A Britain of Panthers and Lions: House of Oldenburg Britain

Grafton was the Vice Admiral of Britain from 1682 (death of Prince Rupert, previous occupant of the post) till 1689 (Glorious Revolution) OTL. So he's the direct deputy of Prince George here, and likely the technical superior of Dartmouth (though Dartmouth obviously has more seagoing experience).
 

VVD0D95

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Grafton was the Vice Admiral of Britain from 1682 (death of Prince Rupert, previous occupant of the post) till 1689 (Glorious Revolution) OTL. So he's the direct deputy of Prince George here, and likely the technical superior of Dartmouth (though Dartmouth obviously has more seagoing experience).
This is very true, I’ll keep him in mind for the future naval battles
 
Chapter 24: William The Married

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Chapter 24: William the Married



William knew that marriage was about producing heirs and continuing the dynasty, but he also knew that a marriage would not work unless the two people involved in it actually wanted it to work. His marriage with his cousin Mary had been varied, they’d been married for ten years at the time of her death, they’d been friends, but there’d been no spark there. That was not the case with his new wife Henriette Agnes was not a beauty but she was smart and had a solid wit. It made for interesting conversation. Indeed, as he sat down with her for their morning meal, William wanted to know what she was thinking.

“Tell me, dear wife, what is it you want from life?” This might have been far too forward a question, but it was one William always pondered.

His wife laughed. “I want to have a family, and I wish to be a good wife and ensure that the Low Countries remain prosperous. What do you want, my lord husband?”

William smiled, he appreciated the question. “I believe that the answer to that is simple. I wish for my line to continue and for the principality and the Low Countries to prosper.” His wife nodded, and they ate the rest of the meal in silence. Eventually, his aide came and informed him that his councillors were ready for him. He got up, kissed his wife’s hand and walked down the hall to the room where his advisors waited. They included Waldeck, Schomberg and his cousin Henry Casimir who looked incredibly sullen now that he was not going to be heir apparent for much longer. They rose as he entered. “Gentlemen.” William greeted them, please be seated. They sat down and he looked at the map before them. “What reports are there from the English?” Lord Churchill had been left to garrison the towns on the border with France with his men and the men from the Spanish Low Countries.

“Your Highness, it seems that things are steady in the Spanish Low Countries, taxation is being collected, the troops are being paid and are fed. There has been only one or two engagements with French forces during the winter, and those have ended with victories for us.” Waldeck said. “There was a concern voiced by Lord Churchill that the French might bring bigger cannon with them if they tried to invest Mons, but this has not come to be.”

William nodded, he had not expected anything different. “Louis of France will not send forces to attack a wall. He will focus more of his efforts on the Rhine, and that is where we too must focus now.” He knew from his sister by marriage that Churchill’s forces wouldn’t muster to the Rhine, but perhaps they could be used for other purposes.

“Bonn and Cologne are under threat, Your Highness, the forces of the Elector of Hanover and Brandenburg have not quite managed to force a French retreat. Perhaps we would be best served pushing our forces that way?” Waldeck suggested.

“I disagree,” Henry Casimir said. “I think we would be better served tempting the French to engage in the Spanish Low Countries. We cannot afford to get bogged down in the Rhine, let the Empire handle that. Our duty is to protect the Spanish Low Countries, let the French exhaust themselves.”

William wanted to point out the contradiction there, but decided against it, he was in no mood to argue with his cousin. Instead he simply said. “We can engage in a mix of the two activities. Send Churchill out to taunt the French, have him engage Vauban in some mixed activities then, whilst that is happening we can engage their host near Cologne and Bonn.”

“And what happens if that plan fails? Churchill has only eight thousand men by his own account and the English won’t send anymore unless they get definitive proof that something is worth fighting for.” Henry Casimir said. Irritatingly he was right, William mulled over this.

Waldeck spoke then. “Your Highness, perhaps it would be best to send some men out to aid the Lord Churchill, the French won’t stop their attacks on the Spanish Low Countries just because they suffered a few defeats. They will smell weakness and they will attack.”

