Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon's Son Has Only Daughters

[The Gybson Boy]

In 1511 the prince of the new year survived to become a healthy and vivacious young man, King Henry VIII although fearful of having only one son and a daughter ended up legitimizing his bastard son Edward Fitzroy, but never sought to end his marriage. In 1527 the Prince of Wales would marry his first cousin, Catherine of Austria, the youngest daughter of Philip, The Handsome and Joan of Castile, the couple however had the misfortune of having only surviving daughters, which happens now?

Henry, Prince of Wales (January 1511-) and Catherine of Austria (January 1507-)
1.Catherine of Wales (Born in December 1527 -) (Named after Catherine of Aragon)
2.Elizabeth of Wales (Born in February 1529 -) (Named after Elizabeth of York, Grandma of Henry, Prince of Wales)
3.Arthur of Wales (Born in November 1530 - July 1531) ((Named after Arthur Tudor, Uncle of the Prince of Wales, died aged 8 months)
Miscarriage (July 1531 -) (likely caused due to the bun his mother suffered from losing her older son)
4.Mary of Wales (Born in February 1533 -) (Named after Princess Mary, Sister of the Prince of Wales)
5.Phillipa of Wales (Born in November 1536-) (Named after Phillip, The Handsome, Princess Catherine father)
6.Cecily of Wales (Born in February 1538 -) (Named after Cecily of York, Great Aunt of the Prince of Wales)
Misscarriage (August 1539 -) (Probably made Catherine sterile)

The Great Matter has been pushed aside for a generation, what are the consequences of this? What would henry VIII do if his son was unable to have sons? Would there be a Prince's Great Matter?

 

[Tudorfan]

In 1511 the prince of the new year survived to become a healthy and vivacious young man, King Henry VIII although fearful of having only one son and a daughter ended up legitimizing his bastard son Edward Fitzroy, but never sought to end his marriage. In 1527 the Prince of Wales would marry his first cousin, Catherine of Austria, the youngest daughter of Philip, The Handsome and Joan of Castile, the couple however had the misfortune of having only surviving daughters, which happens now?

Henry, Prince of Wales (January 1511-) and Catherine of Austria (January 1507-)
1.Catherine of Wales (Born in December 1527 -) (Named after Catherine of Aragon)
2.Elizabeth of Wales (Born in February 1529 -) (Named after Elizabeth of York, Grandma of Henry, Prince of Wales)
3.Arthur of Wales (Born in November 1530 - July 1531) ((Named after Arthur Tudor, Uncle of the Prince of Wales, died aged 8 months)
Miscarriage (July 1531 -) (likely caused due to the bun his mother suffered from losing her older son)
4.Mary of Wales (Born in February 1533 -) (Named after Princess Mary, Sister of the Prince of Wales)
5.Phillipa of Wales (Born in November 1536-) (Named after Phillip, The Handsome, Princess Catherine father)
6.Cecily of Wales (Born in February 1538 -) (Named after Cecily of York, Great Aunt of the Prince of Wales)
Misscarriage (August 1539 -) (Probably made Catherine sterile)

The Great Matter has been pushed aside for a generation, what are the consequences of this? What would henry VIII do if his son was unable to have sons? Would there be a Prince's Great Matter?

Yes, though I don't think it'd be at the Prince's instigation. Henry VIII would have a OMGWTFNOMALEHEIRSOMGOMGOMG!!!!!! reaction and panic and try and force a divorce.

 

[The Gybson Boy]

Yes, though I don't think it'd be at the Prince's instigation. Henry VIII would have a OMGWTFNOMALEHEIRSOMGOMGOMG!!!!!! reaction and panic and try and force a divorce.

The big question is, would it work? This "Prince's Great Matter" takes place more than a decade later, when it becomes clear that they are going to have more children (say, in 1544) Henry VIII would already be a fat old man trapped in a bed and the pope (Paul III) would not be in captivity about Charles V, although Charles would certainly not want his sister's marriage annulled. It also depends on the opinion of the Prince of Wales, I like the idea of him telling Henry VIII to fuck off and saying that whatever his daughter succeeds him, Henry VIII would surely have a heart attack.

 

[RedKing]

If Edward Fitzroy is legitimised, then the simple solution is to marry him and betrothed any son of his to Henry’s daughter.

 

[The Gybson Boy]

If Edward Fitzroy is legitimised, then the simple solution is to marry him and betrothed any son of his to Henry’s daughter.

This would be a questionable solution, but still a viable solution, the big problem would be if Fitzroy keeps dying without a son in 1536 like OTL (Edward Fitzroy is OTL Henry Fitzroy, he just has a different name because Henry VIII already has a son named Henry ) what would happen in that case?

 

[RedKing]

This would be a questionable solution, but still a viable solution

I mean, it’s not like Henry has anything to lose by doing this (indeed, he has much to gain) and a dispensation is easily gotten once a nice big bar of gold is slid up the Pope’s sleeve.

the big problem would be if Fitzroy keeps dying without a son in 1536 like OTL (Edward Fitzroy is OTL Henry Fitzroy, he just has a different name because Henry VIII already has a son named Henry ) what would happen in that case?

