I know there have been other threads on this subject, but they are several years old and I'm not planning on necro-ing a thread any time soon. So...
In some of those threads, people theorised that, because of the French numbers, the French could have won the battle if King Francis had not led a cavalry charge, which drew him away from his infantry and led his artillery to cease firing to prevent friendly casualties.
I myself see a few possibilities if Francis somehow doesn't charge:
1. No captivity of Francis and his eldest sons, Francis and Henry, who would probably end up happier and healthier. The Dauphin Francis had once been betrothed to Mary Tudor, but the arrangement had been broken in 1520. The most likely bride for the Dauphin, as I see it, is Mary of Portugal (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_of_Portugal,_Duchess_of_Viseu), daughter of King Manuel I and Eleanor of Austria. IOTL, Eleanor was married to Francis I during his captivity. But ITTL, maybe she might end up marrying her first love, Frederick II, Elector Palatine, who IOTL ended up marrying her niece, Dorothea of Denmark, but had no issue.
2. A continuation of the Franco-Polish alliance established in 1524 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Polish_alliance_(1524)). Under the alliance agreements, Sigismund I of Poland would support France against the Hapsburgs in exchange for a double marriage between the royal families. Henry, Duke of Orleans, was to marry one of Sigismund's daughters (I'd guess Isabella), while Sigismund's eldest son, Sigismund Augustus (b. 1520), was to marry one of Francis' daughters. IOTL, after Pavia, the alliance fell through and France instead allied with the Hungarians under John Zapolya, and then the Ottomans.
Of the two French princesses who survived, Madeleine (b. 1520) was of frail health all her life, and Margaret (b. 1523) was, IOTL, first betrothed to the future Philip II of Spain, but instead married her first cousin, Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, when she was 36 years old. Either were also promised to King James V of Scotland, should the circumstances permit.
In the other forums, it was theorised that if Pavia was a French victory, Savoy may end up surrounded and instead wish to strengthen ties to the Hapsburgs.
3. Francis I and his eldest son becoming Duke of Milan, and maybe Duke of Burgundy, which the Hapsburgs aren't going to tolerate for long.
4. Possibly a later Sack of Rome, or no sack at all, which, IIRC, affected Henry VIII's divorce proceedings, and led to him breaking from Rome.
Any thoughts?
In some of those threads, people theorised that, because of the French numbers, the French could have won the battle if King Francis had not led a cavalry charge, which drew him away from his infantry and led his artillery to cease firing to prevent friendly casualties.
I myself see a few possibilities if Francis somehow doesn't charge:
1. No captivity of Francis and his eldest sons, Francis and Henry, who would probably end up happier and healthier. The Dauphin Francis had once been betrothed to Mary Tudor, but the arrangement had been broken in 1520. The most likely bride for the Dauphin, as I see it, is Mary of Portugal (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_of_Portugal,_Duchess_of_Viseu), daughter of King Manuel I and Eleanor of Austria. IOTL, Eleanor was married to Francis I during his captivity. But ITTL, maybe she might end up marrying her first love, Frederick II, Elector Palatine, who IOTL ended up marrying her niece, Dorothea of Denmark, but had no issue.
2. A continuation of the Franco-Polish alliance established in 1524 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco-Polish_alliance_(1524)). Under the alliance agreements, Sigismund I of Poland would support France against the Hapsburgs in exchange for a double marriage between the royal families. Henry, Duke of Orleans, was to marry one of Sigismund's daughters (I'd guess Isabella), while Sigismund's eldest son, Sigismund Augustus (b. 1520), was to marry one of Francis' daughters. IOTL, after Pavia, the alliance fell through and France instead allied with the Hungarians under John Zapolya, and then the Ottomans.
Of the two French princesses who survived, Madeleine (b. 1520) was of frail health all her life, and Margaret (b. 1523) was, IOTL, first betrothed to the future Philip II of Spain, but instead married her first cousin, Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, when she was 36 years old. Either were also promised to King James V of Scotland, should the circumstances permit.
In the other forums, it was theorised that if Pavia was a French victory, Savoy may end up surrounded and instead wish to strengthen ties to the Hapsburgs.
3. Francis I and his eldest son becoming Duke of Milan, and maybe Duke of Burgundy, which the Hapsburgs aren't going to tolerate for long.
4. Possibly a later Sack of Rome, or no sack at all, which, IIRC, affected Henry VIII's divorce proceedings, and led to him breaking from Rome.
Any thoughts?
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