That was sensible. Henry Casimir stuck his hand up, as if he were a child. “I shall command that host, with your permission, Your Highness.”

William could think of nothing worse. Henry Casimir was a good soldier but a terrible commander, he had shown that at Trarbach. “No, you shall go with Schomberg to aid our allies in removing the French presence in Cologne and Bonn. I shall command the host that aids the English.” Casimir bowed his head in acceptance though the way his mouth was shaped told William that he was not going to forget this.

Waldeck spoke once more. “This could be of great benefit to us, Your Highness. I have received word that the Ottoman Emperor has approached Emperor Leopold about a possible peace deal, which if signed could ensure the Emperor has more men to deal with the French.”

“Good news indeed.” William agreed, if indeed Leopold agreed to peace.
 
Chapter 25: Leopold-Grandfather of Europe?

VVD0D95

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Chapter 25: Leopold The Grandfather of Europe?



Spring was beginning to settle in, and as it did so, the court had moved from Schönbrunn to Hofburg, and Leopold had carried his worries and his hopes with him. In the west, the war with France did not seem to be reaching an end and indeed the French seemed to be winning, something that could not remain acceptable to him if he wanted to bring peace. In the East, well in the east, the Turks seemed to be caving. And at home, things were fine, a discussion about a marriage between his eldest son and heir Joseph and either a Danish Princess or some other Princess of Europe was being discussed, though whether the Danish marriage would occur was something that Leopold was uncertain about.

He put those thoughts aside for the time being and looked around the room. There were faces around him that he had known since he had ascended the Imperial dignity. Some were men who had served his father toward the end of his reign, and others who he had appointed upon his own ascension. Leopold took a breath and said. “We have noticed that the flow of reports coming from both the west and the east seems to have levelled out, we wish to discuss the state of things within the Western front before moving onto other issues.”

Caraffa answered. “Sire, the situation on the Rhine is not as desperate as it was this time last year. Whilst the French still hold many of the towns that they took earlier in the war, the pressure being exerted on them by the Elector of Bavaria and the Elector of Hanover is such that soon enough they shall have to retreat from Mainz. The Prince of Orange has also agreed to send a host to aid in the relief of Bonn.”

Leopold nodded. “Good, the more pressure we can exert on the French the better. Have the English agreed to raid into French territory?” He knew that there was some sort of restraint that the English felt they needed to exercise whenever it came to these wars, they had only sent eight thousand men after all.

“Yes, Sire. They have agreed to deploy their forces into raiding the North Western part of France to draw Vauban and his men away.” Caraffa answered.

Leopold nodded, that was good news indeed. He turned to Metternich and asked. “And what terms have our friends of Constantinople offered us?” When he had been told that the Sultan wanted to discuss peace, he had been ecstatic that would mean he could consolidate power within the regions, end high taxation in his own domains and focus on knocking the French out.

Metternich was getting on in years, he was stooped where previously he had stood tall. “Sire, Sultan Mehmed states that in return for an ending to the war effort, he would pull Ottoman troops out Serbia, cease all efforts at regaining Transylvania and Croatia.”

Leopold wanted to laugh, these were excellent terms. “And in return?”

“In return, Sire, all he asks is that you cease with the efforts to command troops into Wallachia and that the remaining territories in the continent be recognised as his.” Metternich said.

These terms were good, almost too good. Leopold knew that the Sultan was desperate and perhaps was looking to string them along until his army regrouped, but Leopold knew that his own treasury was running low, that if he kept taxing the Hungarians and his own domains, that he would face revolt somewhere. “Very well, inform the Ottoman ambassador that we wish to discuss these terms with him and that we find them agreeable.” He would not sign anything just yet, but it would not hurt to hear it from the man’s mouth himself.

Metternich nodded, then raised another issue. “Sire, if you do not mind, there is the issue of Spain that must be discussed.”

