I'm sure the question of Elizabeth I marrying is pretty commonly asked, and it's an often a popular WI for alternate histories. Although Elizabeth certainly stated she had no intention to marry and was infatuated with Robert Dudley, I posit the question if she had married, with the question concerning two of her suitors--the Duke of Savoy, Emmanuel Philibert, and the second, the Archduke Charles.
It seems to me that Dudley would need to be out of the picture, at least to remove his influence and the Queen's infatuation; either through him dying of illness (not uncommon in such an unsanitary era) or even possibly dying in battle, as he won a pardon by agreeing to serve with Philip during the war that ultimately lost England Calais.
During Mary's reign, there were several mooted marriage proposals, but the most serious was the idea of her marrying Emmanuel Philibert, the landless Duke of Savoy. So serious was the proposal that Margaret of Austria, Philip's half sister and the Duchess of Lorraine traveled to England in hopes to induce Elizabeth into the marriage. It wasn't successful, and the match floundered: Emmanuel regained his ancestral lands and per the peace of 1558, he married Henri II's sister. This seems a rather impossible marriage, as I don't see Elizabeth accepting a match pushed by her enemies. The main interest comes to what would happen to Savoy. Assuming they were wed and Elizabeth became Queen, the French would just return Savoy to England's King. That would definitely be interesting.
The Archduke Charles seems a more likely match, especially if Dudley is removed from the picture. He was Catholic, but the Emperor had no qualms of Elizabeth maintaining her religion, just that Charles be allowed to practice his. There were no stipulations regarding any issue, but certainly they'd be raised Protestant. One of the big things was Charles was actually quite conservative religiously, or became so later on. IOTL, he banished Protestants from inner Austria and invited in the Jesuits.
He'd most certainly have nominal power as Elizabeth's consort, but it would be interesting to see the effects on religious policy: if the northern Earls still rebel, or if the early religious peace Elizabeth tried to keep would hold. Foreign policy would also certainly be different: although no Philip II, Charles is still a Habsburg and the marriage would certainly be looked favorably upon from Madrid. If anything, the French would be seem like the big bad, although a rather impotent one assuming the Religious Wars still break out.
It also brings interesting situations regarding the Dutch Rebels; England would certainly be unable or unwilling to help them in such a situation to avoid offending Spain. One could see the rebels being more supportive of the French and the Duke of Anjou being more welcomed and actually successful in surviving as Duke of Brabant and Count of Flanders. It'd definitely alter the fate of the Dutch Rebels and how it evolves politically.
It'd be awesome to hear some ideas from some others. I am mulling over a simple TL with the premise. Taking a break from the Prince of Peace as my old computer's harddrive failed so I lost my work I had on my newer chapter. I have to regather everything I've posted so it's sort of taken any enthusiasm away, but I'd like to start a new project.
It seems to me that Dudley would need to be out of the picture, at least to remove his influence and the Queen's infatuation; either through him dying of illness (not uncommon in such an unsanitary era) or even possibly dying in battle, as he won a pardon by agreeing to serve with Philip during the war that ultimately lost England Calais.
During Mary's reign, there were several mooted marriage proposals, but the most serious was the idea of her marrying Emmanuel Philibert, the landless Duke of Savoy. So serious was the proposal that Margaret of Austria, Philip's half sister and the Duchess of Lorraine traveled to England in hopes to induce Elizabeth into the marriage. It wasn't successful, and the match floundered: Emmanuel regained his ancestral lands and per the peace of 1558, he married Henri II's sister. This seems a rather impossible marriage, as I don't see Elizabeth accepting a match pushed by her enemies. The main interest comes to what would happen to Savoy. Assuming they were wed and Elizabeth became Queen, the French would just return Savoy to England's King. That would definitely be interesting.
The Archduke Charles seems a more likely match, especially if Dudley is removed from the picture. He was Catholic, but the Emperor had no qualms of Elizabeth maintaining her religion, just that Charles be allowed to practice his. There were no stipulations regarding any issue, but certainly they'd be raised Protestant. One of the big things was Charles was actually quite conservative religiously, or became so later on. IOTL, he banished Protestants from inner Austria and invited in the Jesuits.
He'd most certainly have nominal power as Elizabeth's consort, but it would be interesting to see the effects on religious policy: if the northern Earls still rebel, or if the early religious peace Elizabeth tried to keep would hold. Foreign policy would also certainly be different: although no Philip II, Charles is still a Habsburg and the marriage would certainly be looked favorably upon from Madrid. If anything, the French would be seem like the big bad, although a rather impotent one assuming the Religious Wars still break out.
It also brings interesting situations regarding the Dutch Rebels; England would certainly be unable or unwilling to help them in such a situation to avoid offending Spain. One could see the rebels being more supportive of the French and the Duke of Anjou being more welcomed and actually successful in surviving as Duke of Brabant and Count of Flanders. It'd definitely alter the fate of the Dutch Rebels and how it evolves politically.
It'd be awesome to hear some ideas from some others. I am mulling over a simple TL with the premise. Taking a break from the Prince of Peace as my old computer's harddrive failed so I lost my work I had on my newer chapter. I have to regather everything I've posted so it's sort of taken any enthusiasm away, but I'd like to start a new project.
