The Avenger
Banned
I wanted to spice things up and thus came up with this scenario:
John of Bourbon, Count of Vendome (this guy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_VIII,_Count_of_Vendôme ; he's the male-line great-great-grandfather of French King Henry IV) dies before he is able to have a son. As a result, the Bourbon-Vendome line (which succeeded to the French throne in 1589 in our TL) becomes extinct. Ignoring butterflies, the senior line of the House of Bourbon (the Dukes of Bourbon) will become extinct in 1527 while the cadet branch of Bourbon-Duisant will become extinct in 1530. In 1530, the House of Bourbon is completely extinct in the male line.
Again, ignoring butterflies, the House of Valois becomes extinct in the late 16th century. Of course, we can move up the date of their extinction to the 17th century due to butterflies, if you like.
Here's the fun part, though: Francis II, Duke of Brittany (this guy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_II,_Duke_of_Brittany ; he's from the House of Dreux, which is a cadet branch of the Capetians) has a surviving son in this TL. This surviving son ensures the continuation of the House of Dreux and ensures that they would be the senior Capetian branch upon the extinction of the House of Valois.
Now, in either the late 16th or 17th centuries, the House of Valois becomes extinct. Now, the question is--does the House of Dreux have what it takes to succeed to the French throne?
Please note that Henry IV of France (from the Bourbon-Vendome branch, in our TL) was a tenth-generation male-line (agnatic) descendant of French King Louis IX. In contrast, the House of Dreux are male-line descendants of French King Louis VI, who reigned 1.5 centuries before Louis IX. Thus, instead of 10 generations separating a claimant from a French King, we're going to be talking about 15 or more generations here. Would the Valois be willing to recognize their 15+th cousins as their successors upon their extinction in the male line in this TL?
Thoughts?
John of Bourbon, Count of Vendome (this guy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_VIII,_Count_of_Vendôme ; he's the male-line great-great-grandfather of French King Henry IV) dies before he is able to have a son. As a result, the Bourbon-Vendome line (which succeeded to the French throne in 1589 in our TL) becomes extinct. Ignoring butterflies, the senior line of the House of Bourbon (the Dukes of Bourbon) will become extinct in 1527 while the cadet branch of Bourbon-Duisant will become extinct in 1530. In 1530, the House of Bourbon is completely extinct in the male line.
Again, ignoring butterflies, the House of Valois becomes extinct in the late 16th century. Of course, we can move up the date of their extinction to the 17th century due to butterflies, if you like.
Here's the fun part, though: Francis II, Duke of Brittany (this guy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_II,_Duke_of_Brittany ; he's from the House of Dreux, which is a cadet branch of the Capetians) has a surviving son in this TL. This surviving son ensures the continuation of the House of Dreux and ensures that they would be the senior Capetian branch upon the extinction of the House of Valois.
Now, in either the late 16th or 17th centuries, the House of Valois becomes extinct. Now, the question is--does the House of Dreux have what it takes to succeed to the French throne?
Please note that Henry IV of France (from the Bourbon-Vendome branch, in our TL) was a tenth-generation male-line (agnatic) descendant of French King Louis IX. In contrast, the House of Dreux are male-line descendants of French King Louis VI, who reigned 1.5 centuries before Louis IX. Thus, instead of 10 generations separating a claimant from a French King, we're going to be talking about 15 or more generations here. Would the Valois be willing to recognize their 15+th cousins as their successors upon their extinction in the male line in this TL?
Thoughts?