You actually managed to update prior to end of 2012! That keeps you 450 years ahead of your timeline! Congratulations
For in 1562, a great many issues in Europe came to a head, amplified by the Second Schmakaldic War, and amplifying it in turn. Religious strife in France--the First Originalist Revolt of Ireland--the Baltic Wars--these events were not dependent on each other--but they interacted, creating an atmosphere of chaos and instability. Some monarchs, like Ferdinand or Henri Valois, floundered in this--others, such as Philip of Spain, or Henry and Mary of Britain[2], simply tightened their grip..."
There are two significant points in this passage - one
very good and one
very bad, both of which I've highlighted.
Space Oddity said:
Henri II, seeing that Paris is quieting down, finishes the job by returning to the city with his Scottish Guard in tow, and beseeching the people to end the violence as they love him. Whatever his many, many, MANY flaws as a king, Henri most certainly looks the part, and that's enough to get most Parisians to stop their urgent business smashing up the houses of those they don't like. Indeed, in a short while, they are cheering him on as he returns to the Louvre, and agreeing that things got a little out of hand.
If 1562 can be said to be a good year for
anyone, prodigal son excepted, I would have to say it's Henri II. He looks like a
King again!
Space Oddity said:
Still, in the face of such hostility, there is little he can do. Cardinal de Lorraine resigns his post in government, and retires to Reims, to minister to his 'little flock' as he calls them. Huguenots widely applaud the loss of their highest ranking, most dedicated ally in the government, in what will be an ongoing policy of alienating everyone in France who's not a Huguenot, and imagining that somehow this is helping them.
I worry about France. Every country has its token Only Sane Man, and they just shunted theirs.
Space Oddity said:
And so John Knox takes his show on the road, talking to congregations and warning them of the upcoming LIBERTINE plot to destroy true religion in Scotland. Of course, Knox realizes that he's going to need more than an angry Scottish mob to block this--he'll need an angry Scottish mob and a reason to get the Lords to see that they should block this. And he thinks he got just the thing to do the job.
Is this, finally, what we've been waiting for? That for which we've been told to prepare ourselves? THE DISPUTE OF THE HYMNALS?!
Space Oddity said:
The second leg of de Villegaigon's journey is, thankfully, uneventful, and so by the end of the year, he is setting up his new colony in the bay the Portuguese call "Rio de Janeiro", complete with a new fort dubbed "Fort St. Dominic" by the rather disgruntled Catholics who make up the bulk of the colony's population. De Villegaigon settles down to the busy work of gathering brazilwood, making trade deals with the local Indian tribes, and basically ensuring "St. Dominic" is a viable colony.
So they
did find themselves at Rio de Janiero after all! We'll see how long they have to settle before the Portuguese come calling...
Space Oddity said:
Edward Tudor issues forth to collect the poor Jacques de Cleves body, as well as the cannonballs the battery fired. Those damn things are expensive. St. Denis is also gathered, and quickly redubbed St. George, an appropriate name, Edward notes, as the cannon was forged in Genoa. (This comment recieves baffled stares from his soldiers, causing the Duke to wonder why no one ever gets his jokes.)
Even more so than his cool under pressure in the face of death, I feel that this passage best personifies Edward Tudor, Duke of York.
Space Oddity said:
And so, it should surprise no one that she's now pregnant. But, to those who are looking askance at her, Princess Antoinette says that she has not been indulging in hanky-panky--she is... wait for it... MARRIED! Yes, at the beginning of the year, in secret, to Gabriel de Lorges, Count of Montgommery, and Captain of the Scots Guard[12]. Montgommery, when questioned, confirms this to be the case--he is Antoinette's husband, and the father to her unborn child.
You know, this going to make her marrying the Earl of Lennox
much more difficult
Space Oddity said:
(And more legalistically, it's questioned if Antoinette is even technically a Princess anymore, as both the English and Scottish Thrones declare that she and her issue have been removed from the succession.)
I assume that this would be necessary on the part of England because Henry IX passed an Act confirming his wife's place on the Succession, and therefore, those in her line of descent from Henry VII? Or was no Act passed in the first place that excluded the children of Margaret Tudor? In Scotland, obviously, Antoinette marrying without the permission of her sister would be enough to remove her issue from the succession - fortunately, we know that an act excluding
her won't be tested ITTL.
Space Oddity said:
And so, with that out of the way, the Elector of Saxony proceeds to start endearing himself to the Bohemians by attending Hussite services, with the Electress and his son in tow. He also works on soothing his wife's slightly hurt feelings at having her plan put on the backburner, by reminding her that she is the best damn wife in the entire Reich, as far he's concerned. Really, these are happy days for the Elector. He is fairly certain that things will be resolving themselves shortly, leaving him free to enjoy life, and maybe smash the Turk. John Frederick is at heart a man of small ambitions--he merely wants to be the greatest Protestant Prince in the Empire, the champion of Lutheranism, and the sword of God. Nothing to elaborate, when you get down to it.
And he could use more children. He just lost one, he needs to make up for that with making another! The Electress is still under 30, no time like the present!
