WI: One or Both of the Henry Brandons survive

So Henry Brandon was the Son of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk and Mary Tudor, Queen of France. Well actually there was two Henry Brandons, one born in 1516 and died in 1522 and the second, created Earl of Lincoln was born in ca. 1523 and died in 1534. As stated above, both died young. However, if one or both (if both then I guess Lincoln would have a different name) lived then either the first Henry or his descendents (or if he dies childless then OTL's Lincoln or his descendents) would have a very good shot at becoming King. After all during both of their a lifetimes they both the only ones in the line of succession who had the twin qualifications of being male, and English. So if either one leaves male descendents, would they have become King over James VI of Scotland?
I realize this sounds rambling and I apologize for that.:eek:
 
It's certainly possible that Henry would have tried to marry Mary to the Earl of Lincoln as a suitable and safe means of securing the succession failing a son of his own, perhaps in the aftermath of her betrothal to the Emperor falling apart.

Otherwise, Anne Boleyn would probably engineer a marriage for him into her family (as with Richmond?); perhaps her niece Catherine Carey, for example. After the fall of the Boleyn faction he'd have a good claim to the Earldoms of Ormonde & Wiltshire etc.

Failing that, he'd almost certainly be a player in the Privy Council politics of Edward's reign and be the recognized royal heir at his death. When it became clear Edward didn't have long to live, Mary might well be married to him (provided he was religiously 'correct') in an alt-device for the succession.
 
It's certainly possible that Henry would have tried to marry Mary to the Earl of Lincoln as a suitable and safe means of securing the succession failing a son of his own, perhaps in the aftermath of her betrothal to the Emperor falling apart.

Otherwise, Anne Boleyn would probably engineer a marriage for him into her family (as with Richmond?); perhaps her niece Catherine Carey, for example. After the fall of the Boleyn faction he'd have a good claim to the Earldoms of Ormonde & Wiltshire etc.

Failing that, he'd almost certainly be a player in the Privy Council politics of Edward's reign and be the recognized royal heir at his death. When it became clear Edward didn't have long to live, Mary might well be married to him (provided he was religiously 'correct') in an alt-device for the succession.


I was actually thinking of Henry marrying Mary. Either one really, but the first Henry would be closer in age so he might be a better choice for a husband. Henry marries her of to her cousin in a attempt to keep her claim to the throne in England, and who better for her to marry then the son of his best friend? Or during Edward's reign, Mary and Henry are married as an attempt to counter the Protestant reformation in England, perhaps spurred on by the Emperor. As for Lincoln, I didn't even think of a Boleyn match, considering how much his mother, Mary Tudor, hated the Boleyns. Though if Henry fails to have children (with either Mary or a different wife) then would Lincoln ( or his descendents, hopefully a son) inherit the throne when Elizabeth dies? I mean legally the Lincolns (for lack of a better term) would be the heirs by Henry VIII's will but Elizabeth's advisers engineered James VI's ascension to the throne OTL would that still happen OTL or would Lincolns heirs become King/Queen?
 
I was actually thinking of Henry marrying Mary. Either one really, but the first Henry would be closer in age so he might be a better choice for a husband. Henry marries her of to her cousin in a attempt to keep her claim to the throne in England, and who better for her to marry then the son of his best friend? Or during Edward's reign, Mary and Henry are married as an attempt to counter the Protestant reformation in England, perhaps spurred on by the Emperor. As for Lincoln, I didn't even think of a Boleyn match, considering how much his mother, Mary Tudor, hated the Boleyns. Though if Henry fails to have children (with either Mary or a different wife) then would Lincoln ( or his descendents, hopefully a son) inherit the throne when Elizabeth dies? I mean legally the Lincolns (for lack of a better term) would be the heirs by Henry VIII's will but Elizabeth's advisers engineered James VI's ascension to the throne OTL would that still happen OTL or would Lincolns heirs become King/Queen?

