Chapter XIX: The Roses of the Continent
Prince Henry-Sebastian Duke of Kendal shortly after his marriage
In February 1684, as the French Royal entourage prepares to travel to England, a series of war council meetings are held in Vienna. The Supreme allied war council, created to allow greater organization between the various armies and great powers, begins to create a cohesive strategy against the Turks. With each nation having their own agendas, from territories to trade rights to who will be the Protector, it is up the the council to create a cohesive strategy to satisfy each of their member nations desires. A steep task indeed. The Venetians want to expand their territories in Dalmatia and reclaim Crete. The Emperor wants to reclaim the entire Kingdom of Hungary and potentially expand into the Balkans. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth wants to gain control of the black sea port of Khadsibey and the suzerainty of the Principality of Moldavia, a vassal of the Turks. The Knights Hospitaller of Malta, a recent signatory state, are interested in reclaiming their old stomping ground of Rhodes. Pope Innocent XI, the most ambitious of all, wants to reclaim the Holy Land and revive the old Kingdom of Jerusalem. The United Provinces, a reluctant signer at best, (it took Prince William III almost six months to get the States-General to ratify the Vienna Pact) has began to see itself as the successors to the ancient rights the Venetians and Geonese enjoyed from the old Byzantine Empire. The Dutch hope to completely dominate the Turks foreign trade, greatly increasing their revenue in the Mediterranean and to acquire a few islands, to act as bases and safe ports for their Navy and merchant fleet. Of course the Dutch desires put them in conflict with the English. As for the Spanish, they want to permanently drive the Infidel Turks from Europe once and for all. But closer to home they to seek to end the power of both the Barbary pirates and the Sultan of Morocco, something they have in common with both the English and surprisingly enough the French. The Sun King, though still reluctant, has began to come around to the idea of conquering the so called Barbary states, especially Algeria. The English want to permanently secure their overseas territory of Tangier, on the straits of Gibraltar and part of Queen Catherine's dowry, gain a few islands in the Mediterranean to act as bases for the Royal navy and merchant fleets, and preferential trade rights with the Ottoman Empire. With such conflicting desires among the League nations, getting these diverse states to work together will take a lot of time, energy and babying.
Back in France, Versailles prepares itself for another proxy wedding, which takes place on the February 3rd. The groom, like at the previous proxy wedding, is represented by Mademoiselle de Valois' brother, the Duc de Chartres. On February 9th the Royal entourage begins its journey to England. The Royals include Madame, the Duchess of Kendal the Duc et Duchesse de Valois and surprisingly enough their young son the, Comte de Montargis. Though bringing a 3-year-old across the channel, especially one that is the heir to the House of d'Orleans, is risky, both his great-grandmother the Queen Mother and his grandfather the Duke of York have expressed a want to see the child and in a show of family support Louis XIV agreed. After all the child is a living representation of the Anglo-French alliance and it can't hurt to remind the English of the blood tying the two Royal families together. The Royal reunite, 200 strong, arrives at the port of Le Havre on the English channel to be greeted by English Yachts and a full naval squadron of the Channel Fleet, to escort them to the waiting English Royal family at Portsmouth. Led by 63-year-old Prince Rupert, the fleet includes the new HMY Maria Anna, named after the arriving Duchess of Kendal and the HMS Royal Charles, the flagship of the Navy and 30 other warships, including Ships-of-the-line and Frigates. Landing at Portsmouth on February 23rd, the French Royals are greeted by their English relatives, and the Royal Court. As the Royal greet one another all eyes are on the 15-year-old proxy husband and wife, Prince Henry-Sebastian and Princess Maria Anna. From looks alone they seem to make an attractive couple. The Prince shares the looks of both his namesakes, his uncle Henry and the imagined looks of Saint Sebastian. Tall and well proportioned, with light brown hair, blue eyes and a good complexion, many compare the young Duke to Cupid, or as Henry-Sebastian prefers, to Bacchus. The young Duchess, with dark hair, dark brown eyes, rosy cheeks, a wonderful complexion, and full lips, is a perfect blend of her parent's looks. But beneath the Prince's icy Blue eyes lurks a secret. The Duke of Kendal has a lot more in common with his new Father-in-law then his bride.
