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In 1554 (or somewhere around that time) Edward Courtenay proposed to his cousin Mary I of England, hoping she'd accept his proposal. Though she had rejected him for Philip II of Spain (who at the time was only Prince Philip) even though he had courtiers that already bowed to him and the fact that she was very affectionate towards him.

But what if in 1554 Mary rejected Charles Vs offer for her to marry his son Prince Philip, and instead she chose to marry someone closer to home, someone she was already affectionate towards? Edward Courtenay to be precise.

The affects of this at first would be good due to the lack of an uprising as large as Thomas Wyatts, and thus no huge challenge to her throne. Another affect would be that Mary is likely to get pregnant. With a husband who himself loves her and is always close to her the likelihood is that Mary will become pregnant, and this chance of an heir may in fact lead to a large uprising. Also the loss of Calais would be butterflied away (or at least the loss of it in the Italian Wars would be.)

Can you think of the long lasting affects? Better Anglo-Irish relations maybe? And what would the affect of a Catholic heir be on England? Also what would happen in Scotland, the colonies and continental Europe?

Discuss :)
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