Alternate History

[An Ard Ri]

They were fearful of the French kings gaining the upper hand and William married off all his 2 surviving daughters to ensure alliances along his French borders.

Adela of Normandy m Stephen II, Count of Blois
Constance of Normandy m Alain IV, Duke of Brittany

 

[CyrilVladisla]

Even putting aside the bad blood, I tend to believe that the Norman Kings felt that their territories on the Continent were as important, if not more so, than being the King of England. Certainly Normandy came into that category and so it was given to the eldest son. So Robert would not necessarily have regarded it as a promotion to be given England in preference to Normandy. And dividing territory between the brothers was a wise move.

I agree that dividing territory between the brothers was wise.
However, no matter whether one brother owned all the territories or if more than one brother owned territory, someone might be jealous of another's possessions.

 

[Somebody]

Princess Margaret was also involved in HIV/AIDS fundraising activities (a little-known fact).

Her general attitude and possible sense of entitlement may also have been a result of her feeling of being deceived (betrayed) by Churchill when it was indicated to her that after a suitable period, the Townsend marriage may be on the agenda, only to be advised at the end of the period that it wasn't. And if she persisted, she would be turfed out. Subtle it wasn't.

There are quite a few princes and princesses in other European monarchies -at that time- who made the decision to marry the person they loved resulting in them being removed from the line of succession (and often loosing their titles and styles as well). So, the option that was presented by Churchill made some sense. She was allowed to marry but the consequence would be removal from the line of succession. Why -unlike many others in a similar position- she chose her position over marrying Townsend is something we might never fully know.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

What if Tsar Peter I of Russia was killed by the Streltsy during the Moscow Uprising of 1682?

 

[Alison H]

Sophia would have taken control! She probably wouldn't have gone for the westernising policies which Peter did, but I think Russia was a sleeping giant and would eventually have taken her place in European politics anyway.

 

[An Ard Ri]

In 1589,Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon was proposed as an alternative king to Henri IV of France/ III of Navarre.​

Charles was the maternal uncle of Henri of Navarre and the Catholic League refused to accept the Huguenot ,king of Navarre as sovereign.
The Cardinal was a close friend and cousin of Catherine de Médicis,he was used as a mediator by the queen Regent when dealing with the House of Bourbon.
He had anointed Catherine during her 1549 Coronation.
He was however at loggerheads with his brothers strong willed widow,Jeanne d'Albret ,Queen of Navarre whom he accused of fanning the flames of Protestant fanaticism.
He was at the Chateau de Blois in December 1588 and was horrified at the double murders of the Duke and Cardinal of Guise and the death of Queen Catherine in January 1589.
Following the assassination of Henri III in 1589 the Cardinal was proclaimed King by the Catholic League and then found himself under House arrest by Henri of Navarre.
The Cardinal died in 1590 imprisoned by his nephew

A medal of Charles X which was minted by the Catholic League in 1589 as King of France.

Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon and Archbishop of Rouen​