WI Francis I is killed in Pavia?

As says the title. In the Battle of Pavia, Francis' horse was injured by an Italian condottiero, allowing the Spanish to capture him. But WI he had been injured too and had died? What could be the consequences for the conflicts between France and the Habsburgs? And who would be the regent for the young Francis II (maybe Marguerite of Navarre)?
 
As says the title. In the Battle of Pavia, Francis' horse was injured by an Italian condottiero, allowing the Spanish to capture him. But WI he had been injured too and had died? What could be the consequences for the conflicts between France and the Habsburgs? And who would be the regent for the young Francis II (maybe Marguerite of Navarre)?

For Regent you'd be looking more at Louise of Savoy, than Marguerite d'Angoulême. Louise is older and more experienced in the ways of the court as well as more politically astute.
 
The first 2 consequences I see is that the French princes are not hostages in Madrid (which will have a big consequence on their personal characters) and that France does not pay a huge ransom, nor formally renonce to Artois and Flanders or to the Italian titles. This may have some impact later.

On a longer term, no edit of Villaret-cotteret and a different policy toward reformation (may be more tolerent or more persecution, really depends on a lot of factors).
 
It will be better

Hi!

If Francisc I dies, I think the outcome will be better for France. The personal rivalry between him and Charles V will go and maybe the Dauphin will not die as IOTL. It is very probably that the harsh treatment in Spain had caused his health fragility.

Plus what fhaessig said. Still, the peace will still be unfavorable to France but not as harsh.
 
As says the title. In the Battle of Pavia, Francis' horse was injured by an Italian condottiero, allowing the Spanish to capture him. But WI he had been injured too and had died? What could be the consequences for the conflicts between France and the Habsburgs? And who would be the regent for the young Francis II (maybe Marguerite of Navarre)?

Well first off, I think Louise of Savoy is the most likely Regent for France. Second, this would mean a long Regency as Francis II would be around 6 or 7. Third, this would mean that France isn't likely to engage in disastrous and wasteful wars with Charles V, so the financial stability of the country is stronger. Perhaps Francis II marries a Habsburg. Fourth, this would have far reaching consequences for Charles V. Without a rival in Francis I, the Emperor would be able to focus on who he saw as his true enemies, the Protestant heretics and the Turkish infidels. Who knows if this would be successful but at the very least it would mean that Charles has a lot more resources to focus on them. This is off the top of my head so I might expand on the answer later.
 
Who could be married to "Francis II"? They certainly wouldn't choose Catherine de Medici to him...
 
Well first off, I think Louise of Savoy is the most likely Regent for France. Second, this would mean a long Regency as Francis II would be around 6 or 7. Third, this would mean that France isn't likely to engage in disastrous and wasteful wars with Charles V, so the financial stability of the country is stronger. Perhaps Francis II marries a Habsburg. Fourth, this would have far reaching consequences for Charles V. Without a rival in Francis I, the Emperor would be able to focus on who he saw as his true enemies, the Protestant heretics and the Turkish infidels. Who knows if this would be successful but at the very least it would mean that Charles has a lot more resources to focus on them. This is off the top of my head so I might expand on the answer later.

And of course, France will just smile and accept the death of its king as one of those things, and cheerfully agree that the Habsburg hegemony may--no, MUST be expanded. Because 'Catholic'.
 
And of course, France will just smile and accept the death of its king as one of those things, and cheerfully agree that the Habsburg hegemony may--no, MUST be expanded. Because 'Catholic'.

Since you mention it, I wonder how much the death of Francis I would make things worse, and how much the fact France and the Habsburgs have incompatible ideas on how Europe should be balanced (even if not specifically aiming to fight the other) will be enough to render it meaningless who is king.
 
And of course, France will just smile and accept the death of its king as one of those things, and cheerfully agree that the Habsburg hegemony may--no, MUST be expanded. Because 'Catholic'.

Well I'm sure the French will be pretty pissed but really what can they do? Their King is dead, most of the leading nobles are probably dead or captured and their army is defeated. And historically nation's under a Regency don't go to war. That's not to say that Francis II won't be gunning for vengeance or anything, but it will be some years before that happens.

Since you mention it, I wonder how much the death of Francis I would make things worse, and how much the fact France and the Habsburgs have incompatible ideas on how Europe should be balanced (even if not specifically aiming to fight the other) will be enough to render it meaningless who is king.

I agree that tensions will be increased between the Habsburgs and Valois, but it will be some time before a war will break out. France will be weakened and under a Regency, not the best time to continue or restart a war.
 
I agree that tensions will be increased between the Habsburgs and Valois, but it will be some time before a war will break out. France will be weakened and under a Regency, not the best time to continue or restart a war.

And of course, rational self-interest will never be clouded by a lust for revenge.
 
Well I'm sure the French will be pretty pissed but really what can they do? Their King is dead, most of the leading nobles are probably dead or captured and their army is defeated. And historically nation's under a Regency don't go to war. That's not to say that Francis II won't be gunning for vengeance or anything, but it will be some years before that happens.

Oddly enough, they seem to have bounced back from OTL Pavia enough to fight another war with the Empire.

And then another.

And then another.

And--look, I could keep putting 'anothers' for some time. France has emotional reasons to go to war again. And, believe it or not, it has practical ones--letting Charles V&I turn everything on both sides of them into 'Habsburgland' is not good policy. And so, Regency or no, war is probably likelier than you think.

POSTSCRIPT--Actually, let's remember who our Regent in this scenario is. Louise of Savoy. A woman whose devotion to her son arguably bordered on the obsessive. And the possessor of every mental and spiritual virtue her son had, as well as quite a few he rather wished he did.

If it's at all possible, she's avenging her baby boy. And if it isn't, she's going to give it a try.
 
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