WI William Plantagenet was born healthy?

In the early part of his career, William Marshal is simply landless knight, a younger son albeit a phenomenally talented one high in royal favour (especially of Eleanor of Aquitaine). At 42, on his death bed Henry II promises William the hand and the estates of one of England's greatest heiresses, the Countess of Striguil, Isabel de Clare. Henry II makes the promise, but Richard Lionheart confirms it. At this point, William has the estates (though not the Dower properties as his wife's mother is still alive) but is not given the title. He gets the title, Earl of Pembroke about 10 years or so later, I believe by John. After being given the estates and hand of Isabel, overnight William goes from being a landless knight to one of the richest men in the kingdom and has the status to become a commander and eventually a statesmen. The process certainly doesn't happen overnight. While William Marshal was an entirely appropriate choice for regent on behalf of Henry III at age 70 (he was fit and sound of mind and even led armies at that age!), I don't think he would be appropriate choice at 42, after he had just come into his estates and had little to no experience governing.

I know he wasn't Earl [of Pembroke] yet (call that a missed anachronism) but he was Marshal of England and would thus be responsible for the security of young King William III. A place on the Regency Council would be expected for him.
This also then raises the odds of Margaret being on the Council assuming she is still in the country.
I assume he'll still get his marriage finalised if not the title - that may have to wait until William is of age raising the possibilites of other titles instead.

Hmmm, it looks like a broader council will therefore exist - who else would be on it?
 
So the Plantagenet holdings will be divided in such a way.

William, king of England, duke of Normandy and count of Anjou
Richard, duke of Aquitaine
Geoffrey, later his son Arthur, duke of Brittany
John, lord (maybe later king) of Ireland (or count of Savoy).

However, if Richard still marries Berengaria of Navarre ITTL and they have children, then they might one day inherit the kingdom of Navarre (might not happen if Sancho VII stays healthy). (IOTL the house of Champagne inherited Navarre, descendants from the younger sister of Berengaria, Blanca.)

Still with William being 13 the regency period wouldn't be extremely long.
 
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I know he wasn't Earl [of Pembroke] yet (call that a missed anachronism) but he was Marshal of England and would thus be responsible for the security of young King William III. A place on the Regency Council would be expected for him.
This also then raises the odds of Margaret being on the Council assuming she is still in the country.
I assume he'll still get his marriage finalised if not the title - that may have to wait until William is of age raising the possibilites of other titles instead.

Hmmm, it looks like a broader council will therefore exist - who else would be on it?

At the time, he actually wasn't Marshal of England, as his older brother John Marshal was still alive and in possession of the title. William was still his brother's heir and would get the title a few years later. John Marshal was no where near as capable as his brother, and was a minor baron (but Marshal) so it remains to be said whether he would have been part of that council.

Did you know that there were allegations of William having an affair with Margaret. Apparently that's the reason that William fell out with Margaret's husband, the young King and left his retinue (although they later reconciled). The allegations probably weren't true, but I wonder if Marshal would have kept his distance from council if she was a part of it... Either way, Marshal would have handled the situation with skill and finesse.

If not for the Queen Margaret situation, I can see Marshal definitely being a member of council (and Queen Eleanor especially pushing for it). But on Henry II's death, he doesn't have the standing and reputation to be an obvious choice for regent like a uncle of an King can be (I'm thinking of Henry V's brothers specifically) and has towards the end of his career. Flash forward to the end his life, when he actually steps in as the Regent for Henry III, it's clear that he's one of the few to have the reputation and ability to save the Kingdom from an invasion of the French (from Prince Louis). Later on his career, he would save the Angevin dynasty after King John's disastrous reign.

Also, since this is England does a younger woman like Margaret make it onto council?
 
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So the Plantagenet holdings will be divided in such a way.

William, king of England, duke of Normandy and count of Anjou
Richard, duke of Aquitaine
Geoffrey, later his son Arthur, duke of Brittany
John, lord (maybe later king) of Ireland.

However, if Richard still marries Berengaria of Navarre ITTL and they have children, then they might one day inherit the kingdom of Navarre (might not happen if Sancho VII stays healthy). (IOTL the house of Champagne inherited Navarre, descendants from the younger sister of Berengaria, Blanca.)

Still with William being 13 the regency period wouldn't be extremely long.
Gascony will go to Castile after the death of Eleanor of Aquitaine as originally planned if Eleanor of Anjou has at least 1 surviving son.
 
And if Richard or his heirs accept that.

I agree, especially when Richard and his heirs would be 'native' to the region.

Nonetheless, if Richard and Berengaria, would have children, then they will be interested in the developments in the neighboring kingdom of Navarre, acquiring that would give three advantages; a more secure southern border of Aquitaine (already realized by the marriage), a Royal Crown and thus becoming of equal rank as his nephew William (but also the king of France and other kings).
 
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Rex Mundi

Banned
After being given the estates and hand of Isabel, overnight William goes from being a landless knight to one of the richest men in the kingdom and has the status to become a commander and eventually a statesmen. The process certainly doesn't happen overnight.

Are you Rick James from that Dave Chappelle skit?
 
Are you Rick James from that Dave Chappelle skit?

Lol! That's my secret identity. I wrote the post late at night so apologies for the flub :eek:.

I meant Marshal got the estate overnight and the chance to become a great statesmen (not a prospect a landless younger son could hope for). I will add that Henry II gave Marshal some estates before he gave the hand of Isabel de Clare, but these were the estates of a minor baron. The day after his marriage, Marshal was a great landowner but didn't have the reputation to be considered one of England's greatest statesmen, that reputation would take time to build.
 
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