Historically, Matthias had three wives. The first Elizabeth of Celje died before the marriage was consummated. The second, Catherine of Podebrady died in childbirth. The third Beatrice of Naples both failed to give him (or her second husband any children) and disinherited Matthias' illegitimate son, John. Besides Beatrice, who could Matthias have possibly married so that either he could have legitimate children or so that he could avoid having his illegitimate son being disinherited?
Alternate Wives for Matthias Corvinus
- Thread starter Archduke
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Matthias was unmarried between 1464 to 1476, up until he married Beatrice of Naples, likely because in that time period he was preoccupied with wars all over. An earlier marriage is a possibility though, providing more time to have a heir.
A German or Italian marriage would be the most likely/fun in light of Matthias' western ambitions.
Random possibilities-
-Matthias wanted to marry Hedwig Jagiellon or another daughter of Casimir IV. It was supposed to be as part of a double marriage with Maximilian I marrying another Jagiellon sister to form an alliance against Hussite Bohemia. Apparently the Jagiellons never really forgave the Matthias for usurping Hungary from them though so it never got anywhere.
-Italian marriages are comparatively easy to get. Ippolita Sforza or Eleonora of Naples are options. Both had multiple issue OTL unlike Beatrice and were successful consorts. Despite Eleonora being Beatrice's sister.
-German marriages are surprisingly difficult. The natural place to look is enemies of Frederick III or Maximilian I, but neither the Wittlesbach or the Leopodine Hapsburgs have anyone to spare. For a brief period from 1468-1469 Matthias was considered an imperial ally, so maybe he could sneak the Emperor's sponsorship for a German marriage during that time (like they tried to do with the Polish marriage)
A German or Italian marriage would be the most likely/fun in light of Matthias' western ambitions.
Random possibilities-
-Matthias wanted to marry Hedwig Jagiellon or another daughter of Casimir IV. It was supposed to be as part of a double marriage with Maximilian I marrying another Jagiellon sister to form an alliance against Hussite Bohemia. Apparently the Jagiellons never really forgave the Matthias for usurping Hungary from them though so it never got anywhere.
-Italian marriages are comparatively easy to get. Ippolita Sforza or Eleonora of Naples are options. Both had multiple issue OTL unlike Beatrice and were successful consorts. Despite Eleonora being Beatrice's sister.
-German marriages are surprisingly difficult. The natural place to look is enemies of Frederick III or Maximilian I, but neither the Wittlesbach or the Leopodine Hapsburgs have anyone to spare. For a brief period from 1468-1469 Matthias was considered an imperial ally, so maybe he could sneak the Emperor's sponsorship for a German marriage during that time (like they tried to do with the Polish marriage)
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My thoughts regarding this:
A surviving Barbara of Bavaria-Munich (1454-1472); Margarethe of Bavaria-Landshut (b.1456, OTL Electress Palatine of the Rhine); Margarethe or Katharina of Saxony (OTL Electress of Brandenburg and duchess of Munsterberg); Cymburgis of Baden (b.1450).
The Saxon girls are the nieces of Ladislaus the Posthumous; the Landshut was a grand-niece of Emperor Friedrich III, while Cymburgis was Friedrich's niece. So the CANDIDATES exist, whether the emperor will have the incentive desire to sponsor such a match is open to question.
@Tibi088 @Monter @Jan Olbracht @Zygmunt Stary
A surviving Barbara of Bavaria-Munich (1454-1472); Margarethe of Bavaria-Landshut (b.1456, OTL Electress Palatine of the Rhine); Margarethe or Katharina of Saxony (OTL Electress of Brandenburg and duchess of Munsterberg); Cymburgis of Baden (b.1450).
The Saxon girls are the nieces of Ladislaus the Posthumous; the Landshut was a grand-niece of Emperor Friedrich III, while Cymburgis was Friedrich's niece. So the CANDIDATES exist, whether the emperor will have the incentive desire to sponsor such a match is open to question.
@Tibi088 @Monter @Jan Olbracht @Zygmunt Stary
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Well, it wasn't Jagiellons per se, but rather Elizabeth of Austria personally, who hated Matthias with a passion as usurper and enemy of her late brother. On the top, he was lowborn usurper, she even called him Wallachian dog and a peasant and considered him unworthy of hand of her daughter (that's why Matthias somewhat propagated the rumour that John Hunyadi was bastard of Sigismund of Luxembourg and that his maternal family is related to Turkish sultans, as it would make him highborn).
No, his interest was for Matthias to remain without legitimate children.
Was there any way for a match with the Wittelsbachs or the Wettins (even the Hohenzollerns) that they have a falling out with Friedrich for some reason? IIRC the reason Jiri z Podebrady's daughters married as they did was because of a sort of mutual defense wasn't it?
I think if they wanted to they could, but Matthias wasn't especially interested in Wittelsbach or Wettin match. You're correct about reasons why Podebrady's daughter married Matthias.