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| | | From: Sleepy Elf (Original Message) | Sent: 11/18/2002 3:16 PM |
I read the message one of you posted about what if Charles II had a legitimate son, and carried on the Stuart line that way, Id like to pose this "what if".
What if, instead of maryring Catherine of Braganza, what if Charles had succeeded in marrying Mademoiselle de Montpensier (who by all accounts was stonger willed than Catherine), and had a legitimate son? Catherine didnt push the Catholic faith, but maybe Mademoiselle de Montpensier would have...would there have been a "Glorious" Revolution then? Or would Charles charisma had got him through it? Same as, if James II had the same character as Charles, would they have chosen him over the duller William of Orange????
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Charles II was proposed as a husband prior to his actually regaining his kingdom, so perhaps despite his charisma, that made him an unattractive choice. Or not, as Anne-Marie de Montpensier also turned down potential matches with Louis XIV of France, Alfonso VI of Portugal, & Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor, who were all well established on their thrones. She had such a vibrant, strong-willed personality, & regularly defied male authority, so she would hardly have been a meek breeding vessel like Catherine of Braganza tried to be, nor would she have suffered Charles's very public affairs lightly. And her political activism may have toppled the Stuart throne all over again. She actually led troops in revolt against Louis XIV & his chief minister Mazarin & at one point commmandeered the Bastille, turning its guns on the king's men! Can you imagine what she might have done in opposition to the anti-Catholic legislation pushed through Parliament? |
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| Well this is the thing isnt it, I was wondering would Charles have managed to survive it politically or not? Catherine of Braganza was happy to be left alone to worship in private, but I dont think that Mademoiselle de Montpensier would have, and she definately wouldnt have put up with the Anti Catholic legislation....would the Glorious Revolution come sooner, or would Charles have been too popular as a guy? I know Mademoiselle turned down Charles as he wasnt secure on the throne, as well as many others...did she ever marry? |
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It seems Mademoiselle developed a middle-aged tendre for a man greatly beneath her in rank. Initially Louis agreed to their marriage & created him a duc so he would be more acceptable, then reconsidered the whole idea & had him tossed into prison for a good 10 years. By this time, she was in her mid 50s & secretly married him upon his release. But apparently the ideal proved more attractive than the reality, as they separated after only 2 years. Can't for the life of me recall his title! |
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Thanks for that Amber...the book I read with her in it was mainly focused on Charles, and so the story left France to follow him to England! :)
it went back there though, I cant remember why something to do with Minnette and Louis affairs probably, and M de P was about 30 and still unmarried. |
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