The first of the cadet branches of the title to go was the Burgundian branch of the Valois with the death of Charles the Bold (he left no son, so the line died with his daughter). The next to go was Valois-Anjou, in the person of the Comte du Maine. The hopes of the Angevins had reposed previously in Nicolas, duke of Lorraine and Calabria, but he had died in 1473. The main line of the Valois males died out with Charles VIII bumping his head on a door. And let's throw in the senior line of Valois-Orléans which died with Louis XII in 1515.
Now, all these lines are individually interesting, but the truth of the matter was that when François Ier succeeded as king, his heir was first the duc d'Alençon and then a prince of Bourbon. So (much as I like the Bourbons that are surnamed le Grand; and le Regent isn't all-bad), what if there are male-line Valois heirs to Burgundy (maybe not Burgundy senior line, let's throw the Habsburgs a bone, so perhaps the dukes of Brabant or the counts of Nevers have surviving legitimate male descent) or Lorraine lying around? How would things be different if the main line of the house of Valois were to stay on the throne because Charles Orland or his dad survive? Would the Bourbons remain provincial players? Or would they still be able to claw their way into power?
I understand this would require some multiple PODs or a very strong butterfly net, but I'd be interested in hearing what you guys think.
Now, all these lines are individually interesting, but the truth of the matter was that when François Ier succeeded as king, his heir was first the duc d'Alençon and then a prince of Bourbon. So (much as I like the Bourbons that are surnamed le Grand; and le Regent isn't all-bad), what if there are male-line Valois heirs to Burgundy (maybe not Burgundy senior line, let's throw the Habsburgs a bone, so perhaps the dukes of Brabant or the counts of Nevers have surviving legitimate male descent) or Lorraine lying around? How would things be different if the main line of the house of Valois were to stay on the throne because Charles Orland or his dad survive? Would the Bourbons remain provincial players? Or would they still be able to claw their way into power?
I understand this would require some multiple PODs or a very strong butterfly net, but I'd be interested in hearing what you guys think.