1568: In England, the Queen announces the finalisation of the marriage negotiations between her son Edward: Prince of Wales and the Princess of France: Victoria de Valois. The young prince is not excited to marry his bride, hearing that she suffers from a clubfoot and a lazy eye. But there is a consolation to the prince, at least in his eyes. Arriving with the princess will be a very large dowry, pleasing Edward’s money hungry nature. See, the prince is named by those with far reaching memories:
“His great-grandfather’s double in thought and nature.”
Other than Edward, Elizabeth manages to secure another win on the marriage front. Mary of Scotland may have wanted her daughter to marry Prince Edward, but since he is now completely off the table she seems more willing to consider the young prince Thomas an acceptable mate for her young daughter. But she also wants a husband for herself, imagining that a son will follow quickly if she were just to have a husband. But there seem to be a lack of suitable men available for her in either country. So Elizabeth offers her something many in her court didn’t think she would consider. Her childhood friend and constant favourite Robert Dudley: Duke of Bedford and Earl of Leicester. Considered the most powerful noble in England due to his influence on both the Queen and her son, he was a worthy mate in everything but actual royal status.
Considering her actions, Mary realized she had only two real choices, the 35 year old Robert or the 13 year old Charles Stuart. While a decision didn't need to be made right now, she felt her youth passing her and as such felt the hurry to remarry. So she asked for a year to make her decision on the double marriage proposed.
In France, the court began to notice some odd things about the young Princess. For one, she seemed to be extraordinarily intelligent, talking at 8 months and walking at 9 months. This caused the young King much pride. But also, she was not very pretty anymore (this is putting it lightly). The young princess did not seem to grow much hair, just a few short hairs at the top of her head. Her eyes had lightened subsequently after the Christmas celebration, turning an almost indescribably light shade of blue. And, worst of all, she seemed to have some sort of strange impediment in her jaw making her unable to properly close it fully. But she was an infant, and as such there were hopes that she might grow up prettier, as she had been at birth. The year ended with no announcements of a second pregnancy, but this was to be expected after Elisabeth’s tugh time into the world.
In Spain, Claude de Valois and Queen Catarina both went into labour at the same time, giving birth to two girls on the same day. While not the gender either of their husbands had hoped for, there were still festivities celebrating the safe deliveries of two princesses. Princess Claude was given the privilege of naming her daughter, settling on the name Catherine Marie (Catarina Maria to the court) while Phillip declared that his daughter was to be named Isabella.
“His great-grandfather’s double in thought and nature.”
Other than Edward, Elizabeth manages to secure another win on the marriage front. Mary of Scotland may have wanted her daughter to marry Prince Edward, but since he is now completely off the table she seems more willing to consider the young prince Thomas an acceptable mate for her young daughter. But she also wants a husband for herself, imagining that a son will follow quickly if she were just to have a husband. But there seem to be a lack of suitable men available for her in either country. So Elizabeth offers her something many in her court didn’t think she would consider. Her childhood friend and constant favourite Robert Dudley: Duke of Bedford and Earl of Leicester. Considered the most powerful noble in England due to his influence on both the Queen and her son, he was a worthy mate in everything but actual royal status.
Considering her actions, Mary realized she had only two real choices, the 35 year old Robert or the 13 year old Charles Stuart. While a decision didn't need to be made right now, she felt her youth passing her and as such felt the hurry to remarry. So she asked for a year to make her decision on the double marriage proposed.
In France, the court began to notice some odd things about the young Princess. For one, she seemed to be extraordinarily intelligent, talking at 8 months and walking at 9 months. This caused the young King much pride. But also, she was not very pretty anymore (this is putting it lightly). The young princess did not seem to grow much hair, just a few short hairs at the top of her head. Her eyes had lightened subsequently after the Christmas celebration, turning an almost indescribably light shade of blue. And, worst of all, she seemed to have some sort of strange impediment in her jaw making her unable to properly close it fully. But she was an infant, and as such there were hopes that she might grow up prettier, as she had been at birth. The year ended with no announcements of a second pregnancy, but this was to be expected after Elisabeth’s tugh time into the world.
In Spain, Claude de Valois and Queen Catarina both went into labour at the same time, giving birth to two girls on the same day. While not the gender either of their husbands had hoped for, there were still festivities celebrating the safe deliveries of two princesses. Princess Claude was given the privilege of naming her daughter, settling on the name Catherine Marie (Catarina Maria to the court) while Phillip declared that his daughter was to be named Isabella.
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