Actually, my reasoning was...
I like the reasoning
and regarding your proposals, Savoyard and Portuguese, to the post of Constantine?
Actually, my reasoning was...
Maybe one of the many spinster princesses in Europe of the 1740's - Eleonora, Maria Luisa and Felicita of Savoy, one of José of Portugal's younger daughters (more likely as a second wife), the spinster princesses of Modena (Matilda and Maria Elisabetta).
I agree. A Danish bride for a heir will be reasonable "no red flag in front of a bull", while the Duke of York can marry a French bride.
A Prussian Princess of Wales sounds curious and in particular circumstances of Restoration it can make a lot of sense.
Rightly, the choice of a wife for a hypothetical TL can not be made simply on the basis of date of birth, the "beauty" and "sympathy", but you have to imagine at least a minimum of historical reconstruction, political positions, alliances, religion , etc.
A first French bride for Charles Edward was very probable... in an interesting uchronic novel, in which the Stuarts were restored on the throne (but directly with Charles Edward, because James III, considered too "popish" and conservative, was not accepted by the Parliament and the same Pope Benedict XIV convinced him to leave the throne to his son; «La Providence m'a destiné puor une autre couronne», declared James III), Charles Edward married firstly Henrietta of France, a woman «of extraordinary piety, full of sweetness and goodness»; Charles Edward admired Henriette's wit and was «extremely fond, and spends all his time with her», they were seen walking around the royal parks, frequently attended the theatre and opera, and Henriette herself «held an evening drawing-room twice a week, and also gave a series of balls». Even if the larger French objectives of exerting influence over the English court and building a party of friends among English Catholics, Henriette did not gain much political influence at court. The absence of the queen's pregnancies, the frequent infidelities of Charles with his various mistresses, the intrusive presence of the Princess of Guéméné, were creating discord into the royal couple. The Queen became petulant and then hostile toward her husband, refusing invitations to his bedchamber and behaving provocatively in public. Foreign ambassadors noted Charles's explosions of anger, and Louis XV sent a special envoy to London in an attempt to smooth over the worst of the problems. «This proved difficult, for Charles viewed the larger issues of politics and diplomacy through the prism of his own personal life». As in the OTL, Henriette fell ill of a fever in October 1751. «She soon began to spit blood. Burning with fever, she accompanied the royal company in sled races endless. His condition deteriorated rapidly, suddenly, a "putrid fever" prevailed a few days. The Queen Henriette died prematurely just 25 years old, on 10 February 1752, leaving her husband in immense pain».
The subsequent marriage of Charles Edward and Henry's marriage were with German princesses related to Prussia, a result of the Diplomatic Revolution, in an attempt to improve relations with Prussian King (the friendly relationship between Charles Edward and Frederick II the Great has also been imagined by Charles Petrie in If: A Jacobite Fantasy): not directly marriages with Prussian Princesses, but Charles Edward with Sophie Caroline Marie of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, a niece of Frederick II of Prussia (in OTL had been thought of her as the wife of George III in 1753, but the project has not been realized; in the novel, initially she inclinated to convert to Catholicism, but finally it was decided that the princess could keep his Lutheran faith), and Henry with Elisabeth Fredericka Sophie of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, daughter of Wilhelmine of Prussia, the favourite sister of King Frederick II the Great (Elisabeth was considered one of the most beautiful princesses of her time; the girl was praised by Italian lover and writer Casanova as «the most beautiful princess in Germany»).
About the homosexuality of Henry, testified also by Hester Lynch Thrale in her diary, by the Count Giuseppe Gorani, himself homosexual, an adventurer, writer and diplomat in the service of Maria Theresa of Austria, the Prince of Liechtenstein and the French revolutionary government, and by a very Catholic source as Gaetano Moroni, the figure of Philippe d'Orléans, brother of Louis XIV, tells us that, however, it would be possible that Henry could beget children with his wife...
Personally I find interesting a second marriage of Charles Edward with the Spanish Marie Antoinette of Bourbon, very interesting figure, who as queen consort of a great and powerful nation would reveal aspects of her skills underdeveloped in OTL, and also a very fertile woman.
At the same time, this union seems hardly credible and difficult: after a first marriage "papist", accepted as contopartita for French help in regaining the throne, a country still far from complete pacified between Catholics and Protestants would accept a second marriage so avowedly Catholic? The British public opinion how he would react? relations, particularly trade, between England and Spain were not idyllic...
And Victor Amadeus III who would marry? the Spanish marriage had served to maintain the policy of equidistance from France and from Austria implemented by VAIII, while maintaining good relations of kinship with everyone with the Spanish marriage; a daughter of Louis XV would be an obvious choice, but hard if you think this policy, and also too an incognita: we know the temper of Mesdames, but we have no idea of their fertility, for example, ...; a German princess would be just as easy but also not credible with respect to the political action of VAIII...
About a Danish marriage for Charles Edward, although falling perfectly into the idea of a «reasonable "no red flag in front of a bull"», I do not see attractive reasons political, religious, economic, of alliance, etc. to make it happen: maybe it would be necessary that us study a little above to find the reasons, beyond the date of birth.
