The Anglo-Portuguese Union By ReagentAH Watch

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This was originally going to be my MOTF 158 entry, but I missed the deadline.



The basic summary of this is that Infante Luís of Portugal, Duke of Beja and Mary Tudor are married in 1528 (as was proposed, but ultimately fell through). As part of this marriage proposal (which had French and Hapsburg assent), Luís is given control of the Duchy of Milan as a means to bring peace to France and the Hapsburgs in Italy. Furthermore as part of the deal, Mary Tudor renounced her place in the line of succession, although the wording was vague as to where this left any children of Luís and Mary. Luís and Mary spent 25 years ruling in Milan, and the couple was blessed with a number of children, including two males (the eldest named John).



In 1553, the sickly King Edward VI created a succession crisis when he drew up a "Devise for the Succession", which skipped his half-sisters in favor of his first cousin, once removed, Lady Jane Grey. This action was taken in a bid to keep England Protestant. However, the "Devise for the Succession" was not universally accepted, upon Edward's death and Lady Jane's ascension to the throne as Jane I. Mary Tudor's Son, the 22 year old John, staked a claim for the English throne, contending that he was in line for the throne. The King of Portugal declared support for his nephew, bringing the Portuguese Armada at the disposal of John. Holy Roman Emperor, and King of Spain, Charles V decided to back John, seeking not only to return England to Catholicism, but to avenge the humiliation of his niece, Catherine of Aragon, whom English King Henry VIII married, and then renounced said marriage. King Henry II of France was won over to John's cause through the promise of marriage to one of his daughters (with the implication that the important port city of Calais would be turned over to France as dowry). Milanese troops were allowed to march through France, where they would seize Calais (and wait for the Portuguese fleet to ferry them to England).



Encouraged by foreign actions, and seeking a restoration of England to Catholicism, many in England proper declared for John. Yorkshire and Southwest England, which experienced popular Catholic risings under Edward VI and Henry VIII, rose up for John. In the far north, the Earl of Northumberland and Earl of Westmorland declared for John, as did much of the Catholic gentry in the North. Still angry over the suppression of Welsh by Henry VIII, Wales declared for John. Finally, many close allies of Mary Tudor in East Anglia declared for John, in spite of the relative religious pluralist quality of the area.



However, Queen Jane I controlled most of England, the royal fleet, and army. The first year of the war was marked by failed advances and lost possessions for the backers of John. Most of East Anglia was overrun, and the English Army was preparing to advance on York when an Armada from Portugal finally arrived (with John himself in tow) to land the Luso-Milanese force in England proper. After scoring victories against the English fleet, John's army was ferried from Calais, and marched on London, which was soon put under siege. Queen Jane managed to flee the city before being surrounded - retreating to Oxford. A relief force sent to break the siege of London was defeated by John at the Battle of Thornwood. London held out until Christmas eve, surrendering to John as it became clear their position was hopeless. On Christmas Day, 1554, John was crowed in Westminster as King John II of England. John II would spend the following year crushing pockets of resistance of still held by backers of Queen Jane, who was executed after being captured in Coventry. John II was undisputed master of England.



Raised by fervently staunch Catholics, John II began the process of restoring England to Catholicism under his tenure. While some areas of the country still remained defiantly Protestant, most of the populace accepted the submission of the English Church to Rome. In 1556, with the death of his father, Luís, John II inherited the Duchy of Milan. John II also added to his possessions in Ireland as campaigns there finally brought the entire island under English control. The most momentous occurrence during his reign was the sudden death of King Sebastian of Portugal, who died while campaigning in Morocco. Lacking a heir, John II inherited Portugal (and thereafter became known as John IV&II. With Portugal and England brought under the rule of a single king, the House of Avis-Tudor was about to oversee a period of unprecedented wealth, power, and prestige.

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Published : Jun 19, 2017