TLIAW: The Cornucopia that is England

1245 - 1246 AD:

Richard Plantagenet, Earl of Cornwall, was the younger brother of King Henry III and the second son of the despised John Lackland. By 1245, Richard had one surviving child from his marriage to Isabel Marshal, a son named Henry. In 1243, he remarried to Sanchia of Provence, sister of Queen Eleanor of Provence. The two had already met when Richard was on his journey to the Holy Land and they had fallen passionately in love.

Richard's brother, Henry III, was, overall, a kind but ineffectual monarch. He had tried several times to reconquer lands held by his father - Normandy, Anjou, Maine and Poitou. And every time he dithered which led to his father-in-law, Hugh de Lusginan, withdrawing his promised support. His marriage to Eleanor of Provence had given him two sons and two daughters. It had also brought several of his wife's relatives from Savoy, one of whom was now the Archbishop of Canterbury. Needless to say, this wasn't popular with the barons. Things took a sudden turn for the worse when their newborn son, Edmund, suddenly died the same year. Worse, the next year, their eldest son Edward, fell terribly ill. There had always been concerns about the prince's health, and despite the best efforts of those around him, the boy's life could not be saved. Henry was devastated and fell into a deep depression.

The succession had been thrown into question. By proximity of blood, Richard was next in line. That was how their father had succeeded Richard the Lionheart. By primogeniture, Henry's daughter Margaret was next in line. But Margaret was just six years old, and no woman had ever ruled England in her own right. And then there was Simon de Montfort. He had married the king's sister, something Richard had vehemently objected to, and she had given him four sons. Should Simon or one of his sons be named heir? Simon certainly thought so. Henry had little say in the matter because before the year was out, he was dead in his bed.

No one knew for certain what killed the king. Richard's enemies, including the former Queen, would accuse him of poisoning her husband and their sons. There were even some who dared to claim the king had committed suicide. Henry was extremely pious and would not have dared place his immortal soul in jeopardy by doing such a thing. In the end, most people accepted that the death of his sons made him lose the will to live, or simply that God had decided his time was up, or that he was just plain ill. Whatever the reason, Richard was crowned in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day as King Richard II of England.
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Hello, everyone. I know I haven't finished Angelus Hispaniae yet, but my mind drifted back to this idea and I thought I'd write it down while it was still fresh in my mind. Like Angelus Hispaniae, it probably won't be finished in a week. Long story short, from what I've read about Richard, Earl of Cornwall, it seems like he'd have made a better king than his brother. Unfortunately, this means killing off Edward I, one of my favourite English monarchs.

All thoughts, comments and helpful suggestions are welcome.
 
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Bumping again for interest.

I thought about who Richard's son, Henry, might take for a royal bride, and I'm deciding between Christina of Norway, daughter of Haakon IV, or Violant of Aragon, daughter of King James.

Thoughts?
 
Bumping again for interest.

I thought about who Richard's son, Henry, might take for a royal bride, and I'm deciding between Christina of Norway, daughter of Haakon IV, or Violant of Aragon, daughter of King James.

Thoughts?

He would have to marrying Henry III's daughter unless she's dead.
 
Actually Margaret wouldn't be next in line as the succession rules still exclude women. They could transmit it to their sons so if Margaret had had a son at Henry III's death then he'd be King.
As such Richard and his line would be next, then the Montfort line, with the proviso of royal backing to add in Margaret's line if she has any.
So no question on Richard and his line succeeding but questions about how close the Montforts are getting to royalty could lead to issues later on e.g. War of the Roses style.
 
He would have to marrying Henry III's daughter unless she's dead.

Where's the fun in that?

Actually Margaret wouldn't be next in line as the succession rules still exclude women. They could transmit it to their sons so if Margaret had had a son at Henry III's death then he'd be King.
As such Richard and his line would be next, then the Montfort line, with the proviso of royal backing to add in Margaret's line if she has any.
So no question on Richard and his line succeeding but questions about how close the Montforts are getting to royalty could lead to issues later on e.g. War of the Roses style.

Thanks for clearing that up. Would it be easier for Richard and his successors to try and change the succession laws the way Philip V of France came up with Salic law IOTL, or to place Margaret and Beatrice under house arrest or in a convent?

Any other thoughts on who Richard should marry his son to - Violant of Aragon of Christina of Norway?
 
Thanks for clearing that up. Would it be easier for Richard and his successors to try and change the succession laws the way Philip V of France came up with Salic law IOTL, or to place Margaret and Beatrice under house arrest or in a convent?

Some of the Plantagenet kings set up succession laws that were later changed. I think Edward II went for Salic succession before the Lancasters or Yorks changed it in the War of the Roses.

Who's Beatrice?
Margaret would likely have her marriage authorisable by the Crown only. With her son's rights to the succession determined by the Crown and it's relationship with the Montforts to whether her line comes before the Montfort line or behind it.
Interestingly Margaret would have a strong claim to Aquitaine since her father was said Duke, so expect France to champion her rights to the Duchy (only) as a way to weaken the English presence in France.
As such she may be confined to a nunnery and/or never marry.
Any other thoughts on who Richard should marry his son to - Violant of Aragon of Christina of Norway?

I would suggest Aragon based on previous association with them against Castille and France. Especially if France is claiming Margaret as Duchess of Aquitaine.
 
Some of the Plantagenet kings set up succession laws that were later changed. I think Edward II went for Salic succession before the Lancasters or Yorks changed it in the War of the Roses.

Who's Beatrice?
Margaret would likely have her marriage authorisable by the Crown only. With her son's rights to the succession determined by the Crown and it's relationship with the Montforts to whether her line comes before the Montfort line or behind it.
Interestingly Margaret would have a strong claim to Aquitaine since her father was said Duke, so expect France to champion her rights to the Duchy (only) as a way to weaken the English presence in France.
As such she may be confined to a nunnery and/or never marry.


I would suggest Aragon based on previous association with them against Castille and France. Especially if France is claiming Margaret as Duchess of Aquitaine.

Margaret could marry her first cousin with dispensation.
 
Some of the Plantagenet kings set up succession laws that were later changed. I think Edward II went for Salic succession before the Lancasters or Yorks changed it in the War of the Roses.

Who's Beatrice?
Margaret would likely have her marriage authorisable by the Crown only. With her son's rights to the succession determined by the Crown and it's relationship with the Montforts to whether her line comes before the Montfort line or behind it.
Interestingly Margaret would have a strong claim to Aquitaine since her father was said Duke, so expect France to champion her rights to the Duchy (only) as a way to weaken the English presence in France.
As such she may be confined to a nunnery and/or never marry.


I would suggest Aragon based on previous association with them against Castille and France. Especially if France is claiming Margaret as Duchess of Aquitaine.

Okay. I could be wrong, but it might have been Edward IIII who did that. I found out something similar finding out if Richard II's heir, in the event of his death, would be his uncle, John of Gaunt, or his cousin, Philippa, daughter of Lionel, Duke of Clarence.

Beatrice was the second surviving daughter of Henry III and Eleanor of Provence. IOTL, she married John of Dreux, Duke of Brittany. As an aside, she was born in Bordeaux whereas Margaret was born in Windsor castle.

I'm starting to lean more towards Aragon. But then I read and found she had been betrothed to Alfonso X of Castile since 1246. Oops. Well, there's always her sister Constance. Or if not her, I could keep the alliance in mind and have a future daughter marry a future son of Richard and Sancha.

I just had another thought. If Eleanor of Provence ever decided to go home, would she be allowed to take her daughters with her?
 
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