Space Oddity said:
He exits the chapel, closing the door with a loud slam. Diane turns back to the coffin and begins to sob on it. Suddenly, the door opens again. Diane turns, blinking. Edward reenters the chapel, strides up to her, takes her by the shoulders, and pulls her in for a passionate kiss. The pair move backwards, with Diane winding up leaning on the coffin. There is a rustling of cloth and...
This dramatization is just like IOTL with Elizabeth and Leicester, always having to make everything explicit.
Also: Edward has a libido! I never would have guessed that! No, seriously, I
honestly thought he was asexual (or at least aromantic), as I'm sure many of us did.
Space Oddity said:
A secondary attack will occur in Trondelag--already, governor Eric Rosencrantz of Bergenhus gathers his troops and thousands of impressed peasants to attack the Swedish King's small force in Trondheim.
Are you sure he's not from Elsinore? And where is Governor Guildenstern?
Space Oddity said:
As Denmark and Sweden prepare for what will be known as 'the Long Northern War', Frederick takes what solace he can from a simple fact--Denmark is far richer than its foe, and should be able to outlast Sweden in any protracted struggle. Given time, he can doubtless reverse Eric's gains, and possibly make some of his own.
A war of attrition!
Those always end well
Space Oddity said:
After some debate, Parlement decides that this is probably legal, BUT that Henri should consult with the Estates General before taking such a step, which they emphasize is exceedingly momentous. Henri thanks them and proceeds to call for an Estates General next year so he can do just that. In the meantime, he starts referring to Ercule-Francois as the Dauphin. Just to get people... used to it. Also, he's engaging him to Renatta. So that he doesn't have to send Charles de Lorraine back the dowry.
So they're having the late Heir Apparent's widow marry the
new Heir Apparent (pending legislation). That sounds familiar to me... didn't somebody try that, and run into a whole lot of trouble once? Well, at least they've apparently confirmed that
la Dauphine is still a virgin. (I assume that somebody bothered to actually record that somewhere.)
But the good news is that there's going to be another Estates-General! One
without an OTL analogue, this time. That's a
very nice precedent.
Space Oddity said:
Lord Admiral Dudley prepares to take off for the city of Cork, England's one remaining stronghold in Ireland. His army is well-equipped and fairly large for an expedition into Ireland--Dudley is fairly certain it will make quick work of Shane O'Neill's Irish rabble. King Henry arrives to see it off, and awards the Lord Admiral with a new title for 'his many great services to the crown'--henceforth, John Dudley shall be--in addition to his previous titles of Viscount Lisle and Earl of Westmorland and Leicester--the Duke of Buckingham.
Well, he got a Duchy IOTL, as well, so it's not
too surprising - but some people collect titles the way others collect coins or stamps.
Space Oddity said:
--Christmas in Spain. The celebration is joyous this year, the Spanish House of Hapsburg has much to celebrate--Queen Maria and Princess Elizabeth are both pregnant again. Charles is jokingly suggesting he and his father serve as godparents to the others' child, a jest Philip does not appreciate.
Interesting that Elizabeth is with child again, when we note another royal couple, who married
before them, and are still awaiting a second pregnancy.
Space Oddity said:
Of course, Philip proceeds to demonstrate while this is futile hope by announcing that, naturally, with all these pregnancies in the family, he's going to have stay in Madrid. As Charles proceeds to win an awful lot of money, the attention turns to the Duke of Alba, who is pleased to announce he's gathered a large company of dedicated Spaniards, and is preparing to go to Naples, and gather an equally large company of dedicated Neapolitans, all to crush the heretics in the Empire. Philip is glad to hear it. True, things look bad for his family now--but they've bounced back before.
I'm increasingly looking forward to seeing how Cawwos takes over from Philip - I know that (assuming he dies on schedule) we still have thirty-five years to go, but I strongly suspect that critiquing how another man rules, and
actually ruling for yourself, require two considerably different skillsets.
Space Oddity said:
Christmas in England. It's being celebrated at a much later date then Spain, because remember, they aren't buying this whole Pietian Calender thing. Edward, Duke of York, is back, his return having been celebrated with fetes and parades, and songs being sung of the 'Man of Marble', the 'Second Black Prince'.
The "Man of Marble" nickname actually makes a lot more sense now - and it made sense before
anyway. Well done
Space Oddity said:
In the midst of all this praise, one subject does NOT come up--Diane de la Marck, who Edward has quietly installed in his apartments, and even introduced to his children. (Little Barbara is enchanted--little Edgar is... not.)
Is this a sign of general friction between Edward and his son? Perhaps Edgar takes after his father in that regard?
Space Oddity said:
No, no, Edward is certain that Henry will, given time and the right amount of prompting, see his way to letting his brother marry his French lady-love. After all, he owes Edward this much.
And even their tyrannical father allowed his sister to marry the man she loved. Granted, said man
was his best friend, but still.
Space Oddity said:
The King of England and Queen of Scots are left wondering what all this means.
But not before they conceive more children of their own, to secure their thrones! Come on, Tudor fecundity, now isn't the time to slow down!
Oh well, there's always 1563. Here's hoping that it's a better year! (2013, too
)