Inspired by the Tiny Tudors/Petite Plantagenets trope, the POD here is that in 1453, Margaret of Anjou gives birth to quadruplet daughters. Let’s call them (in order of birth) Katherine, Margaret, Blanche and Elizabeth. Who would they marry? Obviously, Somerset and York are going to compete for Katherine’s hand for their sons, but what about the other three, who would they marry? One or two of them are probably going to marry abroad, whether it be Scotland or France. Given her position as second-in-line to the throne, I could see Margaret marrying domestically. Could she be married to a Beaufort if York gets the eldest or would she marry a more neutral figure? What else might change?
WI: Henry VI had quadruplet daughters?
- Thread starter RedKing
- Start date
The eldest girl to March is practically guaranteed, but I doubt who the second would go to one of Somerset’s sons, specially as here Margaret would have reasons for detaching herself from Somerset and get closer to York. Little Margaret could marrying domestically or abroad, but her younger sisters will surely get foreign matches (France, Scotland, Burgundy, Brittany, Portugal)
Margaret marrying Katherine to March does make sense, especially if she sees the way the wind is blowing. Though, if Margaret is marrying domestically, but not to a Beaufort, who will she marry? Henry Holland is already taken and her marrying Edmund of Rutland might be a bit much for some nobles. Maybe they could wait till Buckingham or a son of Edmund/Jasper is born? I do like the idea of Blanche marrying into Portugal and Elizabeth into Scotland though.
As possible domestic matches for Margaret we have: Henry Stafford (Buckingham’s heir), who is two years younger or Henry Tudor who will be four years younger, if he is born as OTL. Another possibility is Henry Percy (Northumberland’s heir) who is four years older than her…
Yeah, it would make sense too, stabilising the Anglo-Scot border for a time.
Henry Percy would work if Buckingham and Henry are unavailable, though I could see Warwick protesting due to his rivalry with them. There is a good chance Henry would be butterflied though him still existing isn’t impossible. Buckingham is the most likely choice for Margaret’s hand imo.
Margaret of Anjou was only 23 in 1453 and her ability to successfully carry and deliver quadruplets would dispel any questions about Margaret's fertility in ATL. As such, it would be expected that she would be able to deliver a son at some point in the future. This means the eldest girl is almost certainly kept unwed for many years -- at least into her teens.
Google says that the first set of quadruplets recorded to survive were born in the late-19th century. ATL Margaret would beat that by 400 years and it seems absolutely certain that she would become revered figure for this. I am not at all joking when I say these births are probably seen as a miracle and Margaret probably becomes canonized at some point after her death. The idea that Margaret is touched by God would rather radically change the politics of Henry's reign. Would the superstitious masses flock to Margaret and her miracle girls? If so, does anyone in the nobility dare cross her? Does York just become a pariah if her speaks up against Somerset or any other of Margaret's favorites?
Google says that the first set of quadruplets recorded to survive were born in the late-19th century. ATL Margaret would beat that by 400 years and it seems absolutely certain that she would become revered figure for this. I am not at all joking when I say these births are probably seen as a miracle and Margaret probably becomes canonized at some point after her death. The idea that Margaret is touched by God would rather radically change the politics of Henry's reign. Would the superstitious masses flock to Margaret and her miracle girls? If so, does anyone in the nobility dare cross her? Does York just become a pariah if her speaks up against Somerset or any other of Margaret's favorites?
I like a March marriage because it nicely irons out the Mortimer claim that caused so much trouble OTL, but I think such a match may be undesirable in ATL if the political situation changes for Margaret. The elevation of the Tudor boys to earldoms is one of the few things that we know was pushed by Henry himself, rather than by those around him, and so maybe ATL Henry VI wants to promote his namesake nephew in the same way, arranging a first cousin marriage that brings Henry Tudor to the throne in ATL as well.
I doubt. In default of male heirs, he's still quite powerful.
I hadn't though about that, but it does make a lot of sense. With quadruplets it's not going to be a question of if Margaret falls pregnant again, but when she falls pregnant again, at least for a little while anyways. Still until a son is born, I could see Katherine becoming a sought after bride both nationally and internationally.
Wikipedia says there was a set that survived into adulthood in the 18th century, but it would still be seen as a miracle for Margaret to pull of healthy quadruplets. I love the idea of the English people maligning Margaret for years only to fall on their knees praising her after she gives birth. I could see it being split though, with the majority praising her while others accuse her of with craft (she was unpopular by this time aiui). If the majority of nobles are behind Margaret I don’t think York would do much, if anything. He might start sucking up to her in hopes of winning Katherine’s hand for Edward, doubly so if they’re are still on good terms with each other.
Hmm, that is a good point, Margaret is in a more secure position here since she is enjoying some new found support for herself. She might also decide to weather out York’s Protectorate and hope Henry VI recovers sooner. A marriage to Henry Tudor is possible, but only if he is still born, as is existence could be butterflied here. Though if he is still born and Henry VI is alive and well and Katherine is free, I can’t see why the marriage wouldn’t happen.
I think there's almost a 100 percent chance that all four girls die. The survival rate of just two healthy twins at this time way very low -- of quadruplets is literally unheard of. But I took the POD proposal to be that they did survive, somehow or other. (Hence my guess that Margaret and the girls become revered figures.)
I'm not sure if they'd be that revered in the context of "Yes, but when will the king have a son?" Its extraordinary, but that's not quite the same thing as welcomed.
I don't think that means people are actively hostile or anything - just that I do not see them falling on their knees to praise her after faulting her up to the birth. More like that being some kind of sign from God, yes, but not necessarily that Margaret is super duper wonderful.
I don't think that means people are actively hostile or anything - just that I do not see them falling on their knees to praise her after faulting her up to the birth. More like that being some kind of sign from God, yes, but not necessarily that Margaret is super duper wonderful.
I was giving leeway since we do have an anecdote from an ambassador about Mary I meeting a woman who gave birth to three live triplets, but yeah Margaret and all her daughters dying is almost certainly a guarantee
If they all died, there's no fun to be worked with. If they survive - we can have a Margaret who is the saint of fertility, but there's still a bunch of men struggling for power.
Not unless it’s only the four daughters that she will ever have, considering how traumatic a multiple birth situation is during a time without either anesthesia or proper sanitation
Presumably OP intends for Henry VI not to have a son? I mean, if an alt-Westminster exists, his sisters automatically become irrelevant to the English succession
Which then definitely becomes a problem because female and female-line succession is still very contentious at this point in English history
Female and female line successions are fully allowed in England, at least in theory, and marrying the heiress to March would both remove her main rival for the succession and strengthen her claim