I'm imagining a version of 1500s history where Margaret Tudor dies as a child, leaving James IV of Scotland in need of another wife and thus would probably have made some other match. Here's what I have come up with.
Basic Scenario: The death of Henry VII of England's second child in October of 1490, shortly the Princess' first birthday. This child, apparently named Margaret Tudor, would leave this would shortly after the royal couple discovered they were expecting what would be a second son in the form of Henry Tudor, Duke of York. Thus, the royal family would have to wait until 1492 for the birth of a living legitimate Princess in the form of Elizabeth Tudor, who was followed in 1496 by Mary Tudor. The Princess Elizabeth Tudor would unfortunately also die in 1495, after an illness. Thus, the royal family would only have one Princess in their deck, even after 3 further pregnancies.
In 1492, hoping to prevent Scotland from supporting the rising star of Perkin Warbeck (or, as he called himself, Richard IV of England), Henry VII of England signs a treaty promising the King of Scotland an English Princess to wed. This means, in 1495, after the death of his second daughter, the King finally agrees to pay a Princely dowry for the Princess Catherine of York, allowing her to leave the court as a lady of her sister and, at the start of the next year, enter Scotland to marry the King.
As Queen, Catherine of York preaches against supporting Warbeck, claiming he cannot possibly be her brother because "he looks nothing like Richard". With her support, Scotland prevents messengers from Burgundy attempting to draw them into the war effort for the pretender. The York Princess is a beauty and favoured by her husband, who showers her in gifts. It is said that, during this time, the Scottish Queen's sister Cecily of York was so jealous that her sister had taken the position originally meant for her that, despite her younger sister's offers of hospitality in Edinburgh if she might visit the somewhat lonely young woman, she did not step foot in Scotland. Indeed, there were also talks that the Queen's eldest sister, Elizabeth of York, was apparently jealous of her sister's fashion and outward wealth, particularly due to the economies of her own household.
A child would be born to the Scottish Royal couple in 1498, named James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay. Heralded by his father as the most beautiful son born in all of Europe, the boy was, in 1499, betrothed to "a French Princess". Although this almost certainly meant the Princess Claude of France, it may also have simply meant any sister she might have, following the birth of a longed for son. However, no son would come and it would not be until 1511 that a second Princess would be born. However, for the time being, the Princess Claude was referred to in the Scottish Court as "our future Queen" and certainly James IV considered the future marriage at least partially assured. Time would show, however, that Claude of France would not be the future Queen of Scotland.
A second son in November of 1499 was born, christened Arthur Stewart, Duke of Ross. The child was apparently born sickly and with teeth, along with a host of other abnormalities. Thus, his death in March of 1500 was not a shock, although it did cause grief between the royal couple, who had grown close over time. The birth of a third son in that same year helped bring them even closer and somewhat heal the wounds caused by the death of their other child. Named Alexander Stewart, Duke of Ross, this child was small but much healthier and would survive through to adulthood. The royal family at this time was quite close and in 1501 Henry VII of England and James IV of Scotland successfully arranged a meeting at a disputed border town. This meeting, the only one they would ever achieve and the last time both Queens would see each other, was not an overly successful venture, if just because nothing of note occurred other than the meeting itself.
The Queen of Scots would, in 1503, undergo her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter named Elizabeth Stewart, after her sister and mother. The Princess would, like her brother, would be betrothed to a Frenchman, although a Prince rather than a Princess. As mentioned before, there would be no French Prince and thus the little Scottish Princess would go unbetrothed throughout her childhood, although there is mention of a Scottish-Hapsburg match at some point in 1507. However, historians have agreed that this was probably linked to a match between the Duke of Ross and Catherine of Austria, but it may well have been the proposed match between Elizabeth Stewart and Ferdinand of Austria. The royal couple would undergo a further 4 pregnancies, of which 2 stillborn sons, one short-lived daughter and a living daughter would be born. This daughter, named Annabella Stewart, was born in 1510, and would be the royal couple's last child.
James IV of Scotland (b.1473: d.1512) m. Catherine of York (b.1479) (a)
Basic Scenario: The death of Henry VII of England's second child in October of 1490, shortly the Princess' first birthday. This child, apparently named Margaret Tudor, would leave this would shortly after the royal couple discovered they were expecting what would be a second son in the form of Henry Tudor, Duke of York. Thus, the royal family would have to wait until 1492 for the birth of a living legitimate Princess in the form of Elizabeth Tudor, who was followed in 1496 by Mary Tudor. The Princess Elizabeth Tudor would unfortunately also die in 1495, after an illness. Thus, the royal family would only have one Princess in their deck, even after 3 further pregnancies.