At only 15, the Prince has a reputation for taking both male and female lovers. Rumors have linked him to many of the aristocracy, from Henrietta Wentworth, 6th Baroness Wentworth and Robert Pierrepont, 3rd Earl of Kingston-upon-Hull to Charles Talbot, 12th Eark of Shrewsbury. Not to mention many lowly maids and pages. He was even supposedly involved with his new Duchess's cousin, the Comte de Verdominis, during his visit to London the previous year. However, luckily for Mary Anna and unlike her mother Madame, there is no primary lover like the Chevalier de Lorraine to compete with. And the young couple have much in common, with their similar taste in men, love of high fashion, luxury, parties and gambling, and of course an appreciation for all things French. Soon the Kendals will become the leaders of a scandalous new set of the aristocracy, called the Ton. But for now the new couple are still getting to know each other, and it will be some time before they establish themselves in High society. In the meantime, the Court, including their distinguished French guests, are entertained by a Naval review of the new Mediterranean Fleet and military parades by the English expeditionary force. On March 1st the entire Court departs for the Palace of Winchester, where the Royal wedding will take place. Though not yet finished, the Palace is already a favorite of the Royal family and the Court.
A Baroque fairytale: the Palace of Winchester
Away from the crowded, opinionated streets of London and in the heart of Royalist Hampshire, an apartment in this English Versailles is highly sought after. The wedding of Kendal and Mademoiselle de Valois will be the first major event to take place at the Palace but not the last. Arriving on April 3rd, the entire city comes out to greet the Court. Trumpets blare, church bells ring, cannons roar as the Court precession winds its way through Winchester on the way to the Palace. Many of the citizens that come out to watch the show secretly hope that their new Palace will return to their city its ancient status as the capital of England, just as the French Court's move to Versailles allowed the town to de facto supersede Paris as the capital of France. At the Palace a tearful reunion take place between the Queen Mother and her daughter Madame, and the Duke of York and his daughter Madame la Duchesse de Valois. But this isn't a time of sadness but a grand family reunion. It is the first time that Queen Henrietta Maia has laid eyes on her grandson Valois sense her time in France in the mid 1660s. It is also the first meeting between the 74-year-old Queen Mother and her 3-year-old great-grandson Montargis. For the Royal family and ranking Courtiers it is a touching, emotional scene between a woman who symbolizes a bygone era and a child with his whole life ahead of him. The proper wedding takes place on March 5th, at Winchester Cathedral, the first to take place there in centuries. Conducted by both the Bishop of Winchester, Peter Mews, and the Archbishop of Rouen (specially brought over in Madame's Household for the purpose) the wedding is not only an important social event for the English Court but it is a new symbol of the Anglo-French alliance.
After a few week honeymoon at Winchester the Court moves on to Windsor and Hampton Court before preparing for the Duchess of Kendal's State entry into London, taking place on March 20th. The state entry if a river affair, with hundreds of barges sailing majestically down the Thames, towards Whitehall. Across the city coats of arms quartering English and French together are flown, cannons boom from the Tower of London, and at night bonfires are lit and fireworks displays are put on. The English, who always enjoy pomp and ceremonial, come out if force to view the river entry. However, the marriage isn't popular among the people, seeing it as yet another way that the proud English Nation is tied to absolutist, Catholic France. Not to mention the fact that the recently announced engagement between the popular Prince of Wales and Archduchess-Infanta Maria Anna means that for another generation England will have a Catholic Queen. But there is nothing the people can do but grind their teeth and accept it, reluctantly. After all no one wants a return to the horrible era of the civil war and Commonwealth. And who knows, perhaps these Catholic marriages will help England rise to even greater heights. In the coming days and weeks the marriage, and the state visit of the French Royals, are celebrated across London with fetes, plays, balls, banquets and a constant stream of parties, while behind the scenes Madame and Charles II negotiate France's involvement in the Holy League. In the end the final details are hammered out, Royal to Royal. France will invade the Barbary states of Algeria, Tunisia and potentially Tripoli, aid England and Spain in reducing the power of Morocco, send troops to fight in Hungary, a squadron to aid the League naval forces in defeating Ottoman and Barbary fleets and to sign the Pact of Vienna including the neutrality clause, to keep the European nations from warring with each other for the duration of the conflict with the Turks. With the signing of the secret treaty of Hampton Court on March 28th, France's participation in the Holy League is assured. But as London dances the day and night away, Vienna marches to war.
