WI: Francis II of Brittany lives longer?

In 1488 Duke Francis II of Brittany died from a fall from his horse, leaving the Ducal throne to his daughter Anne. Anne would be forces to marry King Charles VIII of France, thus ending Brittany's independence. So what if Francis II lived longer? Would he remarry and successfully have a son? Would Anne be able to marry someone who would be able to preserve Brittany's independence?

What about Charles VIII and France? Before marrying Anne of Brittany he was engaged to Margaret of Austria/Burgundy, daughter of Maximilian I. She brought as her dowry the counties of Burgundy, Artois and Charolais. These territories would later be taken back by the Austrians after the betrothal was broken. So how would these territories being French change things? Would Charles VIII focus more on France's western border, thus not starting the Italian Wars?
 
I like the idea of Anne marrying James IV of Scotland, to shore up the Auld Alliance, and unite Scotland with Brittany.
 
I like the idea of Anne marrying James IV of Scotland, to shore up the Auld Alliance, and unite Scotland with Brittany.

IDK if that's likely. Such a marriage wouldn't shore up the alliance as Brittany wasn't part of France. A legal vassal yes, but was still independent. Also, Brittany was more pro-English then anything else.
 
IDK if that's likely. Such a marriage wouldn't shore up the alliance as Brittany wasn't part of France. A legal vassal yes, but was still independent. Also, Brittany was more pro-English then anything else.

I figure the fact that future Kings and Queen's of Scotland would also be vassals of France might keep them from making nice with England. At least that's what the French would think.

What would be great is if somehow Scotland/Brittany were to inherit England down the line. :D
 
I wouldn't really describe Brittany as independent. It's a feudal vassal that basically has to shout "how high?" when the French King tells it to jump.
 
Emperor Constantine said:
What about Charles VIII and France? Before marrying Anne of Brittany he was engaged to Margaret of Austria/Burgundy, daughter of Maximilian I. She brought as her dowry the counties of Burgundy, Artois and Charolais. These territories would later be taken back by the Austrians after the betrothal was broken. So how would these territories being French change things? Would Charles VIII focus more on France's western border, thus not starting the Italian Wars?
Charles VIII not marrying Anne of Britanny wouldn't change a thing about the Italian Wars as they started because he inherited the rights of his Angevin cousins to the Neapolitan throne. He will likely still want to assert his rights on Naples.
 

Razgriz 2K9

Banned
In 1488 Duke Francis II of Brittany died from a fall from his horse, leaving the Ducal throne to his daughter Anne. Anne would be forces to marry King Charles VIII of France, thus ending Brittany's independence. So what if Francis II lived longer? Would he remarry and successfully have a son? Would Anne be able to marry someone who would be able to preserve Brittany's independence?

What about Charles VIII and France? Before marrying Anne of Brittany he was engaged to Margaret of Austria/Burgundy, daughter of Maximilian I. She brought as her dowry the counties of Burgundy, Artois and Charolais. These territories would later be taken back by the Austrians after the betrothal was broken. So how would these territories being French change things? Would Charles VIII focus more on France's western border, thus not starting the Italian Wars?

Well if he lived longer, who would be available to marry him by 1488? As for Anne, it largely depends on who she marries.

But what I can answer on the counties, is that we might see said counties remaining in French control if Anne manages to be married to someone other than Charles, though I doubt it would prevent the Italian Wars from happening, since he could still guarantee Austria's neutrality from affairs in Italy (especially with what the territory initially in question, the Kingdom of Naples, never really being in the sphere of the HRE.)
 
IDK if that's likely. Such a marriage wouldn't shore up the alliance as Brittany wasn't part of France. A legal vassal yes, but was still independent. Also, Brittany was more pro-English then anything else.

I think Brittany was more pro-Brittany than anything else. England was just a good counter-balance to France.
 
If you butterfly Mary of Burgundy's death, the heiress Anne of Brittany will be a logical choice for the son and not the father, and a child of Anne of Brittany and Philip of Burgundy will be a very powerful Emperor and a big enemy of the French king...
 

Razgriz 2K9

Banned
Such a move would really antagonize the French to no end, only problem is that using Brittany to surround France isn't going to be as successful a venture as OTL with Spain.
 
If you butterfly Mary of Burgundy's death, the heiress Anne of Brittany will be a logical choice for the son and not the father, and a child of Anne of Brittany and Philip of Burgundy will be a very powerful Emperor and a big enemy of the French king...

No way France would allow that. Remember by treaty, Francis II needs the approval of the King of France for any match for his daughters. It he tries that without permission, France would steamroll Brittany.

Such a move would really antagonize the French to no end, only problem is that using Brittany to surround France isn't going to be as successful a venture as OTL with Spain.

Yeah Brittany can only be reinforced by sea so it'll be difficult to sure as a base against France.

Any thoughts about Francis II marrying a third time and trying for a son?
 
OTL Anne tried to marry Maximilian after her father's death and before she was betrothed to Edward V of England....
I do no think who the Duke was really interested in respect that party of the treaty...
 

yourworstnightmare

Banned
Donor
Anne was actually bethrothed to Prince Edward of Wales (Edward V), now if poor Edward somehow could avoid a bad case of Richard III, then maybe Brittany would be in a union with England.
 
A new duchess of Brittany?
What of one of the de Brosse girls? Sister to the duchess of Savoy and the Margravine of Montferrato; she's not a major player on the European scene, but she would be an heiress of Jeanne la Flamme, comtesse de Blois.
 
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