Alternate Historians are rolling their eyes...

[neotoma]

Would anyone get really upset if I include an offhand reference to "the Witch-Kings of Ireland" in the fic I'm trying to organize? My brain thought it was a hilarious joke this morning at work.

In the 1602 book, the Battle of Kinsale does get mention, but Matt Murdock also makes a credible threat to King James himself if he doesn't "keep his hands off Ireland". If the Flight of the Earls doesn't happen, or they take advantage of James' Daredevil-inspired timidty, would they re-establish Ireland as an independant kingdom? Could they have managed it? And as deeply Catholic and as deeply allied with Spain as they were, would they take Witchbreed (mutants, who were being burned at the stake in Spain at the time) as soldiers if they were desperate enough?

Comments

[sanj.livejournal.com]

I think that, if Ireland were to use Witchbreed as part of their defensive force (and it makes sense that they would, because that would be a chink in James' armor) -- well, I think they would either have such an arrangement be very underground (not unlike Elizabeth), or they would have some kind of endorsement within the Church hierarchy. The Irish Church has a reputation for orneriness; it's possible there's a pro-Witchbreed sect there that's just pushing the boundary of heresy.

Especially because, hrm -- didn't Enrique have a whole quasi-theology set up about some mutant gifts being from God, and others from the devil? That seemed to be doctrinal -- or at least a good enough argument for the Inquisition. That would open up a wedge that suggests most mutant capabilities are divinely inspired -- Javier was trying to take that tack, but he's not a membrer of the church hierarchy. It'd be interesting to see a Catholic country justify their national defense like that. ;)

[neotoma.livejournal.com]

Would the Irish Church have actually stood up to the Inquisition? Or would it have been considered worth tolerating the Witchbreed to get rid of Protestant James?

Hmm, I'm going to have to check what Enrique actually said. He was definitely spiriting away those who could pass (to Newfoundland, is the implication -- which introduces a new wrinkle) and executing those who couldn't.

I got the impression that Javier was an apostate priest, myself.