WI: Edward II of England married Margaret of France instead of Isabella of France?

As we all know, King Edward II of England married Isabella, the only surviving daughter of King Philip IV of France, in 1308 when Isabella was 12 years old. 9 years earlier, Edward II's father had married Philip's half-sister, Margaret, as his second wife, and had two sons and a short-lived daughter by her before his death. Even earlier, Margaret's older full sister, Blanche, had been betrothed to Edward II, then Edward I, before she was married to Rudolf of Austria, King of Bohemia, dying in 1305 after a miscarriage.

Anyway, Margaret was closer in age to Edward II than her half-niece. Edward II was born in 1284, Margaret was born in 1278. So what if Margaret had been married to Edward II in 1299 instead of Edward I? Just curious. IOTL, they got along well, except for when Edward II granted Cornwall to Piers Gaveston when it had been reserved for Margaret's son, Edmund.

Any thoughts?
 
For one, that will weaken any alt-Edward III's claim to the Kingdom of France.
Also, one of the key questions is who will La Louve de France marry ITTL.
If the eruption of the Affair of the Tower of Nesle is butterflied away, the direct Capetian line might continue on, with Navarre in tow.
 
Also, one of the key questions is who will La Louve de France marry ITTL.

I've posted some candidates before:

* John III, Duke of Brittany, if his first wife, Isabelle of Valois, still dies in 1309. An alliance which would have the potential to slow or cut off English ships and supplies between the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay.

* John of Luxembourg, if his father is still elected Holy Roman Emperor, and the offer is made before his father makes a move for the Bohemian throne. IOTL, Philip IV tried to get his brother, Charles of Valois, elected as King of the Romans, but failed. This could be a way of salvaging a bad situation.

* Frederick 'the Fair', Duke of Austria and Styria, if Rudolf of Austria and Blanche of France still die without issue, and if Philip wants to strengthen his ties to the Hapsburgs, and a possible future king/emperor, against what he sees as an uppity vassal (the Luxembourgs).

* King Ferdinand IV of Castille.

* James of Aragon, eldest son of King James II of Aragon. Or Alfonso of Aragon, if James Junior still decides to become a monk.
 
I've posted some candidates before:

* John III, Duke of Brittany, if his first wife, Isabelle of Valois, still dies in 1309. An alliance which would have the potential to slow or cut off English ships and supplies between the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay.

* John of Luxembourg, if his father is still elected Holy Roman Emperor, and the offer is made before his father makes a move for the Bohemian throne. IOTL, Philip IV tried to get his brother, Charles of Valois, elected as King of the Romans, but failed. This could be a way of salvaging a bad situation.

* Frederick 'the Fair', Duke of Austria and Styria, if Rudolf of Austria and Blanche of France still die without issue, and if Philip wants to strengthen his ties to the Hapsburgs, and a possible future king/emperor, against what he sees as an uppity vassal (the Luxembourgs).

* King Ferdinand IV of Castille.

* James of Aragon, eldest son of King James II of Aragon. Or Alfonso of Aragon, if James Junior still decides to become a monk.
The House of Luxemburg was quite Francophile, and French support would be quite valuable for them. The question of stability as an Imperial dynasty is still problematic, but Luxemburg is close enough to France for John to be a good candidate.
But no Luxemburgish Bohemia would be a big butterfly.
Could one of the French princes (maybe Charles) end up in a position to obtain Bohemia ?
 
The House of Luxemburg was quite Francophile, and French support would be quite valuable for them. The question of stability as an Imperial dynasty is still problematic, but Luxemburg is close enough to France for John to be a good candidate.
But no Luxemburgish Bohemia would be a big butterfly.
Could one of the French princes (maybe Charles) end up in a position to obtain Bohemia ?

Who knows? Perhaps the Přemyslid dynasty may not end up dying out.
 
The House of Luxemburg was quite Francophile, and French support would be quite valuable for them. The question of stability as an Imperial dynasty is still problematic, but Luxemburg is close enough to France for John to be a good candidate.
But no Luxemburgish Bohemia would be a big butterfly.
Could one of the French princes (maybe Charles) end up in a position to obtain Bohemia ?
Bohemia will likely depend on who Elisabeth marries. If her atl husband and coterie are less capable than John then her sister Anne and brother-in-law King Henry will still rule.
 
