WI: Berenguela's Marriage to Konrad of Hohenstaufen Never Dissolved

Queen Berengaria was the eldest daughter of Alfonso VIII of Castile and Eleanor of England. Originally she was married to Konrad II, Duke of Swabia, but the marriage was later broken (according to wiki, Berengaria was influenced by third parties - like Eleanor of Aquitaine) and Berengaria married Alfonso IX of Léon instead, while Konrad was later murdered in Germany.

So, what if Berengaria was to marry Konrad? Hohenstaufen Castile perhaps? Or would a change in 1191 mean that her younger brothers' can avoid their fatal fever (and perhaps get a Danish bride (although while they speak of a betrothal between Prince Fernando and a Danish princess, I can't find any without a major age difference)) or a falling roof tile (Enrique I). And would/could it remove Konrad's murder (after reading his wiki, I wonder how happy the marriage would've been)? Would Konrad settle down after marrying? Could we see an earlier king of Castile claim the imperial purple?
 
There are a lot of parallels between Philip the handsome and Conrad.

Definitely, from what I can see. Difference being that Konrad died because he couldn't keep it in his pants (in either version of the story, him being murdered or him trying to rape a girl and she biting his eye in self-defense).
 
Definitely, from what I can see. Difference being that Konrad died because he couldn't keep it in his pants (in either version of the story, him being murdered or him trying to rape a girl and she biting his eye in self-defense).
His mom is identical to Mary of Burgundy..the mother of Philip..and he is married to a spanish heiress like Philip...
 
Fair enough. Apart from the similarities? What future might this hold for both Castile and the Hohenstaufens were the marriage not to be set aside?
The Hohenstauffens might inherit Castile, it was said that this marriage is a betrothal so Eleanor, Fairmaid of Brittany can be made a replacement bride for Berengaria.
 
The Hohenstauffens might inherit Castile, it was said that this marriage is a betrothal so Eleanor, Fairmaid of Brittany can be made a replacement bride for Berengaria.

Well, Berengaria's mother was originally betrothed to Barbarossa's son, and broke that betrothal in order to marry into Castile, so it's sorta of the usual royal shtick of kids marrying to make up for their parents' could've-been. As to Eleanor, by my understanding, she was already on the road to marry her Babenberg husband when John called her back, and I very much doubt that Richard Coeur Lion's going to marry her to the heir of the man who masterminded his kidnapping (it was at the emperor's orders that the duke of Austria locked him up). And the emperor and Richard were opposed over who should have the crown of Sicily (Tancred or Constanza of Hauteville, the emperor's wife).
 
Well, Berengaria's mother was originally betrothed to Barbarossa's son, and broke that betrothal in order to marry into Castile, so it's sorta of the usual royal shtick of kids marrying to make up for their parents' could've-been. As to Eleanor, by my understanding, she was already on the road to marry her Babenberg husband when John called her back, and I very much doubt that Richard Coeur Lion's going to marry her to the heir of the man who masterminded his kidnapping (it was at the emperor's orders that the duke of Austria locked him up). And the emperor and Richard were opposed over who should have the crown of Sicily (Tancred or Constanza of Hauteville, the emperor's wife).
Perhaps we could marry Eleanor of Brittany to the King of Leon in that case.
 
Possibly. But I'm more interested in the repercussions of Berengaria and Konrad's marriage...
If Berengaria marries Konrad, I think if Conrad will be the King of Castile on Berengaria's right, Philip will remain elected as Emperor, since at Konrad's death Philip had married the Dowager queen of Sicily.
 
If Berengaria marries Konrad, I think if Conrad will be the King of Castile on Berengaria's right, Philip will remain elected as Emperor, since at Konrad's death Philip had married the Dowager queen of Sicily.

So we've got Hohenstaufens in Castile, Hohenstaufens in Sicily and Hohenstaufens in Germany. Is it just me or does this sound very much like a proto-Habsburg Empire? Could wreak havoc on the Staufen relationship with the Capets (like the Habsburg encircling did a few centuries later). That said, would Konrad and Berengaria's issue (or even Berengaria herself) succeed smoothly? Or would one of her sisters/uncles claim the throne instead? Maybe the king of Léon?
 
At this point in time the capets are still at the on/off war with England.
They may not like it, but the HRE was their friend/ally in the back.
They simply can't risk another enemy.
 
At this point in time the capets are still at the on/off war with England.
They may not like it, but the HRE was their friend/ally in the back.
They simply can't risk another enemy.

True enough - but they do also have a Castilian queen (a younger sister of Berengaria) if that marriage still happens, so it would be in their interests to be friendly to Castile at least - whether Ivrea or Hohenstaufen.
 
Top