Leopold bit back a sigh, Spain. The issue of their family policy kept rearing its ugly head. He knew that perhaps they should reconsider everything, he knew himself that the marriage of his granddaughter with his second son Charles was not something to be considered lightly. But if he wanted to keep Spain and its possessions within the family the marriage was needed. “What about Spain?”

“His Majesty, King Carlos is ailing.” Metternich said, then cleared his throat. “He has been ailing for some time, this is true, but there is more to this present illness. Letters from our ambassador in Madrid state that the King is now abed, that he has not said anything for three weeks, and that even the Queen has taken ill.”

It was clear what his advisor was saying and still he asked. “Do you mean to suggest that the man is dying?” The thought that the Spanish Habsburgs were going to be dead within the next few months was something that would have consequences far beyond a mere family tragedy.

“Yes, Sire. I believe he is dying. The whole court believes he is dying.” Metternich said. The man hesitated then went on. “I know, Sire that you had wished to see your son, His Royal Highness, Archduke Charles married to your granddaughter Her Highness Margaret Theresa, but in light of this news, and the birth of a son for your daughter, perhaps it would be better to start preparing for your daughter’s ascension to the Spanish throne?”

Leopold took a moment to think of this, he did not want for his daughter to ascend the throne, had he had a brother, or even a cousin, he would have married her to them instead of that grasping fool Bavaria, but he did not. “Would the other powers accept this?” He wondered.

“Sire, I believe that in order to prevent this current war continuing, they would do whatever it took to accept it.” Metternich said.

“Then begin searching out the other nations see what they say, and then prepare a treaty.” Leopold said, he had an idea of what land he could give his second son, even if the throne was not an option.
 
Spring was beginning to settle in, and as it did so, the court had moved from Schönbrunn to Hofburg
A minor continuity error. It was Schönbrunn that was summer residence, and it was rarely used between 1683 (when it got damaged during the Siege of Vienna) and 1696 (when it became to see use again). In between this time period it was visited very rarely, mostly for summer hunts.
Hofburg was the winter palace.
 

VVD0D95

Banned
A minor continuity error. It was Schönbrunn that was summer residence, and it was rarely used between 1683 (when it got damaged during the Siege of Vienna) and 1696 (when it became to see use again). In between this time period it was visited very rarely, mostly for summer hunts.
Hofburg was the winter palace.
Right you are, will keep an eye on thay
 
Chapter 26: Shrewsbury The Pupil

VVD0D95

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Chapter 26: Shrewsbury the Pupil




Charles was not someone who often left Whitehall, he knew from common sense that Her Majesty, the Queen was someone whose moods could vary depending on whether she was pregnant-which she was a lot- or if she was feuding with Sarah Churchill-she was a lot- or she had made up with Lady Churchill. Therefore it was important to keep an eye on her mood, and remain at court. However, he had been allowed rare day to leave court and travel to meet various people. Today, he had decided to visit his old friend and mentor the Earl of Devonshire who attended the House of Lords occasionally. The man was only fifty-one and yet held an aura of authority and respect.

“How are you keeping, William?” Charles asked.

His friend and mentor laughed. “Well enough, well enough.” The man picked up a piece of paper and then said. “The passage of the corn law is one that will ensure proper stability for our farmers and the produce of our crop for many years to go. It is a good thing that you showed the Queen the right way to go about that.”

Charles suspected he knew where this was going and so he said. “Her Majesty wanted the bill to be passed, she had supported it from the off, the Occasional Conformity Bill was one that she was never sure of.” Indeed, she had discussed her potential amendments and the way someone just like Devonshire could amend it if he so chose.

The man laughed. “You know that just means it will be proposed again at another date. Shaftesbury is quite convinced he get the House to see the sense in having the Presbyterians and Puritans on side. Otherwise they will keep moving to the colonies which will only bring tension.”

