Louis X of France lives longer: no Salic Law?

Just an idea I was thinking about: IOTL the Salic Law was only really imposed in France after the death of Louis X, when his brother Philip claimed the throne in order to avoid his four years old niece Joan taking the throne. However, Louis died quite young (he was only 27) and apparently his death was a bit odd (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_X_of_France#Death_and_legacy). If he had lived longer, at least until his daughter was old enough to be married, and assuming he doesn't have a son (John I still dies in infancy), could he have made Joan his legal heir?
 
Interesting PoD!

I'd say abandoning the traditional law and turning to a more modern type of heritage is possible at many different occasions. Your PoD is definitely helping with that for not creating a precedent.

However, I presume that it was generally understood in the 13th century that Salic Law applies to France - independently from what exactly is contained in the Salic Law, and whether that would make a difference form - from what actually? If you want to change, you would have to give an alternative. This holds especially for the big shots at the court obsessed with stability of the kingdom. Usually this works according to the pattern: Everything holds as before, but female heirs are possible ...
 
Definitely interesting.
So Louis X outlives his brothers - who all had daughters btw - and gets his daughter accepted as Queen of France.
From what I understand passing through a female line was still an allowable interpretation of Salic Law: i.e sons of sisters can inherit, especially if they have strong fathers to lead as Regents if under age.
This is similar to the English inheritance and a reason why the War of the Roses occurred since it was Right of Blood over direct primogeniture. (Or rather an argument that their line had less women to pass through!)

Who would Joan marry? Probably Phillip of Valois :D since he'll provide a strong front against Edward III and he is the leading claimant if female line inheritance disallowed (ie full Salic interpretation). It'll could also lead to earlier integration of Navarre into France Proper.

Any interruption to their dynasty would likely lead to the English Kings reiterating their claim and providing an alternate HYW with all the possibilities inherent in that: Union of France & England, north-south division of France, loss of English possessions in France, etc.
 
Who would Joan marry? Probably Phillip of Valois :D since he'll provide a strong front against Edward III and he is the leading claimant if female line inheritance disallowed (ie full Salic interpretation). It'll could also lead to earlier integration of Navarre into France Proper.

I agree that Philip of Valois is definitely a likely option as her husband. About the integration of Navarre, that would be really interesting, because instead of the 16th century Navarre of Henry IV, that was just a piece of land in the French Pyrenees, during the 14th century the kingdom still had most of his territory in the Iberian Peninsula. France would have an important foothold beyond the Pyrenees.
 
I agree that Philip of Valois is definitely a likely option as her husband. About the integration of Navarre, that would be really interesting, because instead of the 16th century Navarre of Henry IV, that was just a piece of land in the French Pyrenees, during the 14th century the kingdom still had most of his territory in the Iberian Peninsula. France would have an important foothold beyond the Pyrenees.
Yes.
Maybe a war with Castile over "West Navarre"?
Of course much depends on succession and treaties with the English. We could see Navarre joined to Gascony under the English King!
 
Just other idea: if Louis had lived longer he probably would have more children from his second wife, Clementia of Hungary. However, if he still has no sons (and neither his brothers, as IOTL) then we probably would have some conflict between his daughters. Joan of Navarre, his daughter from Margaret of Burgundy, was considered illegitimate by members of the court, as her mother was imprisoned by Louis' orders due to accusations of adultery. If the king considers her as a bastard he maybe would try to make his eldest daughter from Clementia as his heir. However, if he accepts her legitimacy then maybe his second daughter (or rather her husband) wouldn't accept this.
 
Top