A German marriage seems to be credible: over an international level, after the first period of "peaceful coexistence" between France and England of the Stuart, there would be all the conditions for the break between the two nations, especially from the suffocating hug of a Louis XV who considered himself the "patron" of the Stuart's return to the throne, and for the commercial and military rivalry that engaged British and French in America and in India. As in OTL, It would therefore be likely the reversal of alliances and a rapprochement between the England of the Stuart and Prussia.
Then there are the personal relationships between Charles Edward, perhaps politically more accommodating, and his brother Henry, early arrived at the break, and those of both with their father, if you think that James III, son worthy of James II, would be accepted as king... but this is a "more"![]()
Actually, my reasoning was that Maria Antonia serves the same purpose to London as she does to Turin - she's both related to the Austrians and the French, but she's neither.
Max III of Bavaria marries a French allied/half-French princess because let's face it, even if he is refusing the Austrian crown, Bavaria has a history of siding with France against the Habsburgs. The girl - whether she's Savoyard or Modenese - has connections to the Habsburgs (Savoy through the third marriage of CEIII, Modena through Duke Rinaldo's marriage to the sister of Empress Wilhelmine - tenuous, but it's sort of the best I can do at the moment), so she'd be sort of acceptable to the opposite power.
VAIII is marrying a girl who is neither Austrian nor French but with connections to both, the same as Maria Antonietta OTL, plus she's from a rather fertile family. (NOTE: VAIII wasn't slated to marry Maria Antonietta in the first place, the original choice had been to hitch her to the Crown Prince of Saxony, and that fell through during the WoAS).
The Portuguese Infantas are to young for anything but a second marriage and I think at this point the Princesses of Modena would be to low ranking. The restored Stuarts would be aiming for the highest ranking Princesses they could get. Though the Savoyards could be interesting matches: Royal and of an old house but I'm not sure if it would bring enough to the table.
The only downside to Louise of Denmark is the OTL scandal she had in 1749, getting pregnant and having a child out of wedlock. Sure there's no guarantee that such a thing would happen here, but the possibility exists.
More and more I'm liking the idea of a Prussian Princess of Wales. Prussia was the leading Protestant German state, a power on the rise and was directly related to the now deposed Hanoverians. A match with Prussia would cut away at the "papist" accusations, potentially be used as a way to reconcile with the Hanoverians (unlikely but possible) and would form a basis for a TTL Anglo-Prussian alliance.
All that's in a novel? What's the name and who's it by, I really want to read it.
Also you bring up a great point. Some of the matches depend on the British Government and its composition. Is James III fully in charge or has he been reduced to a figurehead for the Prince Regent Charles? After all, James made Charles his Regent in 1743 and he held that position until I think 1747 or 1748.
Another point would be, and I know I said I didn't want to discuss this part, how the restoration happens. If its say a successful French invasion in 1744, then the French match is most likely. If its the Scottish rising combined with a French force, then London has more flexibility.
As to Henry, yeah I think he'd be told to "sit up and think of England (or his "Italian friend")". After all, as you pointed out the Duc d'Orléans produced multiple children (11 I believe), although he could end up like Friedrich the Great, unhappily married and childless.
I also like the Spanish marriage. First off, James III and Felipe V were friends from their days in France, so that can serve as a starting point. Second, the Spanish were warm supporters of the Jacobites in general, so a marriage would be further likely. Third, it would be a back-door alliance with France as well. Fourth is the potential trade with the vast Spanish Empire and a large dowry to aid the Stuarts finances.
Also, more that I think about it, a Danish match is probably not likely. It would be considered sure, but it would be out. The only advantages such a match brings would be potential favorable access to the Baltic trade, not that much of a pull at this point.
While I do see the benefits of a Spanish match, it runs into the same issues of a French match: Catholic, absolutism and Bourbon. So if both bring the same relative issues, the Stuarts are likely to favor to favor France, which would have played a large role in their restoration.
As for an Austrian relation, that wouldn't really matter. A Stuart England/Britain is gonna be the enemy of Austria, if only due to their French sympathies. This goes double if there's an Anglo-Prussian alliance /rapprochement.
A Prussian marriage would be very interesting, especially if one takes into account their period of growth during this time.
OK lets say the '45 rising is a success and James III is restored to the thrones of the British Isles (lets not debate how or if its possible please). Charles, Prince of Wales and Henry, Duke of York are now some of the most eligible bachelors in Europe (and potentially James III, if he choose to take a second wife); so who would be potential brides for the English royals?
Wouldn't it make more sense to try and cement relationships in Britain by marrying the two princes to eligible Englishwomen?
Your're already talking about bringing back a) the Stuarts; and b) a Catholic royal family...
Or, rather than invading England after Prestonpans, the possibility that James simply digs in in Scotland and pushes for a negotiated settlement (with French assistance, obviously) and a restored independent Scottish kingdom opens the door to marrying the princes into the Scots Protestant aristocracy, which seems both slightly more realistic and political common sense.
Best,
Best,