Alternative History
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The Quadruple Monarchy, as it was commonly called, came into existence when in 1497, king Pedro IV of Castille died without heir, and his empire of Castille-Portugal was inherited by his only daughter's husband, Edward V of England-Scotland, and united with the latter.

The Occidental Schism[]

In 1510, the philosopher James of Athelhampton wrote a text "About the divine right of the king", propagating that the king should stand higher than the bishops in his lands. This basically meant a breakaway from the pope in Avignon. Since he had abandoned Rome, many Christians had criticized him; and since more and more money from the Quadruple Monarchy's lands in Africa and Atlantis went into his coffers, the number of critics had grown even more.

The English nobles accepted the proposal after a few months, but Castille-Portugal was more reluctant to accept the king as head of church. The coalitions formed didn't ask for nationalities, classes, or even families. From 1511-17, the Iberian peninsula went through almost Civil War-like conditions. Finally, the king succeeded. The opponents of the king were rewarded with the property of his defeated enemies (including some church property), which helps him to succeed. He founded the "Occidental Christian church". In 1519, after a meeting of the cardinals of the Quadruple Monarchy, they accepted king Edward as supreme spiritual authority. The liturgy or anything else substantial wasn't changed. The Occidental Schism began. The church property in the Quadruple Monarchy went to the king as well, who used it to give it to his followers, thus further strengthening his authority. When the pope protested, the king declared in return that he wouldn't accept the authority of "the lackey of the French king".

During the 1520s, as a reaction to Edward's Caesaropapism, a new Christian movement spread through Great Britain - the "Independents" who demanded that the state should completely stop interfering with the church, and again demanded the translation of the bible, which the church still declined.

The Great Occidental War[]

English Flag   Quadruple Monarchy (Chaos TL)   Spanish Flag
Nations Protectorates

Castille | England | Portugal | Scotland

Ireland | Marches

King: Edward V Plantagenet

Religion: Occidental Schism

Wars

Anti-Danish War | First Occidental-Seljuk War | Great Occidental War

Scottish Flag   Quadruple Monarchy (Chaos TL)   Portuguese Flag


Both king Charles VIII of France and his uncle, the regent François (also Roman king Franz I) felt threatened by the new superpower. When in 1522 Prince Alasdair came to the court and warned the king that the Quadruple Monarchy was about to conquer the rich lands of the Tenochca, the war was declared. 1523-47, the Quadruple Monarchy fought against France, Aragon, the HRE and Mexico.

In the peace of Barcelona 1547, the Quadruple Monarchy had to cede Murcia to Aragon, and accept the independence of Scotland-Ireland under Alexander / Alasdair IV in Europe, and of the Mexica and Inca people in Atlantis. Plus, they had to pay several tons of gold. This lead to the double revolt in 1549 in the (now) Triple Monarchy of England-Castille-Portugal: Both the parliament in England and the Cortes in Castille forced the king to resign, and made his more popular son Edward VI king, who would also start the council of Ghent to reconcile the church. Edward retreated into private life and died in 1554.

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