What if Margaret, maid of Norway, didn’t die in 1290 and married Prince Edward of England?

[Repulse212]

Margaret was the daughter of King Eric II of Norway and Margaret of Scotland. In 1286, she would technically become the queen of Scots after Alexander III of Scotland died.

The Scottish Parliament appointed six Guardians to rule on her behalf, and on 12 March 1290 the Scots agreed in the Treaty of Brigham (Berwickshire) that she should marry Edward I of England's eldest son, Prince Edward (the future king Edward II of England).

Owing to her young age, she remained in Norway rather than going to Scotland. In 1290, she was meant to sail to Scotland, but the ship she was on sunk and she drowned.

But what if she didn’t drown? What if Margaret didn’t die and she did marry Prince Edward of England, who would become Edward II in 1307. This would mean, assuming Margaret and Edward had children, that Edward III (to use the name of Edward II’s historical heir) would become the king of England upon his father’s death and king of Scots upon his mother’s death.

How would this change the British isles with England and Scotland entering into a dynastic union then a personal union roughly 300 years earlier than in our timeline?

Assuming England and Scotland officially unite into the kingdom of Great Britain around the 1390s or early 1400s, how would this change the history of England, Scotland, the rest of the British isles, Europe and possibly the world?

 

[Mildtryth]

Owing to her young age, she remained in Norway rather than going to Scotland. In 1290, she was meant to sail to Scotland, but the ship she was on sunk and she drowned.

But what if she didn’t drown?

She didn't drown; She got sick with something during the trip, landed on the Orkneys and died there about one week after the landing.

Other than that, the obvious implication is that, provided that nothing else happens on that front, the English won't have a claim on the French throne. There'll be wars over the English-held territory in France anyway, but you won't have anything like Henry V almost being crowned King of France...

 

[Lalli]

Yes, Margaret indeed died some unknown illness not drowned.

This would butterfly completely 100 Years War and English/British king wouldn't claim French crown through few next centuries. Conflicts with France are still happening but nothing like 100 Years War. Edward II would too reign longer what would has some other affects. Scotland would remain more peaceful and not devastated by wars of Edward I. This probably too has some effects on Conquest of Ireland.

And it is too possible that not decades lasting War of the Roses in England over succession.

On foreign politics England-Scotland might focus to Scandinavia. If succession in Norway still go bit messy Edward III (pretty likely name for successor of Edward II and Margaret) could try claim crown of Norway. Yes, I know that Norweigian succession law didn't allow female succession but so didn't allow French one either and still Edward III claim that through his mother who was related for French crown and in Norway that still happen in Norway in OTL.

 

[Liminia1]

Thank god I'm not the author of this TL otherwise it'll look like a shameless self promotion but instead I get to shameless promote someone else's TL. One of the best imo https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...britain-timeline.545699/page-61#post-25072799