Charles wanted to voice his own thought on that matter, but instead said. “The Occasional Conformity bill might indeed be proposed against, but Shaftesbury does not have enough support within either house to make it stick, let alone get it within the Queen’s view. We both know that, William.” His mentor grimaced, and Charles pressed home. “It is better that the opposition realise this and focus on more realistic things, such as the Corn Law, or the Farming Implements Bill, or even the amendment to the Structured Silence Bill, those are things that Her Majesty might consider making into law, that would ensure there is some security.” He said it that way for he knew that Shaftesbury met with William Cavendish frequently.

Cavendish said nothing for a moment then replied. “All are noble causes, but they do not get to the heart of the matter, Charles. We both know that the scars of the reign of King James are still felt, that there is a genuine fear that Her Majesty is as Catholic as her father was, or her step-mother was, despite her Anglican upbringing. That is not something that will go away immediately.”

Charles wanted to sigh, and to laugh, this fear that the opposition had that the Queen was a Catholic was baseless. “William, we both know that during the reign of her father, Her Majesty was a vocal critic against his Catholic relief measures, that she opposed the Catholicisation of the army and the navy. That she fought considerably for your own appointment to the Committee of the Treasury. All of these things are facts. The fear that Shaftesbury and Essex have, and the fear you are encouraging is not rational. Why, why do you persist in it?”

The answer he got was not one he expected from someone such as Devonshire. “She continues to insist on a large military. If you have not told me, then my friends in Whitehall have told me. She sends letters to Churchill, and she demands more money set aside by Godolphin and his followers in the treasury for an expansion of the army. Do you know how threatening that is to everything that we have worked toward? If she has as big an army as she wants, then she can do what King Louis of France has done.”

For the first time Charles saw Devonshire in a new light, not as the great statesman focusing on growing England and the other kingdoms, but in a new, less respectful light. “You are jealous.” He said. “Jealous that she gave command to Churchill, and not to you. That is why you wish for the army to be reduced, for you think the officers will be loyal to Churchill, to Ormonde and to Mordaunt, and not to you.”

He had heard the stories about Devonshire’s conduct during the Anglo-Dutch wars, the disagreements the man had had with King Charles, and he had not believed them, now he saw the man and saw the stories also. He made to rise, but before he could, Devonshire spoke. “Churchill is a buffoon not fit to command the army he has. Her Majesty is making a mistake trusting him. He is opportunistic and would have sided with us had King James not died when he did. You know that, I know that and Mordaunt himself knows that. Churchill knows who he is. The Queen needs proper advisors around her for the military, not that fool.”

Charles rose then, and as he got to the doorway, he turned and said. “Then be a man, come to the House or to Whitehall and tell Her Majesty that. Do not fight against something that would benefit the Kingdom.” With that he walked out of the room, the hall and began his journey back to Whitehall, he had a lot of work to do.
 
Cheers mate :) any suggestions on Spain?

It looks like it's going to be a mess, like in RL, the question is are the Bourbons going to win out like in RL or is there a viable alternative candidate that won't recreate Charles V's Empire? Because that latter thing was the deal-breaker against the Habsburgs being allowed to inherit Spain from King Carlos II.
 
Regarding Spain, if Carlos does indeed die before the war ends in the Netherlands, you might see the negotiations over Spain sort of being folded over for that conflict. Leopold and Louis are already clashing in eastern France-western Empire. While I doubt the Spanish Succession would be decided without any battles in Spain or involving straight Spanish forces, the Spanish Netherlands could end up a mere bargaining chip between France and the Hasburgs.

What I'm wondering is the possibility of Louis offering to acknowledge Hasburg (or Wittelsbach) ascending the Spanish throne in return for their ceding of the Spanish Netherlands to France. Now there's no doubt the Anglo-Dutch coalition would refuse to accept such a situation, but both the Bourbons and Hasburgs get something clear out of it. The Hasburgs keep Spain 'in the family', and its supply of gold, ends a series of conflicts to their west over the much disputed Spanish Netherlands, can hope if France continues the fight against the English and Dutch they'll keep out of Italy, and can focus their efforts on Italy or the Ottomans. Louis in turn would be giving up Spain, but this would give Louis his much vaunted western defensive line involving the Spanish Netherlands, remove arguably the most troublesome opponent from the enemy coalition (thus opening the possibility of making separate peaces to knock out his enemies one by one), and give him a big advantage in a war that appears to already have gone far off what he originally planned while avoiding becoming embroiled in an even larger conflict over Spain.

