WI: Anne Boleyn gives birth to a daughter in 1536?

Basically, instead of miscarrying as son shortly after the death of Catherine of Aragon, Anne manages a healthy daughter, most likely named Margaret?

Things that will probably happen:
- Anne isn't immediately set aside and probably isn't executed that year.

- Jane Seymour doesn't become Queen and thus Edward VI is butterflied away.
 
The Early Life of Margaret Tudor


Margaret Tudor was born at Hampton Court Palace on the 12th of June and was named after her great-grandmother, Margaret Beaufort. She was the second child of Henry VIII of England born in wedlock to Anne Boleyn, and his third daughter (the others were Mary Tudor and Elizabeth Tudor). Her mother, Henry VIII's second wife Anne Boleyn, was at the centre of many rumours at the time and would in 1540 die at the executioner’s hand. Margaret was baptised on 16th of June. Her godparents were the Duchess of Richmond, the Earl of Surrey, the Duke of Lorraine and the Lady Margaret Douglas, who would soon after fall from favour.

When Margaret was one year and nine months old her sister was betrothed to the Duke of Orleans while Margaret was betrothed to the Italian Alfonso d'Este, cousin to the Duke of Orleans. This was all by the complete efforts of Queen Anne, who felt this was a recognition of her legitimacy as Queen of England. However, this would be her final victory.

Margaret’s mother was executed on 21st of March 1540. Elizabeth and Margaret Tudor were declared illegitimate and, until the Succession Act of 1544, deprived of their place in the royal succession. Eleven days after Anne Boleyn's death, Henry VIII married Jane Seymour, his mistress prior to the death of Anne. They would remain married until her death in 1543, when she would give birth to the longest living legitimate son of Henry VIII, Edward Tudor. This son was the couple’s second child, as they had suffered a stillborn daughter in 1541. However, this Prince of Wales would die in 1546 and Henry would die knowing his heir was a woman.

The other stepmother of Margaret Tudor was Mary Neville, the daughter of Sir Edward Neville and Eleanor Windsor, who had once been a great friend of the King’s and, after his death in 1538, was remembered fondly by the monarch. Mary became Queen of England in 1545 would act as a caretaker to the King in his final years. She was not close to any of her stepchildren and actively shunned Mary Tudor throughout her time as Queen, and thus found herself shunned after 1547.

Margaret would never marry Alfonso d’Este and was unattached as of her father’s death. She was 11 years old and showed intellectual promise, though both she and her sister were sadly neglected in the later years of their father’s death in terms of their education, though both would be known for their gifts for languages and Margaret would, until her death, have a reputation for her good mind for numbers.
 
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The Life of Margaret Tudor during the reign of Mary I of England (1547-1558)

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Margaret Tudor -circa 1548-

In 1547 Mary Tudor, eldest daughter of Henry VIII of England, ascended to the throne as Queen of England. Her ascension was surprisingly popular and many, including her cousin Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, thought she would face troubles due to her gender. However, due to the lack of male contenders, Mary Tudor was extremely popular and thus she became the Queen.

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Mary Tudor, Queen of England -circa 1549-

Margaret would be the preferred of Mary's sisters and thus would earn the enmity of Elizabeth Tudor, who would instead be viewed under suspicion due to her more overtly Protestant ways. This would create a divide between the sisters and in 1551 Mary would say:

"...and one is of her mother and one is of our father..."​

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Elizabeth Tudor -circa 1549-

Mary married quickly after her accession, to her joy finally married the man she had been promised to as a child, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. Even after he had doubted her chances of holding the throne Charles von Hapsburg represented the ties to her legitimacy. The two met in 1549 after Mary left England for a time and in 1550 Mary announced her first pregnancy. The child of this union would be John von Habsburg, Prince of Wales.

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Charles von Hapsburg, Holy Roman Emperor -circa 1548-

The small Prince was weak, however he did not immediately die. Mary would return to England in early 1551, only to find she was again pregnant. This child, born in England, was named Catherine von Hapsburg. However, this second child would die in November of that year and the Prince of Wales would die in early 1552. Charles would come in England in 1553 and the couple would try for a child again until 1554, when Mary felt she was pregnant and thus they would separate for the final time.

Mary would leave her confinement in late 1554 and many would say she either suffered a miscarriage or had never been pregnant in the first place. With the knowledge she would have to leave England to try for another child and the growing support for a Protestant Rebellion under Elizabeth Tudor. And so, in 1555 Elizabeth Tudor was sent to the tower until 1556, when she was married off to Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria. She was thus sent to Austria and would remain there until Mary's death in 1558, when she would return to be crowned Queen.

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Elizabeth Tudor -circa 1555-

Margaret stayed mostly away from the drama of her sisters, living in her estates (mostly Hever Castle) and entertaining various noblemen and women. Finally, in 1557, Margaret was married off to Francesco de' Medici, future Duke of Tuscany. The two would meet in 1558 and Margaret would not enter England ever again.


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Margaret Tudor - circa 1558-
 
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