Alternate Husbands for Maria Theresa

Historically, Maria Theresa was promised to Francis Stephen from a very young age. However, her father was always wary of the match. He at times considered a marriage to Don Carlos (Carlos III) and Frederick II (Frederick the Great). So what are some alternate husbands for Maria Theresa outside of these three?
 
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IIRC, there was a prince from both Saxony and Bavaria considered for her. Saxony was the eldest son of Maria Josefa of Austria - however the boy died young and his next brother's age gap was too big. The prince of Bavaria was Maximilian Josef Franz, son of Ferdinand Innocenz of Bavaria.
Carlo Emanuele III was also a candidate FWIR.
Depending on your POD, you could have her marry a surviving Karl Philipp Franz of Sulzbach (grandson of Elector Palatine Karl III). But the majority of Catholic husbands are either unlikely (Carlos III is going to need Spain to not retake (or attempt to retake) Naples) or younger than her. Maximilian was born in 1720, Karl Philipp Franz in 1718, the Saxon boy in 1721.
Any Protestant boy is (like Friedrich) going to need to convert.

Frederick William II (Frederick the Great)

These are two different guys. Friedrich II (b.1712) was uncle to Friedrich Wilhelm II (b.1744).
 
IIRC, there was a prince from both Saxony and Bavaria considered for her. Saxony was the eldest son of Maria Josefa of Austria - however the boy died young and his next brother's age gap was too big. The prince of Bavaria was Maximilian Josef Franz, son of Ferdinand Innocenz of Bavaria.
Carlo Emanuele III was also a candidate FWIR.
Depending on your POD, you could have her marry a surviving Karl Philipp Franz of Sulzbach (grandson of Elector Palatine Karl III). But the majority of Catholic husbands are either unlikely (Carlos III is going to need Spain to not retake (or attempt to retake) Naples) or younger than her. Maximilian was born in 1720, Karl Philipp Franz in 1718, the Saxon boy in 1721.
Any Protestant boy is (like Friedrich) going to need to convert

Would Karl Philipp Franz be considered a better match?
 
IIRC, there was a prince from both Saxony and Bavaria considered for her. Saxony was the eldest son of Maria Josefa of Austria - however the boy died young and his next brother's age gap was too big. The prince of Bavaria was Maximilian Josef Franz, son of Ferdinand Innocenz of Bavaria.
Carlo Emanuele III was also a candidate FWIR.
Depending on your POD, you could have her marry a surviving Karl Philipp Franz of Sulzbach (grandson of Elector Palatine Karl III). But the majority of Catholic husbands are either unlikely (Carlos III is going to need Spain to not retake (or attempt to retake) Naples) or younger than her. Maximilian was born in 1720, Karl Philipp Franz in 1718, the Saxon boy in 1721.
Any Protestant boy is (like Friedrich) going to need to convert.



These are two different guys. Friedrich II (b.1712) was uncle to Friedrich Wilhelm II (b.1744).

Honestly a Saxon-Austrian Union would be very interesting, it would fundamental change the interbellum between the Spanish and Austrian Succession Wars. Such a marriage would be create a far more legitimate heir, so we would likely not see Charles VI waste the two decades. We will likely still see a War of Polish Succession, but here the Wettins likely just give Poland up as they have their eyes on the bigger price. It’s questionable who gets Tuscany, maybe the Lorraine still get it against giving their old domain up, but without the promise of gaining the Austrian domains, we may see Francis intervene in Corsica and end up with a Corsican-Tuscan Union. The Austrian Succession War still happen, but with Saxony 100% on Maria Theresa side, I expect that Austria will keep Silesia.
 
I like the idea of a Carignano match, but it's unlikely.

There maybe a Guelph or two available if the would-be groom was willing to convert.
 
Saxon prince would have double advantage, having been also grandson of Joseph I by his oldest daughter. And I would not say Wettins would give up PLC-otherwise throne would be taken by pro-French Stanisław Leszczyński, father-in-law of Louis XV.
 
I was thinking more his son.

Was it an unlikely match just because Carignano didn't have much to bring to the table?

Saxon prince would have double advantage, having been also grandson of Joseph I by his oldest daughter. And I would not say Wettins would give up PLC-otherwise throne would be taken by pro-French Stanisław Leszczyński, father-in-law of Louis XV.
There is also the Portuguese candidate for the Polish throne.
 
Saxon prince would have double advantage, having been also grandson of Joseph I by his oldest daughter. And I would not say Wettins would give up PLC-otherwise throne would be taken by pro-French Stanisław Leszczyński, father-in-law of Louis XV.
If Maria Theresa married the Saxon prince the Prammatica would be useless as her husband would be the heir after his mother (who would be persuaded to transfer her claim to her son)
 
Honestly a Saxon-Austrian Union would be very interesting, it would fundamental change the interbellum between the Spanish and Austrian Succession Wars. Such a marriage would be create a far more legitimate heir, so we would likely not see Charles VI waste the two decades. We will likely still see a War of Polish Succession, but here the Wettins likely just give Poland up as they have their eyes on the bigger price. It’s questionable who gets Tuscany, maybe the Lorraine still get it against giving their old domain up, but without the promise of gaining the Austrian domains, we may see Francis intervene in Corsica and end up with a Corsican-Tuscan Union. The Austrian Succession War still happen, but with Saxony 100% on Maria Theresa side, I expect that Austria will keep Silesia.
Tuscany will most likely go to Charles of Spain, Duke of Parma (as he will most likely not get Naples here) as was already established.
Without the Austrian wedding France has no way to get Lorraine (as the Duke would not have any incentive for renouncing to his ancestral lands). Most likely here Francis Stephen will end marrying a French princess like his father
 
Most likely here Francis Stephen will end marrying a French princess like his father

Perhaps. Alternately, it is simply a case that he may be married off to Maria Theresia's younger sister. ICR who was the person who proposed this swap OTL when they were earnestly considering one of the other options, but they said: Maria Theresia will marry [insert groom], and in a few years, Lorraine will marry Maria Anna. His parents wish him to marry an Austrian archduchess. They do not particularly care which one."

