and Edgar II had been Flemish, and no objection had arisen to their divine right there. The rebellions were quelled by the visit of Pope Clement III to England, who blessed the poor and reinforced that Leopold had been chosen by God to lead England into a glorious and prosperous future. This was the first visit of a reigning Pope to England, but it would not be the last. Leopold was so glad of the visit that he instructed his children that the next grandson born was to be named Clement. Clement Aethling was born in 1190, and Pope Clement III died the following year.
Leopold the Austrian would reign for only another ten years, but given that he had been fifty seven at the time that he had become King, this was not altogether unexpected. With the precedence of his own succession and installation as First Aethling being applied to his own eventual heir, England was at least attempting to ensure that future successions were as equally smooth as his own.
Leopold died in December 1201 at Winchester Castle of old age at seventy four, to be succeeded by his eldest son Aethelstan Ætheling.
[5] Aethelstan was born in 1157 as the first child of Leopold the Austrian and Scholastique of Champagne. A sickly child from birth, Aethelstan's miraculous survival to adulthood would be widely celebrated across England as many had thought that he wouldn't survive childhood. Marrying Constance of Brittany (sister of William I, Duke of Brittany) in 1181, Aethelstan and his wife struggled to have surviving children with only one surviving. Upon the death of his father Leopold in 1201, Aethelstan became King of England. Unfortunately the King died in February the following year from pneumonia after a particularly harsh winter in London. He was succeeded by his posthumous daughter, Constance.
[6]
Queen Mary I of England, portrayed by Michelle Jenner in a television series.
Mary was the only child of Aethelstan and Constance. She was named after the Virgin, a relatively safe name choice amidst the possible landmines. And her accession was greatly complicated by her gender and the fact that she had living uncles. Born two months after her father's death, she remained with her mother for the majority of her childhood. She was quickly crowned and anointed, and her uncles co-ruled as regents...well, until a harsh winter killed them all off (although it was certainly very convenient for Constance, nothing could be proved either way). Before that, they had been crowned by factions opposed to female rule (and once Mary grew older, those were the first people she executed).
To secure her hold on the throne, she declared herself queen by right of being her father's daughter and pushed forward laws which permitted female inheritance if there were no male heirs descended from senior lines. Her independent reign restored power and stability to the English monarchy following the conflicts which had risen from her regents' rule. To further emphasize her own reign, she exiled her mother from court. Her focus on detail and concentration on raising new revenues greatly helped local economy, proving herself a powerful and effective ruler. Shortly after reaching her majority, she would marry, and she bore her husband seven children. The marriage, however, was tumultuous as both spouses fought for power. Eventually, Mary would have her husband imprisoned.
In her old age she paid increasing attention to Church affairs and her personal faith, although she remained involved in governing England throughout her life. She appears to have had particular fondness for her youngest daughter, who was named after herself. She seems, as she mellowed in her twilight years, to have regretted the end to her marriage and requested to be buried besides her husband.
She died at the age of 65 and her heir would be crowned shortly after.