Part of me thinks that Isabella of France might not be happy to married to a mere Count instead of a Duke, Prince or King. In this case, I could see either a Castilian or Aragonese match for her.

As for Edward II and Margaret of France, how likely would such a marriage have been? Compared with his OTL marriage to Isabella, how could it have turned out and ended, especially if she still dies in 1318?
 
Bumping for interest.

Personally, I think a marriage between Edward II and Margaret of France would have worked out well. They mostly got along well IOTL, and I've often read that Edward would have been happier with a wife closer in age to himself.
 
The House of Luxemburg was quite Francophile, and French support would be quite valuable for them. The question of stability as an Imperial dynasty is still problematic, but Luxemburg is close enough to France for John to be a good candidate.
But no Luxemburgish Bohemia would be a big butterfly.
Could one of the French princes (maybe Charles) end up in a position to obtain Bohemia ?

Regardless how Francophile the house of Luxembourg might have been, they would have wanted to prevent any other prince from taking Bohemia, when their house was in a prime position to make a move for that throne. As for French support they already were the 'French choice' without electing an actual Frenchman.
Now if a match with Elisabeth would fail, then a French princess could be an alternative, however expanding the powerbase and improving position/standing of the house of Luxembourg with a kingdom was much more valuable than any French match in the short run. By gaining Bohemia (and the margraviate of Moravia) the house of Luxembourg ensured, that their imperial election was not a fluke and that the stayed within the ranks of the Elite princes of the Empire, it was like what the Habsburgs achieved with obtaining the duchies of Austria and Styria, only doing one better.

@ByzantineLover: a surviving Margaret of France, elder sister of Isabella of France, would also have worked, granted she was betrothed to Ferdinand of Castille and died around the age of 6.
 
Hmm, given this means altEdwardIII won't make a claim to France, who will he support?
Valois, Jean and whatever husband, the son(s) of Isabelle?
 
Hmm, given this means altEdwardIII won't make a claim to France, who will he support?
Valois, Jean and whatever husband, the son(s) of Isabelle?

alt Edward III would have a weak claim, with the sons of Isabelle having a claim stronger than his own. ironically, the initial reason why the French counts and Duke of Burgundy wanted Valois was not because they thought Edward III was too English... but because they had reservations about his mother, whose lineage justifies his (strong) claim. My money is on Jean, but with different genetics Edward III might think differently than our own one. I'm not talking about genetics as in mental disease or the mendalian traits, but just the variation that we don't understand. This is assuming Jean is similar to OTL
 
alt Edward III would have a weak claim, with the sons of Isabelle having a claim stronger than his own. ironically, the initial reason why the French counts and Duke of Burgundy wanted Valois was not because they thought Edward III was too English... but because they had reservations about his mother, whose lineage justifies his (strong) claim. My money is on Jean, but with different genetics Edward III might think differently than our own one. I'm not talking about genetics as in mental disease or the mendalian traits, but just the variation that we don't understand. This is assuming Jean is similar to OTL
Any English King, regardless of French royal lineage, will get in on the French succession here, not necessarily making a claim but backing various claimants, in order to solidify control over Aquitaine.
With Alt Edward now in a supportive or even king making role than major claimant a lot depends on the other marriages in the run up.
 
Any English King, regardless of French royal lineage, will get in on the French succession here, not necessarily making a claim but backing various claimants, in order to solidify control over Aquitaine.
With Alt Edward now in a supportive or even king making role than major claimant a lot depends on the other marriages in the run up.

That's why I said if Alt Edward III has OTL Edward's personality (no guarantee) Jean is probably a good choice
 
That's why I said if Alt Edward III has OTL Edward's personality (no guarantee) Jean is probably a good choice
Do you mean Jeanne/Joan daughter of Louis X?
Female rulers were unprecedented hence why she was skipped for her uncles on the death of her half brother Jean/John I Posthumous.
 
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