Terms of the Treaty of Crépy (1544):
-Both King Francis I of France and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor abandon their various conflicting claims and restore the status quo of 1538: the Emperor would relinquish his claim to the Duchy of Burgundy and the King of France would do the same in regards to the Kingdom of Naples, as well as renouncing his claims to Flanders and Artois.
-The Duke of Orleans would marry either HRE's daughter Maria of Austria or his neice, Anna of Austria. The choice would be made by HRE. If the young Duke was to marry Maria, the bride would receive the Netherlands and Franche-Comté as a dowry, whilst Orléans would be granted the duchies of Bourbon, Chatellerault and Angouleme. In the second instance, if the Duke married Anna of Austria, she would instead receive as a dowry the Duchy of Milan.
-King Francis would assist Charles V against the Ottomans-but not, officially, against the heretics of his own domains.
-King Francis would assist Charles with reforming the church, with calling a General Council, and with suppressing Protestantism- by force if necessary.
The treaty was pretty unpopular with King Henry VIII of England, the Dauphin of France and the Sultan. However, it does seem both parties were actually going to commit to this, King Francis already taking steps to fulfil his side of the bargain. However, the treaty was rendered moot in 1545 with the death of the young Duke of Orléans.
POD: Charles of Valois, Duke of Orleans, does not die in 1545 after taking a jolly stroll through a plague-infested village for shits and giggles. Instead, he lives.
Of the two proposed marriages, I think a marriage to Maria of Austria would be the most interesting:
-The Dauphin of France, future King Henry II, resented his brother Charles, Duke of Orleans, due to him being their father’s very obvious favourite. Tensions between the two would only get worse once you give Charles is own domains with the power of a monarch and make him completely independent from his brother (plus, Henry was not a fan of the idea of his little brother marrying the eldest daughter of the HRE, whilst all he got was a Medici).
-They would rule the Netherlands, so, there is most certainly going to be some problems there (Maria was an incredibly staunch Catholic, there is gunna be no swaying her towards any sort of leniency for protestants, think Bloody Mary with some charisma).
-Any children of theirs (if events were to go similarly as OTL) have a good chance of ruling France.
-Charles’s position at the French court would be incredibly interesting; the most powerful noble there by far, with strong ties to the HRE and future King of Spain, and beloved and trusted by the nobles (who in OTL would have preferred he take the throne over his brother).
P.S: when researching I try to avoid Wikipedia, or at least only use it as a starting point. HOWEVER, ‘Charles II de Valois, Duke of Orléans’ page is the first time I have ever laughed reading Wikipedia:
“On 6 September, they came across a cluster of houses that had been emptied and sealed off "from the plague"—probably a form of influenza. Stating that "no son of a King of France ever died of plague", Charles entered some of the infected houses with his brother.[3] Laughing, he slashed at bedding with his sword and started a pillow fight with some of his traveling companions. Stories have also been told of him (on a dare) lying down on one of the infected beds and rolling around on the bedding.”
“Charles was known for his wild antics. Stories have it that once he jumped up behind Charles V, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, and his father's sworn enemy and shouted, "You are my prisoner". Apparently, Charles V spurred his horse into a frantic gallop without once looking behind him. His brother, Henry, was delighted at the fright his brother gave the Emperor.”
(He would be so fun to write!)
So, what would have to happen to ensure Charle’s marriage to Maria of Austria rather than Anna of Austria?
-Both King Francis I of France and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor abandon their various conflicting claims and restore the status quo of 1538: the Emperor would relinquish his claim to the Duchy of Burgundy and the King of France would do the same in regards to the Kingdom of Naples, as well as renouncing his claims to Flanders and Artois.
-The Duke of Orleans would marry either HRE's daughter Maria of Austria or his neice, Anna of Austria. The choice would be made by HRE. If the young Duke was to marry Maria, the bride would receive the Netherlands and Franche-Comté as a dowry, whilst Orléans would be granted the duchies of Bourbon, Chatellerault and Angouleme. In the second instance, if the Duke married Anna of Austria, she would instead receive as a dowry the Duchy of Milan.
-King Francis would assist Charles V against the Ottomans-but not, officially, against the heretics of his own domains.
-King Francis would assist Charles with reforming the church, with calling a General Council, and with suppressing Protestantism- by force if necessary.
The treaty was pretty unpopular with King Henry VIII of England, the Dauphin of France and the Sultan. However, it does seem both parties were actually going to commit to this, King Francis already taking steps to fulfil his side of the bargain. However, the treaty was rendered moot in 1545 with the death of the young Duke of Orléans.
POD: Charles of Valois, Duke of Orleans, does not die in 1545 after taking a jolly stroll through a plague-infested village for shits and giggles. Instead, he lives.
Of the two proposed marriages, I think a marriage to Maria of Austria would be the most interesting:
-The Dauphin of France, future King Henry II, resented his brother Charles, Duke of Orleans, due to him being their father’s very obvious favourite. Tensions between the two would only get worse once you give Charles is own domains with the power of a monarch and make him completely independent from his brother (plus, Henry was not a fan of the idea of his little brother marrying the eldest daughter of the HRE, whilst all he got was a Medici).
-They would rule the Netherlands, so, there is most certainly going to be some problems there (Maria was an incredibly staunch Catholic, there is gunna be no swaying her towards any sort of leniency for protestants, think Bloody Mary with some charisma).
-Any children of theirs (if events were to go similarly as OTL) have a good chance of ruling France.
-Charles’s position at the French court would be incredibly interesting; the most powerful noble there by far, with strong ties to the HRE and future King of Spain, and beloved and trusted by the nobles (who in OTL would have preferred he take the throne over his brother).
P.S: when researching I try to avoid Wikipedia, or at least only use it as a starting point. HOWEVER, ‘Charles II de Valois, Duke of Orléans’ page is the first time I have ever laughed reading Wikipedia:
“On 6 September, they came across a cluster of houses that had been emptied and sealed off "from the plague"—probably a form of influenza. Stating that "no son of a King of France ever died of plague", Charles entered some of the infected houses with his brother.[3] Laughing, he slashed at bedding with his sword and started a pillow fight with some of his traveling companions. Stories have also been told of him (on a dare) lying down on one of the infected beds and rolling around on the bedding.”
“Charles was known for his wild antics. Stories have it that once he jumped up behind Charles V, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, and his father's sworn enemy and shouted, "You are my prisoner". Apparently, Charles V spurred his horse into a frantic gallop without once looking behind him. His brother, Henry, was delighted at the fright his brother gave the Emperor.”
(He would be so fun to write!)
So, what would have to happen to ensure Charle’s marriage to Maria of Austria rather than Anna of Austria?