WI: Henry Brandon, Earl of Lincoln survived to adulthood?

I just thought of something. Like his friend, Henry VIII of England, Charles Brandon was a serial monogamist, so he's most likely going to remarry. But who would he marry? On one hand, he may remarry someone connected to the King of England. On the other, he's probably going to try for an heiress. Here's some ideas:

Margaret Douglas: His niece by marriage. Unmarried at the time of Mary Tudor Snr's death. Right age. Only legitimate child of the Earl of Angus, and thus his heiress in all but his title.

Mary Tudor: Eldest child of Henry VIII of England. As of 1533 considered legitimate at court, but legitimate under Catholicism.

Anne Bourchier, 7th Baroness Bourchier: English Baroness in her own right. Married unhappily to William Parr, who divorced her OTL in 1543, after she had an illegitimate child. ITL, if she goes with Charles Brandon, he could marry her after the divorce, which could work.

Frances Plantagenet: Daughter of the illegitimate son of Edward IV of England, and thus the cousin of Henry VIII of England.

For my money, Margaret Douglas or Frances Plantagenet are the most likely. If he marries Margaret Douglas, then she could still marry who she did OTL, which would work.
 
Anne Bourchier, 7th Baroness Bourchier: English Baroness in her own right. Married unhappily to William Parr, who divorced her OTL in 1543, after she had an illegitimate child. ITL, if she goes with Charles Brandon, he could marry her after the divorce, which could work.

Wouldn't the adultery and birth of an illegitimate child make her a thoroughly unattractive marriage prospect, regardless of the size of her estates?

Worth noting that a marriage to Frances Plantagenet would also make him a brother-in-law to John Dudley (the elder, Duke of Northumberland- who was Frances half-brother).
 
Wouldn't the adultery and birth of an illegitimate child make her a thoroughly unattractive marriage prospect, regardless of the size of her estates?

Worth noting that a marriage to Frances Plantagenet would also make him a brother-in-law to John Dudley (the elder, Duke of Northumberland- who was Frances half-brother).

Well, if the adultery in ITL is with him, then it instead makes their child dubiously legitimate and thus an heir.

And that is interesting. How might that play during Edward VI's regency ITL, particularly since it is highly likely that it will be headed, after the fall of the Seymours, by the Brandons.
 
Anne Bourchier was merely legally separated from Parr (the Parliamentary Act of 1543) due to her confessed adultery and the birth of a child - the couple's marriage did not end until 1552 (long after Brandon's death) - it was reversed by Queen Mary and reinstated by Elizabeth I who liked Parr. Ann's estates and inheritance remained with Parr (she lived in relative poverty). - Not a good catch.
 
The biggest issue you have with the Brandon line through Mary Tudor surviving is its closeness to the throne by blood. Remember Henry VIII hunted down the De la Polle family for how close they were to the throne. He ordered the execution of the Earl of Surrey (Howard) on what can only be trumped up charges of treason for having in his poseccion a banner of the Howard arms quartered with the royal. The Duke of Norfolk would have been executed had not Henry VIII died first.

Mary was deeply suspicious of Elizabeth as her named successor, and Elizabeth refused to name anyone as a successor for fear of destabilising her own position and power base. If I remember by the time of Elizabeth's death there were no Dukes in England as the Duke of Norfolk was executed for planning to Marry Mary of Scotland.

I believe it is inconceivable that Elizabeth I would allow the marriage of an English Duke and cousin to another Royal Cousin thus creating a huge power on her own doorstep in Scotland as well as a living alternative at her own Court.

It is a great idea but the insecurities of the Tudor line and throne made their monarchs some of the most supicious. A Brandon Tudor heir would be a huge problem and even if loyal to the throne their names would be attached to every plot going.
 
I just thought of something. Like his friend, Henry VIII of England, Charles Brandon was a serial monogamist, so he's most likely going to remarry. But who would he marry? On one hand, he may remarry someone connected to the King of England. On the other, he's probably going to try for an heiress.

Uh yeah, I wouldn't call Brandon so much a monogamist as an opportunist. True, the earl of Lincoln was still alive when Mary died, but Charles married Catherine Willoughby because he felt his son was too young, and he'd been burned out of aquiring a title before (with the Barony of Lisle), so, if Mary were to live a smidge longer, and see the earl of Lincoln married to Baroness Willoughby d'Eresby, chances are Brandon would remain unmarried - IMHO.
 
No, Brandon wouldn't remain single. He seemed to stumble across the ladies and they seemed to find him attractive. And he's a DUKE! He might end up with Mary Howard Fitzroy or Catherine Howard, but he'd end up with some pretty morsel.

Someone is going to ensure a single Duke sees his daughter and that said daughter keeps being seen until......
 
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