In the Imperial capital the Supreme council has finally decided where to devote their resources and not a moment to soon, for the Emperor has ordered his forces to march on Hungary.The previous year, shortly after the battle of Vienna, the Imperial army took the town of Párkány, in Ottoman Hungary and are eager to continue their reclamation of the old Kingdom. The bulk of the League forces, 90,000 strong, will focus on the reconquest of Hungary while the Naval forces will focus on annihilating the Muslim fleets, while steadily conquering the Greek islands, especially Crete. Though the Scandinavian generals, the Duke of Stegeborg and Prince Jørgen, and Margrave Louis object to more or less abandoning their Polish ally's objectives, the council is steadfast in their resolution. Besides, the council reasons, they are still sending 15,000 soldiers, led by Adolph-John of Palatinate-Kleeburg,son of the Duke of Stegeborg, to aid the Polish King in his campaigns. However, this isn't an insult that Jan III will soon forget. However he isn't going home empty handed. Not only would the King return with the League forces (mainly drawn from Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands) but he is also accompanied by a secret weapon, a way to strengthen the Sobieski family against the great magnates of the Commonwealth and finance his families ambitions. This weapon is none other then his new daughter-in-law, one of the greatest landowners in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania: Crown Princess Ludwika Karolina Radziwiłł.
The heiress of vast lands in Lithuania and an impressive and long-stretching family legacy, Karolina is undeniably one of the wealthiest women in Europe and the perfect match for Jan III's son, Crown Prince Jakub Ludwik Sobieski. Originally married to Margrave Ludwig of Brandenburg, a son of Prince-Elector Frederick William, Ludwika was widowed the previous year when her husband was killed in the Battle of Vienna. As a young widow of 16 Karolina was understandingly distraught at her husbands death and rushed of to Vienna to be with her father-in-law and see the battlefield herself as soon as the tragic news reached Berlin. Arriving in Vienna head to toe in black, her face covered by widows weeds, the Princess was horrified to find the city full of celebration, considering her own terrible personal loss. Out of this loss however, comes an unexpected glimmer of hope. While the rest of Vienna gorges themselves on pleasure, a handsome young Prince offers a hand of friendship to the grieving young widow. This dark-haired, oval eyed young man ignoring the massive parties in favor of comforting a grieving woman is none other then Crown Prince Jakub Ludwik Sobieski. As the months go by and her grief recedes, the two are often seen together strolling along the Kärtnerstrasse ,past boutiques, cafes and coffeehouses. As these outings, in both the city and the surrounding countryside, continue the Viennese begin to speculate on when the pretty couple will marry. In fact the speculation was true, and the couple wished to marry, but before that can occur a few hurtles must be crossed. First is religion. The Crown Prince is a Catholic while Ludwika is a a devoted Calvinist, so a Papal dispensation is necessary for the two to marry. While that should be easy the Papal bureaucracy is notoriously slow an it will take several months to arrive. But the second hurdle, and the potential problem, is the Great Elector, Frederick William of Brandenburg.