AFAIK, OTOH, Élisabeth Charlotte was not in favour of the marriage of her son to Maria Theresia, since she essentially told François that the Austrians were fucking him over (which they were), that they were leading him around by the dick (again, they were), and she said that she would wear her funeral shroud to the wedding, because it would happen over her dead body. However, Louis XV poisoned that well (François marrying a French girl) when he [Louis XV] refused to marry Élisabeth Charlotte's daughter. The younger Liselotte never forgave the French for doing that.
 
Was it an unlikely match just because Carignano didn't have much to bring to the table?
That's my understanding. There are people here who understand the ins and outs of royal marriage politics better than I do though.
 
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IIRC, there was a prince from both Saxony and Bavaria considered for her. Saxony was the eldest son of Maria Josefa of Austria - however the boy died young and his next brother's age gap was too big. The prince of Bavaria was Maximilian Josef Franz, son of Ferdinand Innocenz of Bavaria.
Carlo Emanuele III was also a candidate FWIR.
Depending on your POD, you could have her marry a surviving Karl Philipp Franz of Sulzbach (grandson of Elector Palatine Karl III). But the majority of Catholic husbands are either unlikely (Carlos III is going to need Spain to not retake (or attempt to retake) Naples) or younger than her. Maximilian was born in 1720, Karl Philipp Franz in 1718, the Saxon boy in 1721.
Any Protestant boy is (like Friedrich) going to need to convert.



These are two different guys. Friedrich II (b.1712) was uncle to Friedrich Wilhelm II (b.1744).

Honestly a Saxon-Austrian Union would be very interesting, it would fundamental change the interbellum between the Spanish and Austrian Succession Wars. Such a marriage would be create a far more legitimate heir, so we would likely not see Charles VI waste the two decades. We will likely still see a War of Polish Succession, but here the Wettins likely just give Poland up as they have their eyes on the bigger price. It’s questionable who gets Tuscany, maybe the Lorraine still get it against giving their old domain up, but without the promise of gaining the Austrian domains, we may see Francis intervene in Corsica and end up with a Corsican-Tuscan Union. The Austrian Succession War still happen, but with Saxony 100% on Maria Theresa side, I expect that Austria will keep Silesia.

Saxon prince would have double advantage, having been also grandson of Joseph I by his oldest daughter. And I would not say Wettins would give up PLC-otherwise throne would be taken by pro-French Stanisław Leszczyński, father-in-law of Louis XV.

Looking back at this, is a marriage to a surviving Joseph Augustus really a plausible husband for Maria Theresa. Joseph was born in 1721 and less than a year later his brother Frederick Christian was born. Frederick Christian only married in 1747 whereas Maria Theresa married in 1736. So despite being just a year younger than Joseph Augustus, Frederick Christian married 11 years later than Maria Theresa. Frederick Christian was also never considered a potential groom for Maria Theresa. Was Frederick Christian's 5 year age gap so much more significant than Joseph Augustus' 4 year age gap that Joseph would be considered where Frederick would not have?
 
Looking back at this, is a marriage to a surviving Joseph Augustus really a plausible husband for Maria Theresa.

The delayed marriage for Friedrich Christian may have been as a result of the WotAS disrupting usual channels of communication. He was betrothed to Maria Antonieta of Spain (OTL queen of Sardinia) from around the time his sister wed her brother. I'm not sure why that marriage didn't go through - I suspect it may have had to do with her sister, the dauphine, dying and Isabel Farnese pushing for her (Maria Antonieta) as replacement. Either way, that only moves his prospective marriage ahead two years at best.

As to him being a plausible husband for Maria Theresia, IDK. She was mentioned as having been betrothed to an Eastern European prince from a young age, but he died a few years later. And Josef August is the only prince of suitable rank who fits the criteria.
 
The delayed marriage for Friedrich Christian may have been as a result of the WotAS disrupting usual channels of communication. He was betrothed to Maria Antonieta of Spain (OTL queen of Sardinia) from around the time his sister wed her brother. I'm not sure why that marriage didn't go through - I suspect it may have had to do with her sister, the dauphine, dying and Isabel Farnese pushing for her (Maria Antonieta) as replacement. Either way, that only moves his prospective marriage ahead two years at best.

As to him being a plausible husband for Maria Theresia, IDK. She was mentioned as having been betrothed to an Eastern European prince from a young age, but he died a few years later. And Josef August is the only prince of suitable rank who fits the criteria.

Okay, that makes sense to me. I mean there is no way she was going to marry a Russian and the Sobieskis had already died out in the male line. I think it is a possible marriage, I just wanted a little reassurance so thank you for that.
 
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