[1800s AH] - Different Royal Candidates for Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece & Romania?

See above. All four of these countries gained their independence during the 1800s from a controlling authority (Be it Netherlands or the Ottoman Empire), and all four were forced upon/given/settled with German princes as their ruling monarchies. The Belgians got Saxe-Coburg and Gotha relatives of the British monarchy, the Bulgarians got House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry (a cadet branch of the Belgian choice), the Greeks got Gluckenburgs and Romania got Hohellenzorn-Sigmarins.

The Greeks initially wanted a British prince in order to strengthen their ties with that country and gain the Ionian Islands, but instead recieved one Wittlesbach prince who lasted about a decade or three before getting kicked out and replaced with the German-Danish Gluckenburgs. Was it at all a possibility that the Greeks got a British or Russian candidate, or was it seen as a disturbance of the balance of power locally?

And as for the Belgians, they rejected the Netherlander royal family of Orange-Nassau and were initially petitioning for a French king. But that was rejected by everyone who wasn't France, so they went with Leopold I, a relative to Queen Victoria's husband and previously husband to one of her cousins. Was a French candidate truly out of the running, and might an Austrian or other German house been possible?

The Bulgarians had offered the throne of their country to princes from the Caucasus and Denmark and even the King of Romania, but ultimately settled on House Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Kohary. A Russian candidate was rejected outright (the aid of the Russian Tsar), and the Bulgarians were desperate to avoid Russian influence.

The Romanians had expelled their native ruler Alexander Ioan Cuza due to the failures of his regime, leading in turn to a disintegration of their international standing. Due to the influence of Napoleon III and Romania's strong French relations along with his blood ties to the Prussian royal family, Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was chosen as King.

Of the things I could see possibly swapping around or changing, it might be that a French candidate could be directly chosen for Romania (either the Canino branch of the Napoleons or Bourbon or Orleanist) given their proclivities. And a Prussian royal relative on the throne of Belgium doesn't sound too unlikely, though it might upset the Austrians. So perhaps then, the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha find their way to Greece, or even their cousins of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Kohary?

I don't know, this is just a few thoughts I had. Any considerations or suggestions AH might have would be appreciated.
 
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See above. All four of these countries gained their independence during the 1800s from a controlling authority (Be it Netherlands or the Ottoman Empire), and all four were forced upon/given/settled with German princes as their ruling monarchies. The Belgians got Saxe-Coburg and Gotha relatives of the British monarchy, the Bulgarians got House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry (a cadet branch of the Belgian choice), the Greeks got Gluckenburgs and Romania got Hohellenzorn-Sigmarins.

The Greeks initially wanted a British prince in order to strengthen their ties with that country and gain the Ionian Islands, but instead recieved one Wittlesbach prince who lasted about a decade or three before getting kicked out and replaced with the German-Danish Gluckenburgs. Was it at all a possibility that the Greeks got a British or Russian candidate, or was it seen as a disturbance of the balance of power locally?

And as for the Belgians, they rejected the Netherlander royal family of Orange-Nassau and were initially petitioning for a French king. But that was rejected by everyone who wasn't France, so they went with Leopold I, a relative to Queen Victoria's husband and previously husband to one of her cousins. Was a French candidate truly out of the running, and might an Austrian or other German house been possible?

The Bulgarians had offered the throne of their country to princes from the Caucasus and Denmark and even the King of Romania, but ultimately settled on House Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Kohary. A Russian candidate was rejected outright (the aid of the Russian Tsar), and the Bulgarians were desperate to avoid Russian influence.

The Romanians had expelled their native ruler Alexander Ioan Cuza due to the failures of his regime, leading in turn to a disintegration of their international standing. Due to the influence of Napoleon III and Romania's strong French relations along with his blood ties to the Prussian royal family, Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen was chosen as King.

Of the things I could see possibly swapping around or changing, it might be that a French candidate could be directly chosen for Romania (either the Canino branch of the Napoleons or Bourbon or Orleanist) given their proclivities. And a Prussian royal relative on the throne of Belgium doesn't sound too unlikely, though it might upset the Austrians. So perhaps then, the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha find their way to Greece, or even their cousins of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Kohary?

I don't know, this is just a few thoughts I had. Any considerations or suggestions AH might have would be appreciated.

Greeks: Give them Leopold of Coburg (OTL king of the Belgians) in the 1830s as was originally offered. Leopold turned it down when he realized how he was really getting the short end of the stick (IIRC I think it was the economy that was rejected). Or, for a later POD, Ernst II of Coburg (Prince Albert's brother) was offered the throne as well, but since he had no kids and his heir was Albert's kids, it would've meant a British king of the Hellenes. Of course, for still more fun, let Pedro I of Brasil get the Greek throne as was considered.

Belgians: Leopold in Greece means no Coburgs in Belgium. The other candidates were the duke of Leuchtenberg (married to the queen of Portugal), the duc de Nemours and the duke of Teschen (as well as a homegrown candidate, the prince de Ligne I think?). Leuchtenberg was rejected by the French and British for his Napoleonic connection, Nemours by everyone else. Teschen IDK what the story was, but the Belgians had begged Austria to send them an archduke to rule them, rather than ending up in union with the Netherlands or France, at Vienna in 1814. Leuchtenberg/Habsburg Belgium is cool. Nemours was apparently leader of the conservative faction in the Orléans family (which was part of the reason that the regency was rejected in '48, because it would be led by a conservative [Nemours] and a Protestant [the dowager duchesse de Chartres]).

Bulgarians: easiest of the lot. They want Russian, but not Russian. So, the Prince Oldenburgski who was proposed is out. Probably any grand dukes as well. Alexander of Battenberg seemed to do reasonably well, but finally got fed up and packed his bags. Let him stay in Sofia, marry his Prussian wife (Bismarck and Wilhelm I were against this, though Friedrich III, Queen and Princess Victoria were for it), and start the house of Battenberg.

Romania: Britain and France are going to want somebody friendly in Romania if Bulgaria is Russian/Prussian. So perhaps a Coburg relative married to an Orléans (which is, in part the reason Ferdinand of Bulgaria was chosen, despite his effeminate qualities). Of course, Austria has an archduke (of the Hungarian Palatine branch) married to a princess of Coburg-Kohary, so that way Austria, Britain and France can all get in on the action.
 
Wasn't General Sherman once considered for Bulgaria? Among various other candidates, I imagine.- I don't see someone who was a Republican being considered for the short list. Looking it up, there is mention on a Civil War forum that there were some satirical suggestions in the New York Herald that Senator John Sherman be given the job.
 
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