The father-in-law of Ludwika, he was also her guardian sense her father died when she was two. Though legally the Prince-Elector has no role in any marriage between Prince Jacub and Princess Ludwika, it would be a diplomatic insult if the Poles cut him out of any marriage negotiations or discussions. When informed, the Elector is astounded and furious. He had been planning to keep Ludwika in Berlin, and marry her off to another one of his sons, Margrave Philipp Wilhelm. Now these plans have blown up in his face. However, the Princess is an adult, and he is unable to legally block the match. Sure he could attempt to block the papal dispensation but the Pope is unlikely to listen to a Lutheran Prince over a Catholic King. Plus he has no desire to be that petty and the proposed marriage could be a way to extend his influence into the Commonwealth. Eventually Jan III and the Elector manage to hammer out a defensive alliance, aimed discretely at the Swedish Empire, a trade agreement and the right for the Elector to move troops through the "Polish corridor" connecting his territories in Brandenburg and the Duchy of Prussia. These agreements pale in comparison to the lost Radziwiłł riches, they are still good consolation prizes for the Elector. The wedding takes place on January 30th, at St. Stephan's Cathedral. Studded with hundreds of royals and nobles from across Europe, the wedding is a truly international affair. With so many Sovereigns in attendance the wedding is a real "Royal" event. Back in Warsaw however, the news of the Royal wedding is met with anger, rage and fury by the Sejm, the Parliament of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Made up of the great magnates of Poland and Lithuania, the Sejm has long been the real government of the Commonwealth, thanks to the weakness of the Crown in internal affairs. Now, with the massive Radziwiłł holdings falling into the hands of the Sobieski family, the balance of power between the Crown and the magnates threatens to swing the balance of power into the hands of the King. But, as there is no law that says that the Sejm have any control over Royal marriages or the marriages of the magnates,there is nothing the Magnates can do but grid their teeth and plot to deprive the Sobieskis of the throne when Jan III dies and the next Royal election takes place. Only time will tell if their plots will succeed or if the House of Sobieski will be able to restore the Crown's power.
Soon after the Polish King and the bulk of his forces depart for Warsaw and the League forces march into Hungary another event takes place in Vienna, the finalizing of the marriage negotiations between the King of England and the Holy Roman Emperor. The English are represented by the Duke of Monmouth and the Imperials by Vice-Chancellor Leopold Wilhelm von Koenigsegg-Rothfels. Though most of the terms in the marriage treaty was already decided, a few details are still left to be hammered out. For one the Habsburgs demand a Catholic ceremony, carried out by a Bishop of their choice, along with the Anglican ceremony insisted upon by the English. the compromise, that the wedding will be officiated by both an Anglican and Catholic bishop,is accepted by both, as is the promise that the Archduchess-Infanta can practice her religion in peace. The dowry, 200,000 crowns and jewels worth an equal amount, is considered ample enough for the daughter of the Emperor and niece of the King of Spain. To the Household of the future Princess of Wales, a few ladies-in-waiting from Austria will be permitted, as will her personal confessors and priests, but all else must be English. With the request for a Papal dispensation already sent off to Rome, with a request to expedite the process, everything seems to be in order. However, the only true stumbling block, having the potential to derail the entire marriage plans, is the Spanish rights of Maria Anna. The Emperor insists that she must renounce them in order for the marriage to precede. This is apposed by King Charles, via Monmouth. After all, there has been no talk of the Archduchess's older sister Maria Antonia, engaged to the Elector of Bavaria, having to renounce her rights and she would be more likely to potentially inherit the Spanish Monarchy then her younger sister. And is England not in a much better position to defend the Archduchess's rights if, heaven forbid, her elder siblings predecease her without children? Why is England, a faithful ally and bank roller of the Habsburgs, being penalized for its religion and status as a great power? And furthermore, Monmouth insists, why is the Emperor involved in a discussion over his daughters Spanish rights at all? If anything, that discussion should be between the English Envoy to Spain, John Stafford, and King Carlos II (in reality Don Juan Jose). Her rights come from her mother, not her father, so what right does the Emperor have to object?
