Catherine de Valois and James I of Scotland were close friends during the latter's imprisonment in England. They were part of a scene of young royals/nobles at the courts of Henry V and Henry VI in the early-1420s who formed a close-knit group. It was Catherine who impressed upon the regency council to finally negotiate terms for James's release, and for said terms to be so generous to James. (The ransom of James I was less than 60 percent the ransom for David II a century prior.) She may even have had a hand in negotiating his marriage to Joan Beaufort, another prominent young noble at court. It's been speculated that the queen in James's book of poetry may not his be wife, Joan, but in fact Catherine de Valois, which leads me to ask ...
What if Catherine de Valois was wed to James I of Scotland?
Let's say that Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, is fretting at the prospect of the young queen mother remarrying and already suspicious of her friendship with Edmund Beaufort -- nephew of Gloucester's chief rival on the council -- as the release of James I is being negotiated. He sees the negotiations as a chance to get Catherine out of Beaufort's reach forever, and convinces the council that such a marriage would guarantee a Scottish queen sympathetic to English interests. (This last point is probably an easy sell considering what we know of Catherine's relationship with young Henry.) And so ... off she goes.
James and Catherine were both "productive" in OTL, so let's say they produce several children in ATL. (Hypothetical tree below.) All of these children are half-siblings of Henry VI, bringing England and Scotland closer together than ever before at a time of great instability in both kingdoms. (James would attempt to extinguish the Albany branch of his family, and Henry VI's mental health issues would eventually see his kingdom dissolve into civil war.) How does this effect events in Britain through the rest of the 15th century and beyond?
Possible tree:
What if Catherine de Valois was wed to James I of Scotland?
Let's say that Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, is fretting at the prospect of the young queen mother remarrying and already suspicious of her friendship with Edmund Beaufort -- nephew of Gloucester's chief rival on the council -- as the release of James I is being negotiated. He sees the negotiations as a chance to get Catherine out of Beaufort's reach forever, and convinces the council that such a marriage would guarantee a Scottish queen sympathetic to English interests. (This last point is probably an easy sell considering what we know of Catherine's relationship with young Henry.) And so ... off she goes.
James and Catherine were both "productive" in OTL, so let's say they produce several children in ATL. (Hypothetical tree below.) All of these children are half-siblings of Henry VI, bringing England and Scotland closer together than ever before at a time of great instability in both kingdoms. (James would attempt to extinguish the Albany branch of his family, and Henry VI's mental health issues would eventually see his kingdom dissolve into civil war.) How does this effect events in Britain through the rest of the 15th century and beyond?
Possible tree:
- James I of Scotland weds Catherine de Valois in 1424, has issue:
- Alexander, born 1424 (dies young)
- Margaret, born 1426
- Isabella, born 1428
- James II of Scotland, born 1429
- Catherine, 1430
- Robert, 1433
