Will Kürlich Kerl
Banned
What happens if during the Siege of Rouen, say on 23 March 1592, King Henry IV of France dies during battle?
What happens if during the Siege of Rouen, say on 23 March 1592, King Henry IV of France dies during battle?
It doesn't really eliminate the House of Bourbon: only the main line. The next in line are the House of Bourbon-Condé, which is a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon.funnyhat said:That would have a huge effect on French/Spanish/European history, eliminating the House of Bourbon.
Thing is that by right Henri de Bourbon-Condé was heir to the crown and will probably have supporters declaring him as King Henri V once Henri IV bites the dust. The real question though is how much support the three year old Prince of Condé would gather to his cause: it's probably not much given that the people in charge are his uncles who think he is a bastard. And the fact he would be three at the time of Henri IV's death ITTL certainly doesn't help because he is underaged: it opens the possibility of a regency sure but a ten year long regency isn't something you need at the time. Not to mention that even if the boy is raised as a Catholic, he is still the son of the Prince of Condé, which probably wouldn't sit well with the Ligue and wouldn't help with the pacification of France.Gonzaga said:Well, the French succession becomes a mess. The legal heir should be the 3 year old Henry, Prince of Condé, posthumous son of his namesake father. The problem is that by then Henry was considered by many as a bastard - he was born in prison, as his mother was condemned for poisoning her husband and being an adulterer. While it's not certain if she ever did it, Henry's uncles never considered him legitimate. Even Henry IV didn't recognize him as his heir until 1595.
If his nephew is indeed declared a bastard, then Francis of Conti is most likely well placed to become King François III of France. Him being Catholic removes the griefs of the Ligue against a Protestant being on the throne and Conti's heir is his brother, Count Charles of Soissons who is also a Catholic even if unmarried at the time. It's likely there would still be a bit of opposition from hard-line Ligueurs but given that even OTL they didn't succeed in having Salic Law repelled, Francis is most likely to sit on the throne.Gonzaga said:The next claimant is Henry's uncle, Francis of Conti, who was a Catholic but was allied to Henry of Navarre against the League. I imagine that he could be able to rally enough support to be accepted as king.
If Soissons fails to have children, the the last in line coming from the House of Bourbon are the Montpensier line. Who OTL died in the male line in 1608. But that line could survive due to butterflies here.
I don't think were any other surviving branch between the Bourbons and the Courtenays so it's likely that if the House of Bourbon went extinct, we would only be left with the Courtenays. Which as far as I know where a very minor house and lacked the political power to press their claim. There might also have been a feud with the other Capetians as I vaguely remember Louis XIV considering foreign princes BEFORE the courtenays in the line of succession.Gonzaga said:Assuming that the Montpensier line still gets extinct, was there any other Capetian family that could be considered "Princes of the Blood"? I know about the Courtenays, but I'm not sure they would be acceepted.
I don't really know. That said, a bloodlink to the previous royal family would probably mandatory or at least give better chances to hold the throne. The House of Lorraine would probably stand the best chances because of its prestige and because one of their sons had married a daughter of Henri II.Gonzaga said:And if not, who could have more chance of being recognized as the successors of the Bourbons? The House of Lorraine? Or someone descended from a female line?