The very suggestion that the Emperor, the only one in all of Christendom, is being criticized by a bastard of a heretic is infuriating for the Emperor. Once word reaches him that Monmouth and the English envoy, Nicholas Taafe, 2nd Earl of Carlingford, have been badmouthing him to the other foreign ambassadors and King Charles in London, Leopold fly's into a rage. Berating his ministers for allowing him to be talking into marrying his daughter to a heretic, the Emperor denounces both the marriage and the English alliance, threatening to break both off. But, however angry the Emperor is, both he and his ministers know it is a hollow threat. If England withdraws its financial aid to the Empire the entire war effort against the Turks could collapse. At the very least the Protestant nations would withdraw, leaving the League with a much weakened army and completely reliant on the Italians for naval support. Even worse is the looming French juggernaut. Without England to hold the sun King back it is all but assured that the French will push forward with their plans of expansion into the Spanish Netherlands and the Rhine. In order to ensure the peace of Europe and safeguard the Great Crusade the Emperor must concede to the English demands. But for this devoted and proud Catholic Sovereign, the idea of surrendering to the arrogant English is as distasteful as the idea of empowering the French. In the end Leopold passes the buck, informing the frustrated English delegation that all discussions pertaining to the Spanish succession, including Maria Anna's place in it after marriage, is to be handled in by the Spanish Court in Madrid. Thankfully for the English, the Emperor still signs the already drawn up marriage contract, provided that any reference to the Spanish succession rights are removed. Now all the Emperor can do is hope that the Spanish Court will agree with him and force Maria Anna to renounce her rights to the Spanish Monarchy. But it is a slim hope, as any hope for a prosperous future for Spain is tied into English money.
Meanwhile, as wedding drama consumes Vienna, a sadness has came over London. Though Louis XIV extended Madame and the Valois' visit by several weeks, it is now time for them to return to France. On April 10th the Royal family and the Court, having moved to Dover, bid goodbye to their French guests. As always, the good-by is especially hard on King Charles, Queen Henrietta Maria and Madame. Thankfully for the depressed members of the Royal family, the Duchess of Kendal is on hand to cheer up her in-laws and grandmother. With her looks and disposition Maria Anna reminds many of her mother Madame and she uses that to her advantage, planting herself into her father-in-laws affections. From going walking with the King in the mornings to playing real tennis and hunting with the King and Duke of York, the Duchess quickly becomes a leading star at court. And it doesn't hurt that she is one of the highest ranking women at Court. But as the King enjoys the company of his new daughter-in-law, he worries about his other perspective one. The reports of the near breakdown of negotiations in Vienna has him troubled, and he even considers backing down and agreeing to the Emperor's demand that the Archduchess-Infanta renounce her Spanish rights. However, to back down would be impossible at this stage. If the English were to do so it would make them appear weak in the eyes of Europe. No, better to allow things to take their course. And besides, the marriage treaty is signed and the Spanish matter is now in the hands of Madrid, a much easier negotiating partner. After all, Spain's administration is in the hands of Don Juan Jose, who would be very foolish to risk losing England's generous financial support. All Charles has to do now is wait for Spain to make the right choice.
