WI: Charles de Bourbon Lives

[Noblesse Oblige]

The death of Charles de Bourbon during the War of the League of Cognac was one of the bright spots for the French in that war. Despite the horrific sacking of Rome that occurred it meant that, when it came time for the Treaty of Cambrai, had Charles lived, would've seen the detachment of Burgundy and Provence, which would have led to the establishment of an independent Provencal Kingdom...

But what if Charles survived and in the Treaty of Cambrai, he became King of an Independent Provence? How would that affect further development in the Italian Wars, assuming they continue to happen?

 

[LSCatilina]

But what if Charles survived and in the Treaty of Cambrai, he became King of an Independent Provence? How would that affect further development in the Italian Wars, assuming they continue to happen?

There's little chances for that to happen : going as far as supporting the claims of someone without real political wheigt at this point is the safest way to see Peace of Cambrai turning into another Treaty of Madrid.

Charles V actually already treated him as a secondary (if not less) matter already (critically because Bourbon wanted everything : Bourbon, Provence, and imperial union), and the whole point of the Peace of Cambrai was to make a real peace with France, preventing it to meddle too much with HRE when Charles V had other matters to resolve.

It's basically why Bourbon went in Italy, as he had no real way to take back his french lands or the lands he ambitioned there. His ambitions turned to somewhere more feasible : I could see him building a principality in Central Italy, Borgia-style. But again, Charles V would have little interest giving him too much for the lulz of it.