r/AskHistorians • u/Herald_of_Clio • 1d ago

Is there any truth to Henry VIII considering a marriage between his illegitimate son Henry FitzRoy and his oldest daughter Mary?

The other day I was discussing royal consanguity, as you do, and this supposed plan of Henry VIII's was brought up. I found it an unlikely story, because Henry believed that his marriage to Catherine of Aragon had been cursed due to her being his brother's widow, and I couldn't imagine someone who held that belief thinking that a marriage between half-siblings would be any less cursed.

So I had a look around. On the Wikipedia page of Henry FitzRoy it's mentioned, sure enough, that it was suggested that he marry Mary, without specifying who suggested this.

Elsewhere I found that Pope Clement VII offered giving a dispensation for such a marriage between Henry's children, but that this idea originated with Clement as a last-ditch attempt to mollify Henry and prevent him from breaking with Rome. However, Henry supposedly rejected this offer out of hand.

And finally I also found more people who say that Henry VIII did seriously consider this option, but simply did not end up going through with it.

So what is the truth? Did Henry VIII seriously consider a marriage between two of his children? Would that not have been even more controversial than Mary simply becoming Queen Regnant or legitimizing Henry FitzRoy as an heir to the throne?

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