In the meantime, news arrives that the Anglo-Dutch force has safely arrived in Trieste and is even now marching to join the League forces in Hungary. Not only is the League armies in Hungary are strengthened, but so is England's negotiating hand. But, for the House of Stuart, the most important events happen in June. On June 5th Princess Sophia Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to a healthy baby boy, named Edward James after his grandfathers, Edward Hyde and James Duke of York. Not only does this birth assure the continuation of the House of Stuart-York, it also creates a bit of a dilemma: what is the title and style of this new Royal baby? The title and styles of the sons and daughter of younger sons of a Sovereign has never been fully addressed, or has there been a reason to decide who title and style a male-line great grandson of a King, as no English Royal House has had multiple branches sense the era of Edward III and the House of Plantagenet. Once again the English turn to France, or more specifically her Princes du Sang to decide how to properly title and style both the new Prince and any other potential cadet branches. It is decided that children of the Sovereign and the grandchildren of the Sovereign in the male line shall be entitled to the title of Prince/Princess of England, Scotland and Ireland and the style "Royal Highness". Furthermore the children of the Sovereign shall be considered "Children of England" and the male line grandchildren shall be considered "Grandchildren of England". Children of the Prince of Wales shall be treated as though they were the children of the Sovereign, rather then his or her grandchildren. Male-line great grandchildren of a Sovereign, like baby Edward, shall be titled Prince of X, such as Prince of York or Prince of Gloucester, and given the lesser style of "Highness". However, Grandchildren of Wales shall enjoy the title and style of Grandchildren of England, even though they would be the great grandchildren of the Sovereign. All male-line descendents after that shall be titled "Serene Highness" and considered Princes/Princesses of the Blood and members of the Royal House, rather then the direct Royal family. However, some exceptions shall be made. First, those male-line descendents of Kings that hold the title of Duke and are considered "Head" of their branch of the Royal House shall have the right to the style of "Highness". And second, the most senior (by primogeniture) male member of the royal dynasty shall be titled First Prince of the Blood and be entitled to the style of Royal Highness. Thus the newborn Edward shall be titled HRH Prince Edward of Cambridge, Earl of Cambridge (one of his fathers minor titles) & First Prince of the Blood.
The new governance of the Royal family and Royal House is formalized in the Caroline Laws, laws defining the organization of the Royal family, House and Court, who is entitled to income from the Crown , a state funded Household, the right to reside in Royal residences, order of precedence, and royal marriages. Though controversial, and angering to Parliament, the laws stand and shall be the guide to all future major decisions in the Royal House of Stuart. At the End of June, when the celebrations surrounding Prince Edwards birth are dying down, two pieces of good news arrives. From Madrid, Don Juan Jose supported by Queen Mother Mariana has decided to allow Archduchess-Infanta Maria Anna to retain her Spanish Rights, a huge coup for England and a major blow to the Emperor. And, from Hungary, several League victories against the Turks have led to the cities of Vác and Pest being liberated and the Hungarian capital of Buda beeing placed under a siege. With Vác, a key fortress city, and Pest, right across the river from Buda, in League hands and Buda under siege the Habsburgs seem poised to secure huge amounts of territory and a gateway to the Balkans. At Trieste, the Anglo-Dutch fleet has joined with the Venetians and the Genoans and have began joint exercises to get used to working together. Soon the League naval forces will begin their campaign in the Aegean to capture key islands, especially Crete and Cyprus.
With the confirmation of Archduchess's Spanish rights all marriage negotiations are finally completed, and the wedding and handover of the bride can finally commence. On July 4th the proxy wedding of Archduchess-Infanta Maria Anna and Charles Prince of Wales takes place, with Prince Alessandro Farnese of Parma standing in for the groom. On July 10th the new Princess of Wales and her Household, accompanied by her brother-in-law the Duke of Monmouth, departs Vienna for England. Traveling threw Germany, the Princess's Household visits Munich, Nuremberg, Heidelberg, Mainz, Cologne and Tier to call on the Prince-Electors of the Empire. Finally, on August 1st, the Princess passes into the Spanish Netherlands, the dominion of her uncle Carlos II. Saluted by cannons as she passes threw the major cities, including Luxembourg, Liège (capital of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège), Hasselt and finally the capital, Brussels. There she is greeted by the Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, Ottone Enrico del Caretto, Marquis of Savona. Staying there for a week, the Princess, now escorted by the Marquis of Savona and a squadron of cavalry, heads to Antwerp where the English Royal Yacht squadron is anchored. On August 8th the Princess, the Duke and the Household board the HMY Katherine to sail to England. As the Belgian coastline disappears into the horizon it seems as though the Princess's past life disappears along with it. But as she sails towards her uncertain future, the Princess can't help but be optimistic. Hopefully, this optimism isn't misplaced but only time will tell.
