WI:Anne of Cleves

What if Henry VIII stayed with Anne of Cleves and they had a son, presumably called Henry? How would this affect the Protestant Reformation, as Henry IX would be Protestant? What if?
 
POD: Make Anne of Cleves less catastrophically hard on the eyes. :p

... Although a quick Google search reveals this particular 'fact' to be suspect. Stupid history, always being more complicated than it seems at face value...
 
POD: Make Anne of Cleves less catastrophically hard on the eyes. :p

... Although a quick Google search reveals this particular 'fact' to be suspect. Stupid history, always being more complicated than it seems at face value...

"Flanders Mare" was later invention, there are no records about Henry even saying that about her.
 
The WI problem is not with the Anne, it's with Henry.

His obesity induced impotence precludes fathering children by this point in time.
 
The WI problem is not with the Anne, it's with Henry.

His obesity induced impotence precludes fathering children by this point in time.

Additionally, by the time Anne arrived in England, or shortly thereafter, Henry's eyes (among other parts) were focused upon the 17 year old Catherine Howard. Now, if Francis Dereham, her former lover, were to give Catherine an STD or impregnate her before she arrives at court, then Anne's marriage may have a chance - though that alone wouldn't alter Henry's impotence issues.
 
I always thought Henry did have sex with Catherine Howard. Definitely he was incapable by Katherine Parr's time.
 
Everybody's forgetting here that Henry VIII already had a son by this point. Jane Seymour died giving birth to the future Edward VI...
 
Everybody's forgetting here that Henry VIII already had a son by this point. Jane Seymour died giving birth to the future Edward VI...
Edward died in 1553, though. A younger brother would come to the throne before Mary & Elizabeth and likely pre-empt the Jane Grey affair.
 
POD: Make Anne of Cleves less catastrophically hard on the eyes. :p

... Although a quick Google search reveals this particular 'fact' to be suspect. Stupid history, always being more complicated than it seems at face value...

Going by the official portrait, I think she was rather pretty. Or certainly not ugly enough to start international incidents.

Anyway, there already was a militantly Protestant son, Edward VI. Make him healthier and I think you see a decidedly more reformed Church of England.
However, I think he would have seen his share of unrest, given how Catholic England was even after Henry.
 
Top