The title says it all, what if Richard, Duke of York only had daughters? I imagine he wouldn’t be as aggressive as he was in OTL when pushing his claim, since he wouldn’t have a male heir to secure the throne, though he might try and secure his place in the succession. Who would Richard’s daughters marry? Anne of York would probably still marry Henry Holland, but what about his other daughters? I could see one marrying Edmund or Jasper Tudor if Henry VI wants to promote them/place them in the line of succession. How does this affect English politics? Does Richard still attack Henry VI at St Albans?
WI: Richard, Duke of York only has daughters
- Thread starter RedKing
- Start date
I once discussed with @CaptainShadow similar scenario.
Though Tudor thought didn't appear in our scenario and that is a solid suggestion. Actually if Henry wants to promote Tudor, Tudor is marrying Anne of York, as Mortimer claim would pass to her.
The age difference is not so big - 9 years, there were bigger age differences back then.
If female March has somewhat similar personality to her OTL counterpart she could marry Henry Beaufort, Somerset's heir since OTL male March and Somerset shared a close friendship (suspected of being lovers even) and if ITTL March is female...big daddy RoY can catch Henry B and female March doing the banging.
And marriage would be only option out.
No I am fairly sure Girls could inherit lands but he could marry off the heiress to a hypothetical second son which achieves the same result
Deleted member 147978
The Duchy of York is a male-line only Royal Dukedom. If Richard only bores girls, his Dukedom would be crown property upon his death.
The title itself would be forfeit but lands of RoY would pass to his daughters.
Deleted member 147978
Another thing, females can inherit titles and estates if they in question are not male-line only.
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Oh right in that case then probably but if it doesn't happen then probably some Lancaster royalist gets appointed and marries the eldest to increase his legitimacy
Deleted member 147978
That's why I'm only addressing the Dukedom, Richard could split his estates among his daughters.
Deleted member 147978
Sure that any Lancastrian loyalist would want York's daughters' hands in marriage, but the Duchy would be forfeited back to the crown.
Alright makes sense though have no idea who he gives it to if he doesn't have a second son around so I am assuming some random cousin who I have forgotten about
Yeah, it does make a lot of sense, though it would require Richard, Duke of York’s agreement and I figured that Anne would still marry Exeter since butterflies won’t begin to affect things until the late 1440s and 1450s, though Exeter could be killed off so that Anne can marry Tudor. The marriage is beneficial for the two of them (Anne gains a high standing place at court and Edmund get’s a rich wife) and would be quite interesting. I do have a similar idea for a TL where Anne is Richard’s only child who marries Edmund in 1453-ish and gives birth to his only child, Richard Tudor, who later becomes the ‘Yorkist’ claimant.
Female Edward IV (Cecily?) and Henry Beaufort would be an ironic match, especially if they enjoy a similar BFFs for life, followed by breakup they did in OTL. Another fun alt pairing would be female Richard III and Henry Tudor (if he still exists)!
The Dukedom of York would revert to the crown but would likely be given to Anne’s husband later down the line. I imagine Edward would remain Henry VI’s only child here, but who knows?
What @Zygmunt Stary said, the Dukedom would revert to the crown, but the lands and possibly Earldoms of Richard would be divided up among his daughters.
True, not sure which of Richard’s titles were entailed in the female line though.
He might feel that his daughter can do better than Edmund Tudor, who won’t be ennobled until 1451 and is of questionable legitimacy.