As a legitimate English-born nephew of the King, Henry Brandon would make a better candidate for Mary's hand than James of Scots. King James was briefly considered OTL but Henry was more interested in marrying Mary to the Emperor, with the end result that James turned to France for his two queens. I don't see either Mary or Lincoln ever going abroad during Henry VIII or Edward's reign - Lincoln especially would have more to loose than gain. More likely than not he would tread the line and not risk his head opposing his uncle's break with Rome or the Protestant reforms of his young cousin.

If (as seems likely) Henry still prevaricated over Mary's marriage, young Henry would probably marry Catherine Willoughby, a rich heiress whose wardship his father obtained (for him) in 1528. Another rich bride would be Anne Bourchier, Countess of Essex, although she married William Parr in 1527 so I'm not sure what would be necessary to break that off. Henry VIII's will would have explicitly designated him heir following Mary and Elizabeth. By the time Edward came to the throne, he'd most likely have a son or two - say, for example, a son born in 1536. This son would most likely be married to Mary or Elizabeth in the twilight of Edward's reign, neutralizing that threat; Elizabeth would be the more attractive bride, although the fear of foreign intervention on Mary's behalf might make her a better choice, especially if the Brandons harbour Catholic sympathies.

If Henry or his son marries Mary, then I'd say Elizabeth is excluded for good (similar to Princess Anne and William III OTL), as he'd no doubt posit for the crown matrimonial. Assuming Mary died more or less at the same point as OTL, her husband would almost certainly marry the widow Queen of Scots c.1561, excluding Elizabeth definitely from the succession.

EDIT: Tl;dr: A surviving Lincoln would likely become King long before 1603.
 
Interesting points but it there is no suggestion that Henry contemplated marrying Mary to her Brandon cousin who was a good bit younger than her.
His father's ambitions seem to have rested more with increasing the family's wealth which marriage to Catherine Willoughby was designed to do.
It was in part the reason why after Mary Tudor's death Charles married Lady Willoughby himself although it may be that he was already enamoured of her before his wife's death.
Mary Tudor might have disliked the Queen (Anne B) but the rest of her family embraced reform.
Frances Brandon married Dorset in 1533 before her younger brother's death. Eleanor's marriage contract to CLifford was drawn up the same year though her marriage didn't take place until 1537 or so.

The real difference may come during the reign of Edward VI - A surviving protestant Henry Brandon may well be preferred by Edward VI (whose device was initially designed to ensure a male protestant succession) but he will still face the same popular support for his cousin Mary that his niece Jane Grey did in OTL. That also assumes that he accepts his cousin's intention and in this tl he may well not be supported by Northumberland who has less to gain.
 
Both Brandons died at a time when Henry was likely to father his own son and Mary was being considered for far greater international marriages, either to the Emperor or Dauphin.
 
What if (this might be a dumb idea) but, Henry VIII decides that he wants to hedge his bets and decides to go through with a double marriage - Mary to ATL Lincoln and Frances Brandon to Fitzroy?
 
What if (this might be a dumb idea) but, Henry VIII decides that he wants to hedge his bets and decides to go through with a double marriage - Mary to ATL Lincoln and Frances Brandon to Fitzroy?

Potential recipe for civil war but not impossible. When Elizabeth became Queen the French wanted to arrange marriages between her eldest son with the eldest daughter (of Mary Queen of Scots and the Dauphin) and her eldest daughter with their eldest son, and she wasn't even married yet :eek:
 
The problem with this is that Frances married Grey in 1533 and her sister's betrothal to Cumberland occurred at about the same time.

The issue is that Mary's attractiveness as a bride was in decline. Declared illegitimate with no claim (she like Elizabeth were not restored to the succession until the 1540s) - it is easier for Henry to keep his recalictrant Catholic daughter at home and unmarried - her value falls even further after the birth of Edward.

What if (this might be a dumb idea) but, Henry VIII decides that he wants to hedge his bets and decides to go through with a double marriage - Mary to ATL Lincoln and Frances Brandon to Fitzroy?
 
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