[Henry VIII] Tudor Crown

"But if François marries Philip II's sister, what about Anna of Austria?" Although Catherine de' Medici always hated the Habsburgs, she was better than Charles V's daughter. , she didn't have that much malice towards Emperor Ferdinand's granddaughter.Besides, for a ten-year-old girl, being sent back to her mother's house on the way to her prospective in-law's house is undoubtedly the biggest humiliation since growing up.

This made Catherine de' Medici involuntarily substituting herself back then, and even had a little more affection for Anna of Austria.

"On this point, I have reached a consensus with the King of Spain, and he will persuade Emperor Ferdinand." Although in terms of traditional titles, Archduke Ferdinand, who has become Roman Emperor, should be ranked above Philip II, but the hindrance Due to the prestige of Charles V, the Duke of Guise still habitually believes that the status of Philip II is higher than that of Archduke Ferdinand.

It's just whether Archduke Ferdinand will listen to his nephew...

Catherine de' Medici was very skeptical.

But she is also happy to see the Duke of Guise deflated, or the interior of Habsburg beaten into a pig's brain.

The Duke of Montmorency did not approve of the Duke of Guise's breach of contract.After all, the power of the Archduke of Austria should not be underestimated, and he absolutely couldn't bear his nephew and France to work together to humiliate him.

only……

Glancing at Catherine de' Medici, who was watching the show, the Duke of Montmorency suppressed his dissent and decided to see how the Duke of Guise and Philip II, who broke the contract, would end up.

After the Duke of Guise proposed to dissolve the marriage contract between Prince François and the Austrian princess, they are not required to appease the anger of Archduke Ferdinand!

…………… I am the dividing line……………

Austria, Hofburg Imperial Palace.

Maximilian hurriedly walked through the cold and damp corridor, his frowning made the servants in the corridor subconsciously move their eyes away, so as not to become the target of Maximilian's venting.

The Duchess Marie of Austria (Maximilian received the title of Duke of Milan from her father) who was praying in the castle chapel seemed to sense the commotion outside the door, so she opened her closed eyes and looked at Maximilian outside the door. Milian.

"Why... my brother messed with you again." Although the marriage contract between Duchess Mary and Maximilian was a dangerous move made by Charles V and Archduke Ferdinand to alleviate family grievances, they The two really fell in love with each other gradually after marriage.

Maximilian was as loyal to his cousin and wife as Archduke Ferdinand was to Anna of Hungary.

It's a pity that political factors are inevitably mixed in their love.

Long before the death of Charles V, Maximilian was very dissatisfied with Spain's use of their father and son.Especially after Philip II succeeded to the throne, this cousin and brother-in-law also bossed his uncle and cousin like Charles V, which made Maximilian's dissatisfaction gradually exceed the threshold.

It also made the suffocated Archduke Ferdinand determined to show his nephew a little color.

In this regard, even if the Duchess Mary wanted to ease the relationship between the two families, she was unable to do so.

What's more, Maximilian's actions are also fighting for a good future for their children.

Whether from the perspective of his wife or mother, Duchess Marie could not condemn Maximilian's actions.

Therefore, in the dispute between Austria and Spain, she can only keep silent.

Facing his wife's question, Maximilian calmed down his anger. After taking a deep breath, he handed the letter in his hand to Duchess Mary: "A letter from your good brother to my father. Say yes Let France return our daughter, and marry your sister to the Dauphin François."

"What?" Duchess Mary's expression changed quite obviously at this moment.

This was the first time Maximilian saw Duchess Mary showing such an excited expression.

After receiving the crumpled letter, Duchess Mary quickly read the contents above, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

"Mary...Mary..." Maximilian held Duchess Mary's shoulder quite nervously, regretting telling her the news when his wife was pregnant.

"Philip...why does my brother treat my daughter like this? And Juana." Duchess Mary grabbed Maximilian's arm tightly, her lips gradually lost their color...

"I obviously compromised and sacrificed so much for them. But in the end, why are we always the ones who regress?" Duchess Mary fell helplessly to the ground, feeling something falling from her abdomen.

A trace of bloody smell gradually permeated, making Maximilian's face turn pale and he shouted, "Come here... come here..."

"Hurry up and get the doctor... quickly..."

Maidens and soldiers carrying stretchers quickly rushed in outside the door.

After a period of turmoil, Duchess Mary lay pale on the bed, letting the maid wipe the sweat from her face.

"How? Are Mary and the child okay?" Archduke Ferdinand, who rushed over, glared at the bewildered eldest son, dragged him outside the room, and cursed in a low voice, "You know she's pregnant, but you still follow her?" She said these things?"

