I Am Louis XIV

  Chapter 376 The Princesses of the Habsburgs

Known as Henry VIII, there is nothing to say, a cruel but wise monarch. Although the Protestant sect was in full swing before, but like Henry VIII, as a king, he declared himself as the highest religious leader in England. Yes...he was the first, and possibly the last, and it was the question of his heir that this arrogant king had to worry about all his life.

Henry VIII was not so crazy at first. He married his brother's wife Catherine of Aragon at the age of sixteen. Although his wife was several years older than him, young people loved plump fruits. There was a period between them. Twenty years later, Catherine gave birth to several children for Henry VIII, but only one daughter survived, the **** Mary in the future. Henry VIII, who was nearly forty years old, finally began to panic, and his eyes frequently fell on young ladies, but a king can have countless lovers, but in order for their children to have the right to inherit, they must have a marriage recognized by the church. OK, otherwise, the court of England will surely be in turmoil after a hundred years of Henry VIII.

Later, as recorded in history, in order to dissolve Catherine's engagement with himself, Henry VIII did not hesitate to completely cut off contact with the Roman church. He established a Protestant religion and served as the head of the church. This event shook the entire Christ world, because There have also been kings who regretted not having a biological heir before, but they all decided to leave the matter to his widow and ministers to solve - generally speaking, they would go back to the source and find the other affirmation of canon law and succession law. A king, or the son of a king, comes to be king.

But Henry VIII is like this, and others can't blame him, but his behavior after that can't help but make people puzzled - the death of the second queen Anne Boleyn can also be said to be because she was too frivolous and did not give birth to a son, then After Jane Seymour, Queen Seymour had given birth to a son for Henry VIII, but he could not seem to be satisfied, because Queen Seymour died in childbirth and he married Anne of Clevis , Anne became the king's "sister" within a few months of her marriage. Henry VIII's wife was replaced by the glamorous Catherine Howard, but soon after, Catherine Howard was executed for adultery like Anne Boleyn, and the king's queen became a widow Catherine Parr .

In the end, four of Henry VIII's six queens, with the exception of Anne of Cleves and Catherine Parr, who didn't actually wear the crown, were killed—even Catherine of Aragon. In this way, she died alone in the monastery. In the official article, the queen was depressed because of old age and serious illness, but...

"But wizards know that's not the case." The tall and thin dark wizard said happily: "You often say that everything is arranged by God, we say that everything is arranged by Merlin, but in fact, only Destiny controls everything—you've heard some legends," he turned to the Queen Mother, "in your legends, there are often witches who can see someone's future destiny at a glance, especially Those big men, because the traces they left in the long river of time will be very thick and indelible, and there are women - mainly marriage and children," he compared a gesture: "It's not a lie, it's just..." He Suddenly paused: "In short, someone like Henry VIII will definitely be told that he will become extinct unless..."

   "Just say what you want to say." Queen Mother Mary shouted unhappily.

"Wizards in England also have quite a long history, and Merlin is theirs," said the lanky dark wizard. "They must have some tricks that we don't know about, but as Bosch had guessed, the heir to Henry VIII. It is to be exchanged with noble blood." He smiled, which made everyone present shudder, "Of course, when it comes to the sacrifices placed on the altar, those with flesh and blood are better than those without flesh and blood. The noble is better than the dead, and the noble is better than the low." He touched his chin: "In England at that time, besides the king, the most honorable person was the queen. He used Catherine of Aragon, a glorious The bloodline was the first sacrifice, but unfortunately it was not enough, so there was Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn's painful death finally gave Queen Seymour a son... Queen Seymour was the third."

   "So you're talking nonsense," Patinho interrupted him: "If that's the case, what about the next few queens?"

   The tall and thin dark wizard only shrugged: "Obviously, Henry VIII is a man of taste, and he also wants a Duke of York."

   Juan Patinho lowered his head and considered for a while: "In the end, that prince didn't live long."

