The Union of the White and Red Roses - A Collaborative Timeline
- Thread starter EdwardRex
- Start date
A Plot in Navarre
Zaragoza, 4 April 1483: With Infanta Leonor of Portugal taken off the market, the Catholic Monarchs turn back to their allies in Navarre and sign a treaty with Pierre de Foix, promising a marriage between Infanta Catherine and Prince Juan of Asturias and Girona, without the consent of Princess Regent Madeleine.
Pamplona, 28 May 1483: Having discovered the treachery of her brother-in-law, Pierre de Foix, Madeleine, regent of Navarre, attempts to smuggle her daughter Catherine into France, where she would shelter at the court of her cousin, King Charles VIII.
However, the scheme is found out. A coalition of lords who support Aragon displace Madeleine from the regency and send Infanta Catherine to Spain, even though Prince Juan is only nine.
Wiener Neustadt, 6 August 1483: Archduke Maximilian betroths his daughter Eleanor to her distant cousin, Maximilian von Sachsen. Five-year-old Eleanor, upon learning that Maximilian spoke French among his family, takes to corresponding with him in the language, displaying her great intelligence and already impressing her notoriously-strict future mother-in-law, Anne de France.
Pamplona, 28 May 1483: Having discovered the treachery of her brother-in-law, Pierre de Foix, Madeleine, regent of Navarre, attempts to smuggle her daughter Catherine into France, where she would shelter at the court of her cousin, King Charles VIII.
However, the scheme is found out. A coalition of lords who support Aragon displace Madeleine from the regency and send Infanta Catherine to Spain, even though Prince Juan is only nine.
Wiener Neustadt, 6 August 1483: Archduke Maximilian betroths his daughter Eleanor to her distant cousin, Maximilian von Sachsen. Five-year-old Eleanor, upon learning that Maximilian spoke French among his family, takes to corresponding with him in the language, displaying her great intelligence and already impressing her notoriously-strict future mother-in-law, Anne de France.
Austrian Affairs
Tyrol, 21 January 1484: The betrothal between Emma of Burgundy and Maximilian of Austria is finalised and made official. Now on the cusp of turning twelve years old, the little princess dotes on her niece Eleanor, but her long dream of becoming a great lady has never left her mind. So, for most of the time, she sits by Maximilian’s side as he holds court. His kinsman, Archduke Sigismund, is an ill and old man (even though he’s set to marry the young Katharina of Saxony), so at the behest of Maximilian’s father the Emperor, Maximilian has stepped in as regent of Further Austria (secretly intending to pass the lands down to any further sons he may have with Emma). But Maximilian’s relationship with his young bride becomes slightly fraught when the girl discovers that he has taken mistresses, and becomes afraid of being abandoned for one of them when Maximilian marries her. So, she attempts to avoid him.
“Emma, what’s wrong?” Maximilian asks that night, as he comes to her bedroom to read to her, like he so often has done to her ever since Marie’s death, three years ago. “Emma, look at me, please….” The Archduke presses.
“Why don’t you go read to your women instead?” Emma says bitingly, back turned to him. “You don’t need me anymore. In fact, I’m not sure you even want this marriage. You’re only betrothed to me because my sister asked you to!”
“Emma….” Maximilian sighs. He’d known this would become a problem, but he never expected it to happen so soon. Regardless, he senses the fear behind her words. “What are you afraid of, schatz [darling]?”
“We’ll be married when I’m older, but… I know you’re going to keep those women. And I’m going to Empress in name only.” She begins to sniff, her back turned to him. “You’ll abandon me.”
“That’s not true, Emma. I made a promise to Marie, and I intend to keep it.” Maximilian says, putting a hand on her shoulder. “How about I promise you something, hmm?”
“Oh?” That catches Emma’s attention, and she looks him in the eye.
“I promise that after we’re married, I’ll send those women back. And before you ask, no, they’re not carrying my children.” Maximilian says earnestly. “They’re just reliefs, Emma. But when you’re old enough, and we’ve married before God, you’ll be my one and only. I promise you on my own soul.”
“Then…. Will you read to me?” She asks with a soft smile.
“Of course. I know how much you love Siegfried, so let me read you some of his stories….”
Snuggling against Maximilian, little Emma allows herself to dream of the Germanic dragon slayer, but this time, he looks much more like Maximilian than she’d previously imagined.
Trier, 20 September 1484: Emma of Burgundy’s twelfth birthday is marked by grand celebrations, as well as a joust, during which Maximilian himself – disguised as the noble knight Freydal – proudly wears little Emma’s blue-and-gold favor, and not the favor of any mistress. Afterwards, when he wins the joust, he publicly goes riding with his young wife-to-be, as a show of unity and to honor the promises he made to both Marie and Emma.