In 1492, hoping to prevent Scotland from supporting the rising star of Perkin Warbeck (or, as he called himself, Richard IV of England), Henry VII of England signs a treaty promising the King of Scotland an English Princess to wed. This means, in 1495, after the death of his second daughter, the King finally agrees to pay a Princely dowry for the Princess Catherine of York, allowing her to leave the court as a lady of her sister and, at the start of the next year, enter Scotland to marry the King.
As Queen, Catherine of York preaches against supporting Warbeck, claiming he cannot possibly be her brother because "he looks nothing like Richard". With her support, Scotland prevents messengers from Burgundy attempting to draw them into the war effort for the pretender. The York Princess is a beauty and favoured by her husband, who showers her in gifts. It is said that, during this time, the Scottish Queen's sister Cecily of York was so jealous that her sister had taken the position originally meant for her that, despite her younger sister's offers of hospitality in Edinburgh if she might visit the somewhat lonely young woman, she did not step foot in Scotland. Indeed, there were also talks that the Queen's eldest sister, Elizabeth of York, was apparently jealous of her sister's fashion and outward wealth, particularly due to the economies of her own household.
A child would be born to the Scottish Royal couple in 1498, named James Stewart, Duke of Rothesay. Heralded by his father as the most beautiful son born in all of Europe, the boy was, in 1499, betrothed to "a French Princess". Although this almost certainly meant the Princess Claude of France, it may also have simply meant any sister she might have, following the birth of a longed for son. However, no son would come and it would not be until 1511 that a second Princess would be born. However, for the time being, the Princess Claude was referred to in the Scottish Court as "our future Queen" and certainly James IV considered the future marriage at least partially assured. Time would show, however, that Claude of France would not be the future Queen of Scotland.
A second son in November of 1499 was born, christened Arthur Stewart, Duke of Ross. The child was apparently born sickly and with teeth, along with a host of other abnormalities. Thus, his death in March of 1500 was not a shock, although it did cause grief between the royal couple, who had grown close over time. The birth of a third son in that same year helped bring them even closer and somewhat heal the wounds caused by the death of their other child. Named Alexander Stewart, Duke of Ross, this child was small but much healthier and would survive through to adulthood. The royal family at this time was quite close and in 1501 Henry VII of England and James IV of Scotland successfully arranged a meeting at a disputed border town. This meeting, the only one they would ever achieve and the last time both Queens would see each other, was not an overly successful venture, if just because nothing of note occurred other than the meeting itself.
The Queen of Scots would, in 1503, undergo her fourth pregnancy, giving birth to a daughter named Elizabeth Stewart, after her sister and mother. The Princess would, like her brother, would be betrothed to a Frenchman, although a Prince rather than a Princess. As mentioned before, there would be no French Prince and thus the little Scottish Princess would go unbetrothed throughout her childhood, although there is mention of a Scottish-Hapsburg match at some point in 1507. However, historians have agreed that this was probably linked to a match between the Duke of Ross and Catherine of Austria, but it may well have been the proposed match between Elizabeth Stewart and Ferdinand of Austria. The royal couple would undergo a further 4 pregnancies, of which 2 stillborn sons, one short-lived daughter and a living daughter would be born. This daughter, named Annabella Stewart, was born in 1510, and would be the royal couple's last child.
James IV of Scotland (b.1473: d.1512) m. Catherine of York (b.1479) (a)
1a) James V of Scotland (b.1498)
2a) Arthur Stewart, Duke of Ross (b.1499: d.1500)
3a) Alexander Stewart, Duke of Ross (b.1500)
4a) Elizabeth Stewart (b.1503)
5a) Stillborn Son (c.1504)
6a) Stillborn Son (c.1506)
7a) Margaret Stewart (b.1508: d.1509)
8a) Annabella Stewart (b.1510)
2a) Arthur Stewart, Duke of Ross (b.1499: d.1500)
3a) Alexander Stewart, Duke of Ross (b.1500)
4a) Elizabeth Stewart (b.1503)
5a) Stillborn Son (c.1504)
6a) Stillborn Son (c.1506)
7a) Margaret Stewart (b.1508: d.1509)
8a) Annabella Stewart (b.1510)
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