"Henry VIII died too soon," said the lanky dark wizard, "and he was too greedy, if he would pass on the other two crowned sacrifices to his son, no, it should be said, from the Anne of Crivis of the Holy Roman Empire should also have a wizard by her side, and she would so happily decide to give up the queen's position, so that Henry VIII had to let her go, but Catherine Howard was not so good after that. Luckily, Katherine Parr was lucky..."

   "Henry VIII still has time, that's what you mean."

"Or else, although she is very rich, Henry VIII didn't care about how much dowry his queen should have before. She had been married twice before, and her face was dull. When the king decided to marry her, she was with her. Thomas Seymour was talking about marriage and people were surprised because she wasn't really the type that Henry VIII would have liked."

After the lanky dark wizard finished speaking, he went back to Carlos II's room. After the Queen Mother and the others looked at each other for a while, they smiled pretentiously: "It's really nonsense, isn't it, everyone? ."

No one answered her, and she didn't need to answer. Everyone in the room, including Duke Don Juan, hoped that Carlos II would at least be as good as other kings in terms of health and longevity, because if Carlos II had no heir If they died in this situation, it meant that foreign forces would directly replace them with the new king, and so was everyone in the room. The Archbishop of Toledo whispered: "This is the devil tempting us." But he also knew that this was only the last struggle of incomparable weakness. From the first day they invited the dark wizard into the palace, they were doomed to be unable to escape from the quagmire. Out.

The Queen Mother Maria and Juan Patinho looked at each other, and they only felt troublesome, not relieved, about the current Carlos II-because what they wanted at the beginning was a docile but healthy A puppet, rather than a mad but short-lived "king", the teachers of Carlos II praised the young king for his superhuman wisdom, able to catch up with others' hard work for more than ten years in just a few years, but this... this This kind of wisdom can only make Carlos II aware of his power but unable to realize his obligations. He is like a stubborn child, because he knows his position clearly, and deliberately misbehaves.

He didn't obediently follow the Queen Mother's order and came back, but he and his accompanying Jose Patinho and Alberoni mixed mandala in his wine, poured him numb, and transported him out of Versailles. , because he insisted on marrying Mary, the lord of the county, but not to mention that the French did not have much sincerity, and it was difficult for the Spaniards to agree to sell Friesland to France. After all, the Flanders originally owned by the Spaniards were shamelessly After taking it away, Spain had only one foothold in the lowlands.

Some people sighed in disappointment, but some people raised their glasses because of happiness. Few people know that the biggest disadvantage of this marriage not being successful is that the Spanish royal family will not have one until at least four or five years later. The orthodox heir, the situation of Carlos II has changed from good to bad, and the unfortunate maid... The Queen Mother and others really have no confidence to guarantee that the next child will be healthy.

Maybe Carlos II also realized this. As for Jose's return, the grand county master has indeed matured completely. She is ready to become a wife and mother. If Carlos II's wife is her, Perhaps in a few months they will hear the good news—“More maids for His Majesty.” The Queen Mother sighed: “Tell me, child,” she said kindly to José: “The great maid of France. What kind of appearance does the princess have?" If Carlos II likes that face and body, they don't mind giving him a few, but if he doesn't pay attention to his identity - the choice is even greater.

To be precise, the Queen Mother no longer intends to prepare a noble lady to serve Carlos II. The last one was Patinho's relatives. For Spain, he could make sacrifices, but it is difficult for others to say. As for Those humble civilians, small nobles, no one will notice how many deaths - she may also be like Henry VIII... If you want to say that the status is noble, who can compare with the princess of Habsburg?

"It is said that the eldest princess Antonia is already a mature woman." Queen Mother Maria said - since men are reluctant to speak, then as a mother, she can give in: "Since Leopold I intends to advance the marriage... Gentlemen, then I am very willing to grant his wishes," she said, looking calmly at the minister and the bishop.

This is the fate of the Habsburg princess - she said so, clenching her handkerchief involuntarily, and there was no time when she could be more jealous of her stepdaughter, Queen Teresa of France, Although she is also the princess of the Habsburg, how lucky she is, a husband who respects her and is willing to protect her, two healthy and lovely children, and I heard that she is pregnant again...