Tbh, I can’t see any way Henry can annul the marriage. He can’t annul it on grounds of non consummation since Henry jr and Catherine have loads of kids and consanguinity is a non-starter since they’d have required a dispensation before hand. Henry VIII (and Jr) more than likely suck it up, pray for a son and search for prospective brides for his eldest daughter(s)*.

*They may have the second daughter marry within England to prevent a personal union.

The eldest could marry an alt Scottish Prince here or a high ranking nobleman. Maybe there’s a Howard or Brandon available?

 

[ordinarylittleme]

Tbh, I can’t see any way Henry can annul the marriage

Mental incapacity, forced consent, bigamy...

 

[BlueFlowwer]

It would be hilarious if Henry decides to try and force his son to divorce Catherine and Henry Jr decides to shove his father down a flight of stairs in response.

 

[The Gybson Boy]

It would be hilarious if Henry decides to try and force his son to divorce Catherine and Henry Jr decides to shove his father down a flight of stairs in response.

It would be the best thing he could do

 

[ordinarylittleme]

what would happen in that case?

Catherine has an accident, Henry remarries? (Either couple can work)

 

[The Gybson Boy]

Catherine has an accident,

It would be very obvious that he was killed on purpose, if henry VIII or henry.jr were going to kill her the best would be to poison her and say she died of some disease

Henry remarries? (Either couple can work)

For a second marriage, maybe Margaret Douglas (If she is still born)

 

[The Gybson Boy]

The eldest could marry an alt Scottish Prince here or a high ranking nobleman. Maybe there’s a Howard or Brandon available?

Catherine of Wales could be the second wife of James V

 

[ordinarylittleme]

For a second marriage, maybe Margaret Douglas (If she is still born)

For the Prince of Wales? She would likely not exist as Flodden would be unlikely to happen with a 1511 butterfly

 

[isabella]

In 1511 the prince of the new year survived to become a healthy and vivacious young man, King Henry VIII although fearful of having only one son and a daughter ended up legitimizing his bastard son Edward Fitzroy, but never sought to end his marriage. In 1527 the Prince of Wales would marry his first cousin, Catherine of Austria, the youngest daughter of Philip, The Handsome and Joan of Castile, the couple however had the misfortune of having only surviving daughters, which happens now?

Henry, Prince of Wales (January 1511-) and Catherine of Austria (January 1507-)
1.Catherine of Wales (Born in December 1527 -) (Named after Catherine of Aragon)
2.Elizabeth of Wales (Born in February 1529 -) (Named after Elizabeth of York, Grandma of Henry, Prince of Wales)
3.Arthur of Wales (Born in November 1530 - July 1531) ((Named after Arthur Tudor, Uncle of the Prince of Wales, died aged 8 months)
Miscarriage (July 1531 -) (likely caused due to the bun his mother suffered from losing her older son)
4.Mary of Wales (Born in February 1533 -) (Named after Princess Mary, Sister of the Prince of Wales)
5.Phillipa of Wales (Born in November 1536-) (Named after Phillip, The Handsome, Princess Catherine father)
6.Cecily of Wales (Born in February 1538 -) (Named after Cecily of York, Great Aunt of the Prince of Wales)
Misscarriage (August 1539 -) (Probably made Catherine sterile)

The Great Matter has been pushed aside for a generation, what are the consequences of this? What would henry VIII do if his son was unable to have sons? Would there be a Prince's Great Matter?

Considering who Catherine of Aragon is unlikely to live longer than OTL, Henry VIII would simply remarry to an eligible princess as soon he is widowed (as he has only a son and no living grandson) and try to generate more sons for securing the succession. Getting a dispensation for marrying his son’s eldest daughter to his son by a second wife would NOT be too complicated

 

[ordinarylittleme]

Catherine of Aragon is unlikely to live longer than OTL

I mean, she probably could. NOT being locked away in damp castles to die would help with her lifespan

 

[isabella]

I mean, she probably could. NOT being locked away in damp castles to die would help with her lifespan

She had cancer and had ruined her health with fasting and prayers. Pretty likely who she will NOT live longer than OTL (and instead could die earlier)

 

[ordinarylittleme]

(and instead could die earlier)

For what reason?

 

[isabella]

For what reason?

Considering the medicine of the time, the better access to doctors who she would have at court will likely shorten her life…

 

[ordinarylittleme]

Catherine of Wales (Born in December 1527 -) (Named after Catherine of Aragon)
Elizabeth of Wales (Born in February 1529 -) (Named after Elizabeth of York, Grandma of Henry, Prince of Wales)

Either could be a good wife for Philip II of Spain or Maximilian II HRE

 

[Kellan Sullivan]

Wait, why's everyone automatically going to Henry Jr-Catherine's marriage being annulled? Katherine of Aragon died in 1536, what's stopping Henry VIII from remarrying in the last decade of his life? I'll admit it's a stretch, he has no assurance that his son won't say "my daughter's my heir, not my half-brother", but Henry was one of those politicians who lied and believed his own BS, so I don't see why he wouldn't.