“Emma, what’s wrong?” Maximilian asks that night, as he comes to her bedroom to read to her, like he so often has done to her ever since Marie’s death, three years ago. “Emma, look at me, please….” The Archduke presses.
“Why don’t you go read to your women instead?” Emma says bitingly, back turned to him. “You don’t need me anymore. In fact, I’m not sure you even want this marriage. You’re only betrothed to me because my sister asked you to!”
“Emma….” Maximilian sighs. He’d known this would become a problem, but he never expected it to happen so soon. Regardless, he senses the fear behind her words. “What are you afraid of, schatz [darling]?”
“We’ll be married when I’m older, but… I know you’re going to keep those women. And I’m going to Empress in name only.” She begins to sniff, her back turned to him. “You’ll abandon me.”
“That’s not true, Emma. I made a promise to Marie, and I intend to keep it.” Maximilian says, putting a hand on her shoulder. “How about I promise you something, hmm?”
“Oh?” That catches Emma’s attention, and she looks him in the eye.
“I promise that after we’re married, I’ll send those women back. And before you ask, no, they’re not carrying my children.” Maximilian says earnestly. “They’re just reliefs, Emma. But when you’re old enough, and we’ve married before God, you’ll be my one and only. I promise you on my own soul.”
“Then…. Will you read to me?” She asks with a soft smile.
“Of course. I know how much you love Siegfried, so let me read you some of his stories….”
Snuggling against Maximilian, little Emma allows herself to dream of the Germanic dragon slayer, but this time, he looks much more like Maximilian than she’d previously imagined.
Trier, 20 September 1484: Emma of Burgundy’s twelfth birthday is marked by grand celebrations, as well as a joust, during which Maximilian himself – disguised as the noble knight Freydal – proudly wears little Emma’s blue-and-gold favor, and not the favor of any mistress. Afterwards, when he wins the joust, he publicly goes riding with his young wife-to-be, as a show of unity and to honor the promises he made to both Marie and Emma.
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French Affairs
1484: Charlotte of Savoy dies after a short battle with sickness, this leads Elizabeth of York to take the reins of the regency much to Louis of Orlean's anger. Jeanne of Bourbon seeing an opprtune weakness between the dauphinist and orleanist faction, secretly contacts with Charles the Bold of Burgundy and Louis of Orleans and calls the accusation of her sheltering Anne false and leads Bourbon and Orleans in a war for control for France. Burgundy now begins to back the orleanists cash and men. They also begin negotiations with Charles and Elizabeth over the feudal contract. King Charles VIII calls upon his English allies through his wife to assist them in this war. The English king is divided in his support while the Spanish, who see a chance to ruin France and gain retake their lands in Foix as with Madeline gone, Charlotte and the regency of France saw a reason to seize those lands as according to them the removal was illegitimate and Spanish manipulation take up the Orleanist call to arms.
(Honestly this timeline is kinda dead but I will spark chaos
)
(Honestly this timeline is kinda dead but I will spark chaos
)
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Elizabeth of York would assume the regency over Louis.1484: Charlotte of Savoy dies after a short battle with sickness, this leads Louis of Orleans to take the reins of the regency. Jeanne of Bourbon seeing an opprtune weakness between the dauphinist and orleanist faction, secretly contacts with Charles the Bold of Burgundy and calls the accusation of her sheltering Anne false and leads Bourbon and Burgundy in a war for control. King Charles VIII calls upon his English allies through his wife to assist them in this war. The English king is divided in his support while the Spanish, who see a chance to seize Navarre take up the Burgundian call to arms.
(Honestly this timeline is kinda dead but I will spark chaos
Catherine of Navarre is already basically married to Juan of Spain, so the Spanish don’t really have a reason to get involved.
But the regency didn't want that to happen so like the Spanish wanted to play it safe + an excuse to dunk on the French
That's why there is a fight between the orleanist and dauphins. Louis is just faster than Elizabeth heh.
Emma’s Sadness
1484. Maximilian decided to break off his engagement to Emma because she was too young and marry another older princess. However, seeing the princess's sadness, he abandoned his plans, especially because his children, Eleanor and Rudolf, really liked Emma. However, he moved the wedding date to an unspecified date and found the company of his mistress. Emma was depressed about the whole situation.
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What do you mean, exactly? The regency of Navarre? Because Madeleine of France was ousted by the Beaumonts and Catherine is living in Spain. Now, Francis Phoebus is still alive, but you know how Ferdinand II deals with inconvenient kings.
DO NOT BREAK Maximilian and Emma's engagement.
I already discussed this with @EdwardRex (the OP of the thread) and they ARE marrying in 1486.
She’s in the capital beside her husband. Unless Louis teleports Elizabeth would seize control quicker.
No one sentence updates.
Technically there is no set year.
You need to remove that, it’s ASB.Well, let's just go with he has some magic political power