  ———

While the marriage negotiations between the Crown Prince of Prussia and the daughter of the French Duke of Orleans are in full swing, the marriage negotiations between King Carlos II of Spain and the daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I, the eldest princess Antonia, are also official. Being put on the agenda, this matter will undoubtedly require the permission of the Pope of Rome, but since Leopold I claimed that the eldest princess is already a woman - this marriage is not without the possibility of turning around, so in the grand princess While still happily savoring the sweetness of love and youth, Antonia has been sent on a ship to Spain.

It is said that the witnesses in the room turned their heads and could not bear to witness the tragic scene at that time - although the Queen Mother Maria and the Archbishop of Tolede had warned Carlos II not to really do anything to his bride... But the beast never Never thinking of keeping his promise, after his attempted violence was pulled away, he howled angrily and went berserk, thinking he had the right to do anything to his bride.

A few days later, Philip the Duke of Orleans, who learned about the incident, looked at the corner sheet that was torn off as evidence, and felt as cold as the former grand county master. He ran into the king's room and knelt at Louis's feet. , kissing his brother's face, almost making Louis roll over from his chair - "what's the matter with you?" Louis asked, although the brothers are close, but now they are both about to be grandfathers... Philip can still do this ...Well, he touched his face suspiciously, guessing if it was his younger brother who was pranking him, not to mention, after the situation was relaxed, not only him, but even Philip became more reckless than when he was a teenager.

   Others dare not play tricks on the king, so it's hard for Philip to tell. At dinner last time, he shared a piece of white sausage with yellow mustard to the king.

   "I am sighing," said the Duke of Orleans, "fortunately you are not so much a king sometimes."

"Who said that, there are always people who complain that I am too king, and therefore dislike me." Louis said: "But I know, you are for that matter." Of course he also read the information, but he Look further than the Duke of Orleans.

   "Yes," said the Duke of Orleans.

"That's why, if at all possible, I don't want Mary to marry into Spain." Louis said, "Just in time, the head of my special **** regiment and my doctor, Vesalius, will come with me in a few minutes. Report some discoveries, you also listen to it together."

The opinions of French wizards are no different from those of Spanish black wizards. Although ordinary wizards are not as proficient in those evil spells as black wizards, the big family will at least know a little bit. They took turns sniffing, tasting and testing the sheet with magic, and confirmed Carlos II's life may not exceed five years, at most seven to eight years.

   "Is it possible then that he could conceive a child?" asked the Duke of Orleans.

"Yes," said the wizard, "but you know, to make a patient like this healthy, they must have used a lot of bad blood - the blood of a werewolf or a vampire, and wizards have tried it before, after all, He gestured implicitly: "Who doesn't like strength, youth and long life, but the worst effects come quickly, as you can see, werewolf blood can make people violent, vampire's blood." Blood will make people crazy..." He spread his hands: "Otherwise, now you and us will have to switch positions."

   Vesalius coughed.

  ***

   Last time a reader didn't quite understand why Frederick skinned sausages - I'm here to save my mother.

   That kind of sausage is called Munich or Bavarian white sausage. It is made of veal, pork back fat, smoked pork and seasonings such as chopped onion, parsley, cardamom, etc., and roasted calf scalp is also added to the more particular.

White sausage is similar to frankfurter sausage. It is usually cooked in hot brine. After removing the casing, it is eaten with a slightly sweet yellow mustard. Paired with Brezel and white beer is an authentic South German meal. breakfast. When making sausages, the choice of fat is more elegant than lean meat, usually pork back oil is used, which has the advantages of light smell, sufficient hardness and high melting point, the fat will not melt when it is smashed at room temperature, and there will be no graininess or paste when eaten cold. shape.

  I put a picture of a white sausage in the Easter Egg chapter... Everyone, you must have eaten dinner...

   (end of this chapter)