WI:Gwenllian of Wales and Edward II

Is this match even possible, since I was thinking of a way on Edward II not marrying Isabella of France, in OTL Gwenllian of Wales was locked up in the convent but what if she was made the bride of Edward II, how would that change history?
 
Gwenllian of Wales?:confused: Wow.!

Never heard of her. But you have given me something to look for. Although, i do believe that Edward I might not agree with such a match. Under any circumstances.
 
Gwenllian of Wales?:confused: Wow.!

Never heard of her. But you have given me something to look for. Although, i do believe that Edward I might not agree with such a match. Under any circumstances.

Gwenllian (pronounced gwen-LLEE-an) was born in the Welsh royal home in Abergwyngregyn near Bangor, Gwynedd. Lady Gwenllian's mother, Eleanor de Montfort, Lady of Wales, died during childbirth, or shortly after on 19 June 1282. She was descended from dual Royal bloodlines; not only was she the daughter of the Welsh Prince of Wales, but her maternal great grandfather was King John of England.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwenllian_of_Wales

She is the last heir of Wales.
 
Why would Edward select a bride from Wales instead of a French wife as per OTL? The latter has obvious benefits while the former..
 
Why would Edward select a bride from Wales instead of a French wife as per OTL? The latter has obvious benefits while the former..

To reconcile the defeated faction. Comparable political marriages have taken place at other times (Henry I married a descendant of the Wessex dynasty; Henry VII married a Yorkist princess). Plus, maybe she would have made a nicer wife for his son, who knows. His marriage to Isabella wasn't entirely a success.
 
To reconcile the defeated faction.

Problem with that is the defeated faction had been smashed flat and the House of Aberffraw virtually wiped out. They didn't really need reconciling.

To make a marriage to Gwenllian a worthwhile proposition for Edward you need a surviving Gwynedd whose royal family is on reasonably good terms with England, but not so good that they don't need a dynastic marriage to bind things closer. This in turn would require a POD before Gwenllian was born and therefore presumably butterflying her away. (Killing Llywelyn's brother Dafydd after one of his many rebellions against Llywelyn in the 1250's, 60's and 70's would help a lot in this regard.)


His marriage to Isabella wasn't entirely a success.

Was this down at least in part to Edward likely being gay? In which case no marriage is likely to make him happy.
 
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Problem with that is the defeated faction had been smashed flat and the House of Aberffraw virtually wiped out. They didn't really need reconciling.

To make a marriage to Gwenllian a worthwhile proposition for Edward you need a surviving Gwynedd whose royal family is on reasonably good terms with England, but not so good that they don't need a dynastic marriage to bind things closer. This in turn would require a POD before Gwenllian was born and therefore presumably butterflying her away. (Killing Llywelyn's brother Dafydd after one of his many rebellions against Llywelyn in the 1250's, 60's and 70's would help a lot in this regard.)




Was this down at least in part to Edward likely being gay? In which case no marriage is likely to make him happy.


The Marriage could at least legitimize the incorporation of Wales, remember about Anne of Brittany she was married to the King of France to completely merge the Duchy of Brittany to the French crown, the House of Dreux is almost extinct at her times and the Montforts are not in good terms with the Valois.
 
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A preference for a given favorite, even to the point of ignoring his wife, is not the same as being gay.

Don't want to just nitpick, but it kind of has to be said.

And having children isn't the same as being straight. Especially for a mediaeval king who's expected to produce heirs. At the risk of derailing the thread, but regardless of the precise facts of Edward's orientation, I thought it was indisputable that he was so obsessed with Gaveston that his marriaged suffered badly as a result? I'm not sure why a different wife would change this much.
 
And having children isn't the same as being straight. Especially for a mediaeval king who's expected to produce heirs. At the risk of derailing the thread, but regardless of the precise facts of Edward's orientation, I thought it was indisputable that he was so obsessed with Gaveston that his marriaged suffered badly as a result? I'm not sure why a different wife would change this much.

Having multiple children, specifically at least one from a mistress strongly indicates he is, or at least is bi.

Anyway, yes, I think him being obsessed over Gaveston was an issue. But if he has a wife he's more interested in (though why this one would be...), that might not be such a big deal.

Depends a lot on how things work out, which requires knowing more about Edward than that he played favorites.
 
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