#tudors.task

TUDORHQS TASK - TWO YEARS .&. A ROYAL WEDDING

Over two years have passed since the last events - and in that time, much could have changed. We encourage you to write a post catching everyone up on what has happened to your character and what has changed - or what hasn’t - in that time.

Here are a few points to consider, when reflecting about what your character has been through. These aren’t questions you have to answer, but ideas to get you started: 

Have relationships changed? Is your character now betrothed, or newly married? Have they lost a loved one? 

Has your character had children during this period?  

What is your character’s position at court now?

Characters from other kingdoms would most likely have returned home in this time span and will be returning for the King’s wedding. What have they been doing in their respective kingdoms? How do they feel about returning to England?

What hasn’t changed? Some characters may be continuing with the same ways as before!

Additionally, we encourage everyone to consider their character’s stance on the King’s marriage and choice of bride. What side do they come down on regarding the issues? Are they worried about religious tension, or excited for change? 

While our tasks are never mandatory, we highly encourage you to complete this one and do so as soon as possible, so other players will have a sense of any changed dynamics and simply know what has happened!

TWO YEAR TIME JUMP /  georgette of scotland

In two years time Georgette of Valois’ life has transformed at a rapid rate. Soon after her father consented to the conditions of James of Scotland’s proposed betrothal, details were squared away and preparations were well underway for the union of a French Princess and a Scottish King. In early 1537, Georgette’s hand in marriage was happily given to King James, and the royal couple were presented in Scotland to the tune of uproarious support and schismatic dissent. In the year that followed the union, Georgette was fondly coined Scotland’s ‘summer Queen,’ although her efforts to bear her husband a child and her new country an heir yielded in little luck. She remains to the day a private figure of court, little is known of her among her subjects as her own bashfulness regarding Scottish customs and the Gaelic tongue inhibit her from stepping into the role of magnanimous royal. Still, with the dowry that is endowed to her Georgette has made massive contributions to the construction of Catholic abbeys in Scotland and has taken several wards of the crown under her patronage. She remains politically uninvolved, although her interest has shifted more recently, and her return to England has allowed that desire to gain momentum. 

In two years time, Phillip has further installed himself as a fixture of the court - a notable political player, and ardent to the crown. Publicly he supporters  the union between Henry, and Christina ; though he knows the subject to be divisive, he has also made himself available as a neutral figure, to go between those for and against. Though it is impossible to stay neutral for long, Phillip aims to stay endeared to as many figures, as possible.

With his dear Joanna ( @joannawcrwick​ ily a mily) a fourth child has been welcomed; Francesca Mountbatten, a healthy girl. His other children thrive, with a notable improvement in his namesake and heir Phillip, whose health had concerned them greatly. Though he desires more children, he knows he is blessed to ave four thriving, and beautiful, kiddos. As always, he admires and adores, Joanna - who grows, despite his own beliefs, more wonderful with each passing year.

 Arrangements for his brothers wedding begin to close in - or at least, Phillip’s negotiations, as his brothers consent shall remain a secondary factor. With the return of Georgiana, he hopes to secure a quick, but fair, match for his sister; if only, to deter her from resuming her former romance with an unsightly figure.

Anne feels as if she is at the top of her game. Following Henry’s coronation and other celebrations, she left England feeling triumphant - returned to her spot of glory as Francis’s maitresse-en-titre. She wields great power in Francis’s ( @hrhkingfrancis ) court once again, and although she has rivals both for Francis’s affection and in general, she feels secure in her place as mistress to one of the most powerful men in Europe. She has a full household of ladies to attend to her, and has frequently continued to act as a patron for artists and hold salons and parties in her own right.

Anne has also had a continued relationship with Clement Stafford, the Duke of Buckingham ( @clemcntstafford ). While Anne would hesitate to call it love, she feels an attachment to the Duke, and they two are certainly lovers in the physical sense. Whenever he has come to France on royal business, the two have rekindled their relationship, taking comfort in each other’s company - a fact which has luckily not yet been discovered by Francis or anyone else at court, as far as Anne knows.

Which is a good thing now more than ever, because in recent months, Anne has found herself with child. It is unexpected, to be certain, but not unwelcome news - although there is some uncertainty in her mind regarding the child’s true paternity. Nonetheless, she is certain that Francis thinks the child to be his, and though her condition is now obvious (some might even say she flaunts it, though she would deny that), she is early enough in her pregnancy that she has still been able to travel to England to observe Henry’s marriage. 

Life has scarcely changed for Juan in the years since Henry’s coronation. When Charles and the rest of the imperial family returned to Spain, he stayed behind, as was his duty, and has faithfully been serving as the Imperial ambassador to England. He has been quietly watching, keeping an eye on the happenings of the young Henry’s court and reporting back all that he discovers to Charles.

As England has stayed mostly peaceful, Juan’s post has been almost boring. There is little to speak of on most days - and in truth, at times Juan writes just for lack of anything more to do. He remains unmarried, as he has done, and has considered perhaps becoming a man of the cloth, though he has not as yet devoted himself to that line of life. He has made friends in England, connecting especially with other Catholics and those who favor Spanish alliances.

1536 - 1538; the time jump

Although my heart does not know you yet, I write this letter with the up most hope that you are near. More likely than not, our match was one born of politics rather than love.

If that is the case, I am deeply sorry, you deserve a wife who will love you as much as I deserve a husband who will love me. But, perhaps we are lucky and our marriage is one that has come from love.