[Henry VIII] Tudor Crown

"The relationship between Joan and Don Juan...isn't it too close?" William III recruited Francis Walsingham and asked him to explain the details of Joan's relationship with Don Juan during this period. The investigation was clear: "If Joan and Don Juan are allowed to continue dating...do I want my daughter to marry an illegitimate child?"

Francis Walsingham on the side said: "Even if your daughter wants to marry a Catholic, she must marry a Catholic king who has interests in England, not an illegitimate child who has no inheritance rights."

If it wasn't for the lack of suitable princes in Protestant countries, and William III's disdain for the Prince of Transylvania, Joan's marriage would not be uncertain now.

Francis Walsingham had heard that, on his deathbed, Charles V intended Don Juan to marry an English princess.However, considering the difference in status between the two, both Francis Walsingham and Philip II felt that this was the idea produced by Charles V when he was in a daze.

Presumably, with Don Juan's mind, he would not fail to understand this.

only……

"Your Majesty, I think you should intervene in the communication between Princess Joan and Don Juan at the right time." Francis Walsingham said bluntly: "Even if Philip II is willing to treat Don Juan no less than the prince , nor can he marry the noble princess of England."

As the largest intelligence chief in England, Francis Walsingham knew better than anyone how small-minded Philip II was.

Besides, a king with a normal mind would not allow a half-brother to become bigger and stronger under his nose.

Although Europe pursues the system of no inheritance for illegitimate children, under absolute force, it is inevitable that there will not be another William the Conqueror or Joao the Great.

Moreover, Philip II has not yet had a son who can take over the scepter.

The mental condition of the Prince of Asturias was so severe that Philip II had to imprison him in the castle of Madrid.

Although Philip II also tried to make his son return to normal, or simply give up the hopeless eldest son and support his grandson to succeed to the throne, the princesses in Europe avoided the mentally abnormal Prince of Asturias. Not as good as.

Even the Habsburg family in Austria and Portugal, which has been married to Spain for generations, are unwilling to marry the princess, let alone those royal women who are far away.

And Philip II didn't want a woman of low status to give birth to his grandson.

After all, members of the royal family under mixed marriages can easily lose the right to inherit the throne.

Otherwise, Henry VIII in history would not have taken away his two daughters before his death, and then left a will to be buried with Jane Seymour.

"Your Majesty, if you really consider marrying Princess Joan to a Catholic king, then I implore you to consider Sebastian I of Portugal." Francis Walsingham suggested: "He is about the same age as Princess Joan , is also the supreme ruler of Portugal. If you intend to pave the way for the future of the Duke of Richmond, so that the glory of England is not limited to a small island...then Portugal with its colonial territories is your best choice."

"Besides, King Sebastian and Princess Joan are not very close relatives, and you don't have to worry that their offspring will easily die." Francis Walsingham knew that William III was very concerned about the marriage partner of his children and the relationship between them. Blood ties to the English royal family.

Mary Stuart and the Duke of Richmond are second cousins, sharing the same great-grandparents (Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York).

Princess Margot and Guillaume are also second cousins, sharing the same great-grandparents (Louis of Savoy and Philip II of Savoy).

This was considered a distant relationship in Europe in the sixteenth century.

And if it is placed in the Iberian Peninsula from the seventeenth to the eighteenth centuries, let alone cousins, cousins ​​get married, and there are even strange phenomena of nieces marrying uncles and nephews marrying aunts.

Joan's blood relationship with Sebastião can be traced back to Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, Joan's great-grandparents and Sebastião's great-great-grandparents. .

Compared with the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and the Guillaumes, this is already a very distant relationship.

Thinking of this, it is impossible for William III not to be moved by Francis Walsingham's proposal, but he remembered that Sebastian I had physical defects and misophobia in history, so he didn't really want to send his daughter to the fire pit push.

"It is true that Sebastian is a marriage partner that can be considered, but..." William III hesitated: "I am very worried about his physical condition... After all, only two children survived from Catherine and Joao III of Austria, and both of them Die before your parents."

If you really want to think about it, Portugal's succession crisis is only on par with Spain... even more serious than Spain...

After all, Sebastian is not yet ten years old, and it is still a question of whether he can live to adulthood, and there is Philip II in Spain who is in his prime... Even if Princess Elizabeth of Valois is barren, he It is also possible to divorce and marry another wife on the grounds of family continuity.

"I would like to inquire about the details of Sebastiao, especially his physical condition." William III must not allow his daughter to bear the fault of giving birth.

If conditions permit, William III wants Servette or Cardano to give Sebastian a physical examination.After confirming that the Portuguese king really doesn't have that problem, then consider marrying Joan.

"Your Majesty, there is news from Princess Mary of Lorraine that the Duke of Lorraine... died of illness."

When William III and Francis Walsingham were discussing Joan's marriage, an attendant knocked on the door and said: "The ambassador of Lorraine asked if England would send someone to attend the funeral of the Duke of Lorraine...and the young The Duke of Lorraine also hopes that you can write to comfort his mother."

"Is Mary okay?" William III subconsciously clenched his fists and said in a low voice, "Can she accept Francois' death?"

The Duke of Lorraine can be regarded as a good man like William III in this era.

He may be weak and sick and unable to fulfill his responsibilities as the ruler of the Principality, but as a husband, he has always been loyal to Princess Mary, and his children and subjects have been gentle and kind for ten years.

After all, Princess Mary has been married to the Duke of Lorraine for more than 20 years and has two more children.

Even though she was mentally prepared for the Duke of Lorraine's physical condition, she still couldn't accept her husband's permanent departure.