Kind of random but what if Wladyslaw IV and Cecilia Renata's daughter had lived? Maria Anna Vasa was born and died in 1642 so she would have been only 2 at the death of her mother and 6 at the death of her father. Assuming they and her brother Sigismund Casimir still die like OTL I assume that John Casimir is still elected King of Poland. Probably she is raised by her uncle and aunt/stepmother.
But moving forward to 1660 or so when she'd be old enough to marry would her existence change John II's decision to abdicate? It's during the Deluge when he's struggling to repel the Swedes and Russians so her marriage is probably wrapped up in that struggle. Would her husband be a strong candidate to replace him? A continuation of the Vasas in the same way they were like a continuation of the Jageillons.
Would she be considered considered as a bride for Leopold after Maria Theresa marries Louis XIV? She is part Habsburg (her mother and grandmother) so we can continue the grand tradition Habsburg intermarriages. Or would her stepmother/aunt push for a French match, probably with Conde? Or maybe an Italian, Ranuccio Farnese or Cosimo de' Medici? Or maybe Ferdinand Maria of Bavaria or his younger brother.
But moving forward to 1660 or so when she'd be old enough to marry would her existence change John II's decision to abdicate? It's during the Deluge when he's struggling to repel the Swedes and Russians so her marriage is probably wrapped up in that struggle. Would her husband be a strong candidate to replace him? A continuation of the Vasas in the same way they were like a continuation of the Jageillons.
Would she be considered considered as a bride for Leopold after Maria Theresa marries Louis XIV? She is part Habsburg (her mother and grandmother) so we can continue the grand tradition Habsburg intermarriages. Or would her stepmother/aunt push for a French match, probably with Conde? Or maybe an Italian, Ranuccio Farnese or Cosimo de' Medici? Or maybe Ferdinand Maria of Bavaria or his younger brother.