Such a move by Leopold would be all but hanging his allies in the Dutch and English out to dry, but Spain might be worth it. In turn it would be an interesting curve-ball the English have to work around.

Probably not a likely move, it's not in the strategic interests of the Hasburgs to allow France to continue growing and potentially knock out the Dutch or English, but it would be an interesting thing to portray English reactions to such a betrayal.
 

VVD0D95

Banned
It looks like it's going to be a mess, like in RL, the question is are the Bourbons going to win out like in RL or is there a viable alternative candidate that won't recreate Charles V's Empire? Because that latter thing was the deal-breaker against the Habsburgs being allowed to inherit Spain from King Carlos II.
I could see the wittlesbach through Maria Antonia getting Spain and her colonies. Spanish Netherlands maybe going to the Habsburg, Naples to Philip?
 
Something I thought about the idea of Caroline + James match. Maybe "a match with older, serious yet beautiful princess" being arranged to dissuade James from succumbing to the vices of womanising way early (Stuart males tended to be rather horny, after all).
With North Germany alliance coming as bonus.

A protestant version of Joseph I + Wilhelmine Amalia match, sort of.
 

VVD0D95

Banned
Something I thought about the idea of Caroline + James match. Maybe "a match with older, serious yet beautiful princess" being arranged to dissuade James from succumbing to the vices of womanising way early (Stuart males tended to be rather horny, after all).
With North Germany alliance coming as bonus.

A protestant version of Joseph I + Wilhelmine Amalia match, sort of.
I think that would be good, especially as Anne seemed to be very socially conservative even for the time
 
TTL she's kinda sorta "Victoria before Victoria" - a conservative reign after somewhat debauched ones.
 

VVD0D95

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TTL she's kinda sorta "Victoria before Victoria" - a conservative reign after somewhat debauched ones.
That she is, that she is. And as there’s no limitations other than those her father and uncle had, she can actually do morem
 
I could see the wittlesbach through Maria Antonia getting Spain and her colonies. Spanish Netherlands maybe going to the Habsburg, Naples to Philip?
Milan is an Imperial’s fief and was assigned to the future Philip II by his father, the Emperor Karl V likely in main line only so at the death of Carlos II Leopold can take back the Duchy and assign it to his second son. Maria Antonia is the legitimate heiress of everything Carlos has, excluding Milan, because nobody had a claim unquestionable like hers (Louis XIV’ wife and mother both renounce to all their rights to the Spanish’s possession before marrying in France)
 

VVD0D95

Banned
Milan is an Imperial’s fief and was assigned to the future Philip II by his father, the Emperor Karl V likely in main line only so at the death of Carlos II Leopold can take back the Duchy and assign it to his second son. Maria Antonia is the legitimate heiress of everything Carlos has, excluding Milan, because nobody had a claim unquestionable like hers (Louis XIV’ wife and mother both renounce to all their rights to the Spanish’s possession before marrying in France)

The renunciation was based on Maria Theresa's dowry being paid, which it never was.
 
The renunciation was based on Maria Theresa's dowry being paid, which it never was.
The dowry of Maria Theresa was the compensation for the renounce not the condition for its validity, so the dowry not being fully paid make her rights questionable instead of inexistent and in any case Maria Antonia has still a much better claim to everything but Milan (and the Emperor will have the right to assign the Duchy to anyone he wish) than anyone else
 

VVD0D95

Banned
The dowry of Maria Theresa was the compensation for the renounce not the condition for its validity, so the dowry not being fully paid make her rights questionable instead of inexistent and in any case Maria Antonia has still a much better claim to everything but Milan than anyone else

Oh interesting, so did Louis XIV simply exaggerate the dowry issue?
 
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