For one, female line succession is barred, or at least relegated to a very secondary position (ie, uncles inheriting ahead of nieces and the like).
Well, Stephen was King, and was more of an English leader than his competitor, Matilde, was.
He was still a Usurper (yea and i get how hypcritical that sounds)
The only way for a Blois succesion to ever happen really is if they win the Anarchy outright....otherwise it'll just continue down the next generation, no matter if Eustace survives or not
Surely that would depend on the quality of later Blois rulers?That makes sense. But if he won, would the Blois hold the throne for long, or would it fall apart soon after. I can see maybe 100 of years of Blois, leading to who knows what in the future.
That makes sense. But if he won, would the Blois hold the throne for long, or would it fall apart soon after. I can see maybe 100 of years of Blois, leading to who knows what in the future.
Second, if Empress Matilda had a son with HRE Henry V, wouldn't she be more interested in trying to make him HRE than King of England? Remember, she was raised in Germany from a young age and was rather snobbish about it. She'd probably want Normandy, but I don't know that she'd try all that hard to get England if she already had the Empire.
See, i would agree with this. But i would think it depends on how long the Salian Henry V lives, TBH, and whether or not the germans actually think that adding England to their lands is worthwhile.
He did that anyway in OTL. Northumbria and Cumbria he practically dominated. He just had to give it all up to Henry II when he arrived, or his son did anyway.Also, David of Scotland might take the opportunity to expand his borders. The Welsh would probably do the same.
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Thinking about it, I think the whole thing would devolve into a big war over the Norman succession with England being a fringe benefit if it factored into it at all. You'd have Stephen and Matilda as well as Stephen's brothers, especially Theobald of Champagne, fighting over it with Geoffrey of Anjou and Conan of Brittany joining in just because. And also add in the King of France, probably supporting Stephen or another brother that isn't Theobald.
First, Empress Matilda's mother was Henry's first wife, Edith of Scotland. Edith changed her name to Matilda upon her marriage.
Second, if Empress Matilda had a son with HRE Henry V, wouldn't she be more interested in trying to make him HRE than King of England? Remember, she was raised in Germany from a young age and was rather snobbish about it. She'd probably want Normandy, but I don't know that she'd try all that hard to get England if she already had the Empire. Maybe a marriage would be in store for young Henry with one of Stephen's daughters (he had three Matilda, Marie, and Adela).
Third, Stephen actually had Matilda trapped in Arundel Castle at the beginning of the Anarchy, but he let her go. Of course, Stephen himself was captured later on at the Battle of Lincoln. He was freed through the efforts of his wife, yet another Matilda. Personally, I've always thought she should've left him there and conducted the war herself. She was far more ruthless than he.
And fourth, the name Eustace comes from his maternal grandfather, Eustace of Boulogne. I agree it's a terrible name (sorry to all the Eustaces out there), but it's unlikely he'd have been named something else unless he had a different mother.
Quite the mess, isn't it? Especially considering that Geoffrey of Anjou's claim was strengthened OTL by his marriage to Matilda, this time around it is weaker. But considering he was a conniving bastard, and OTL Henry II certainly inherited that, i do not think much would actually change.
Louis Vi and Louis VII. They would interfere and would most likley take the Duchy away from whoever holds the title and give it to someone else. In France, the most likely candidate would be Geoffrey of Anjou, unless they reimburse it to the crown like the English did with House Lancaster. French heir to the Throne is Duke of Normandy.
The problem is Matilda though. Would her son, ATL Henry VI, actually try for England, given that he is a German in every way.