Even though Grand Duke Ferdinand was dissatisfied with Philip II and even Charles V, but as a man and the pride of the ruler, Grand Duke Ferdinand would never allow himself or his son to vent their anger on the innocent Duchess Mary.

In particular, Archduke Ferdinand also experienced what it was like to be inhuman on both sides.

When he handled the German Protestant issue for Charles V, he experienced the feeling of being inhuman at both ends.

On the one hand, the emperor wanted Archduke Ferdinand to suppress the heretics, and on the other hand, he had to rely on the German princes to support Hungary against the invasion of the Ottoman Empire.

After all, Austria was still under the control of Charles V at that time, so what Archduke Ferdinand could really rely on was the nobles of his wife's natal family.

And Hungary... nicknamed "Christian Shield".

Especially after the fall of the Byzantine Empire, Hungary had to face the invasion of the Ottoman Empire and became the first Christian country to be invaded.

It is precisely because of this special nature of Hungary that neither Catholic nor Protestant countries have bad thoughts about Hungary.

When Charles V was alive, he would also be patient with Archduke Ferdinand for the sake of Hungary.

But when it comes to Philip II, it is not as simple as "respecting each other like ice" with his uncle's family, it is completely ridiculing.

"Where's Anna? Did you send someone to pick her up?" Archduke Ferdinand knew that this was not the time to be arrogant.Even if Philip II slaps them in the face of Austria, it will not make the Habsburg family fall apart.

Maximilian didn't know his father's concerns, but he really couldn't suppress it.

Anna of Austria is the first child of Maximilian and Duchess Mary, and she is a sensible and lovable daughter, so Maximilian really loves her.Even though the Duchess Mary gave birth to five more surviving children, Anna of Austria is still the couple's favorite child.

And now, this young and ignorant girl has encountered the greatest humiliation in history.

On the way to get married, she was sent back to her natal family.

Archduke Ferdinand wanted to blame France for the incident.

Perhaps this arrangement can alleviate the internal conflicts of Habsburg, but after the divorce from France, a generous gift was sent in the name of Catherine de Medici, and the words were full of helplessness for the dissolution of the engagement, and Fear of Spanish military power.

This made Archduke Ferdinand subconsciously think of the Duke of Guise, and couldn't help showing a sneer: "The Guise family is really a good dog in Spain. I'm afraid René II didn't expect that his descendants would become Spanish lackeys." .”

"Your Highness, the Duchess is awake."

Just when Archduke Ferdinand and Maximilian were speechless, the maid of Duchess Mary went out and said.

As soon as Maximilian entered the door, he smelled a bloody smell that was stronger than before, but after seeing that Duchess Mary's abdomen hadn't gone away, he slowly breathed a sigh of relief, and said gently to Duchess Mary: " How are you, honey?"

Duchess Mary, who was out of danger, nodded and motioned Maximilian to approach her.

"Expell, expel the Spanish... Spanish ambassador from Austria."

Duchess Mary struggled to say these words, causing Maximilian to involuntarily widen his eyes, it was hard to believe that these words came from Duchess Mary's mouth.

Faced with her husband's doubts, Duchess Mary nodded with great difficulty, and said stubbornly: "Expel the Spanish ambassador from Austria."

Maximilian pursed his lips, did not give his wife a direct answer, but tucked the quilt for her, and left the room.

"Let Elizabeth (their second daughter) come and read the Bible to Mary." Maximilian ordered the maid, and then conveyed Duchess Mary's request to Archduke Ferdinand.

…………

……

"What did you say?" Philip II, who had just sent his sister away, widened his eyes and said in disbelief, "Please repeat what you just said..."

Archbishop Granville swallowed his saliva in shock from Philip II's expression, but he still mustered up his courage and said, "Austria has expelled the Spanish ambassador to Austria."

"How is it possible..." Philip II reached out to Archbishop Granville and asked him to hand over the letter from Austria.

"Does my sister know about this?" Philip II never believed that Duchess Mary would approve of Austria's expulsion of the Spanish ambassador.

After all, she is a bridge between the two families, and it is impossible not to stand on Spain's side.

However, after Philip II asked this question, Archbishop Granville's expression became stiff again, and even his tone was as thin as a mosquito said: "Your Majesty, the idea of ​​deporting the Spanish ambassador to Austria was proposed by the Duchess." of."

"..."

"She had someone tell you that she would not allow you to insult her husband and daughter like this."