Updated Sunday 15 May, 2011 12:18 PM

Act of Union

Background

Scottish Kings were selected by a council of nobles. Anyone whose great-grandfather, grandfather or father had been a King was eligible. Also, unlike many other European countries, the Scots accepted descent through the female line as valid. In 1291, after the sudden death of Alexander III, the nobles of Scotland could not agree on who should be the next king.

When in 1286 King Alexander of Scotland died, it would lead to nearly 250 years of constant conflict between Scotland and England. When his chosen heir, the maid of Norway, died before being crowned, Scotland was a land without a king, ruled by a small council while the country waited for the birth of Alexander’s child, his queen being pregnant. Sadly for Scotland, she never gave birth or miscarried; it seems that her pregnancy was fake. However, this gave the country time for the ruling council to stabilize events and for the claimants to the throne to press their claims. The council asked King Edward of England to judge the claims, and that is where our Point of Divergence is, as Edward has a cunning plan.
Balliol, after being decided upon and crowned accepted Edward as his overlord. Edward was at war with France, but the Scots had a treaty with them, so when Edward asked the Scots to send troops to help him in his war with France, in 1295, the Scots refused, and this led to the Scottish Wars of Independence.

Interesting Points

There are two claimants to the throne with a major claim. John Balliol and Robert Bruce (aka Robert the Bruce in OTL).
Edward himself has a minor claim, but there are many others with stronger ones.
Edward is already thinking about the advantages of a union of Scotland and England.

Point of Divergence

John Balliol has the greater claim and, as in OTL, is judged the rightful monarch. However, in this TL he has no son, only one daughter. This means that in a sexist society she is all too likely to be pushed aside once her father is dead. Therefore she needs a powerful protector, and who better than the Prince of Wales?

The story

King Edward and the Scottish council debate the matter, and decide (as in OTL) that Balliol will be the next king of Scotland. However, Bruce objects because Balliol has ‘only’ a daughter and he has three strapping sons. Edward points out that France and Spain shows that that may not be a good thing, although the main disturbance to the peace of France is him!

As the arguments continue, Edward makes a secret deal with Balliol; if he agrees to a marriage between his daughter and Edward’s son, Edward will support him. Balliol agrees after some consultation with the Scottish council and is duly crowned in the stone of destiny, the marriage between Edward, Prince of Wales, and Mary (well I had to call her something) taking place on the day afterwards. The marriage is a love match and the happy couple talk their parents into settling one outstanding dispute, which country owns Berwick upon Tweed, by making their home there.

Short Term Consequences:

While Edward is still occupied in France, he has much more riding upon the Scottish alliance and therefore is more reluctant to press Balliol into sending Scottish troops. Some Scottish nobles and soldiers do go, but Scotland officially maintains friendly relations with France, as they are real volunteers. Edward will eventually lose in France like in OTL, but it may take longer. He also does not have any falling out with the pope.

Balliol may have problems of his own. Bruce will claim that the marriage, and consequent union with England with Mary has a child, is a sell-out of Scottish independence. He may attempt a coup or revolt in Scotland, meaning that Balliol will have to run a civil war to prevent him. Edward may have to help him out, bring the two kingdoms closer together, but lending support to Bruce’s party line.

Of course, when Edward II and Mary have a son, what will he be called when he becomes king? King of England and Scotland? Unfair to the Scots. King of Scotland and England? Unfair to the English. Therefore, the name of the new nation will be different. Its called Britain here, but there are a few other possible names; Britannica, Iona, etc.

Middle Term Consequences:

There is a great blow to the Scottish music industry, as famous songs like ‘Flower of Scotland’, ‘Battle of Stirling Bridge’, etc won’t be written.

By this time, Edward and Mary had a son, John, who rules over Britain. The name Britain was used so as not to give any preference to either country. Britain is now part of the gold rush in the Caribbean with Spain and Portugal. The Pope is very unhappy about this as John has a strict policy of religious tolerance; there are Jews, Muslim refugees from Spain, and early Protestants in the nation. The British are better at sea warfare that the Spanish or Portuguese, so they hold the upper hand. Quiet trading with the Aztecs and Inca’s makes the two empires indebted to Britain and more able to resist the Spanish. The British take and hold Cuba, but most of the other Caribbean territory belongs to Spain. Constant small wars break out, but both sides do not want a general conflict yet, although the pope is pushing King Charles to attack England directly. When the King becomes Holy Roman Emperor, he is more concerned, but with the constant threat of revolts in Spain, he can’t spare many resources. He does order privateers to attack British shipping, but this has little effect, but to hot the cold war up a bit.

Cortes manages, eventually, to conquer Mexico as in OTL. However, he is far more resentful at the apparent lack of assistance from Spain (unknowing that Cuba has fallen to the British) and far more dependent upon his native allies. They regard him and his men almost as menisaries who can be sent away when their job is done. With some quiet help from British Traders, he manages to rearm his forces and the few trusted natives, then takes over in a three-year campaign. After that has been nearly completed, he is furious to receive a massage from the Spanish authorities, informing him that he has done well, but he is being replaced by one of the kings favourites. He decides to rebel and, with some ‘converted’ Indian forces, his own troops and covert British help, sends back a defiant note.

Realistically, it is hard to see what the king of Spain could do. This is not the American Revolution of OTL 1777; this is an attack into unfamiliar territory belonging to a more numerous foe with technology equality and proper sources of supply. Cortes can supply himself with everything he needs, gunpowder, food, everything. The rebellion succeeds. Just after the king of Spain reluctantly concedes Mexico independence (with the pope’s consent if Cortes keeps converting Indians), smallpox hits Mexico, just as in OTL, and decimates the population. Cortes new empire is weakened, not fatally, but weakened enough so that they can send no help to Peru. That Empire falls and is put directly under the control of the crown from the start. There will be no more rebellions, swears the king.

Given that she is in the race for colonies overseas, where will the British settle? Same place as OTL is fairly likely, particuly if the pope goes along with the idea. Will France be able to get Quebec? Probably not.

Long term consequences

Will there be a Queen Elizabeth I? Probably not, as the blood of the royal family would be very different. Also, there would be no tradition at all of a female ruler.

Will Mexico become a proper nation? No Idea.

Will the Spanish Armada still exist in some form? Probably. If there is a falling out with the pope, he will attempt to get Spain and Portugal to crush Britain. The fight for the Spanish would be even harder without possible Scottish assistance.

What about the Civil War? Good question. No Charles the First might mean that there is no revolution.

American Colonies? American War of Independence? I have no idea.

If you enjoyed this, please email and tell me.

Chris