Alternate War of the Spanish Succession

What change would William & Mary having a son cause on the War of the Spanish Succession?
I am going to assume that
- he inherits the Stadtholdership of his father
- he's named William IV

So, what are your thoughts?
 
I am not sure that you can assume that the Dutch would make him stadholder by right of birth, it is different to kings elsewhere.

The main effects would be how much power Churchill had, would he be commander of the British troups if he didn't have the ear of Queen Anne (via his wife).

I am not sure that another general would have been as sucessful as Churchill.

On a plus side if William IV was incharge of the Dutch forces then them may be easier for Churchill to command to fight away from Dutch soil.
 
Assuming the war goes roughly the same (very unlikely), I could see a larger part of the southern Netherlands going to the Netherlands. Certainly not all, but maybe all of Spanish Gelre, all of Spainsh Overmaas, Maybe Antwerp (and some surrounding area), maybe part of Northern Flanders.
 
I am not sure that you can assume that the Dutch would make him stadholder by right of birth, it is different to kings elsewhere.

You can't assume it, but in this case I still think it is the most likely option. Further down the line (william IV sons or grandsons) it will get less and less likely.
 
You can't assume it, but in this case I still think it is the most likely option. Further down the line (william IV sons or grandsons) it will get less and less likely.

Furthermore each Provincial Estate could theoretically offer to make their Stadtholder their lord. Before the assassination of stadtholder prince William I the Silent the Estates of Holland and IIRC the Estates of Zeeland too considered to install him as count of Holland (and Zeeland). When stadtholder prince William III was reinstated as stadtholder and he had defended the Republic, the Estates of Gelre offered to make him duke of Gelre, however this was too controversial in the Republic as a whole, that he had to deny this honor (although he would have accepted it with a different public opinion). OTOH Utrecht did make the position of stadtholder of Utrecht hereditary.

As absentee stadtholders it probably would become harder to keep their position, OTOH they could have an opportunity to either make their position hereditary. A younger son would probably sent as a representative.
However there also are the Frisian Nassaus (descended from count John the Old, brother of prince William the Silent ) or resistance against an absentee stadtholder might instead lead to a new stadtholderless-era*. (*= if they end up in a war against England & SCotland, this could end up interesting).
 
Furthermore each Provincial Estate could theoretically offer to make their Stadtholder their lord. Before the assassination of stadtholder prince William I the Silent the Estates of Holland and IIRC the Estates of Zeeland too considered to install him as count of Holland (and Zeeland). When stadtholder prince William III was reinstated as stadtholder and he had defended the Republic, the Estates of Gelre offered to make him duke of Gelre, however this was too controversial in the Republic as a whole, that he had to deny this honor (although he would have accepted it with a different public opinion). OTOH Utrecht did make the position of stadtholder of Utrecht hereditary.

As absentee stadtholders it probably would become harder to keep their position, OTOH they could have an opportunity to either make their position hereditary. A younger son would probably sent as a representative.
However there also are the Frisian Nassaus (descended from count John the Old, brother of prince William the Silent ) or resistance against an absentee stadtholder might instead lead to a new stadtholderless-era*. (*= if they end up in a war against England & SCotland, this could end up interesting).
Agreed, but my guess this would not happen with a son of William III. It could happen though the moment the stadholder kings start neglecting the Netherlands (but still make demands of it).
 
FYI King William's War (AKA War of the League of Augsburg) was the previous war (1688-1697). Knig William's War and Queen Anne's War were the names given to the wars by the English colonists in the Americas; AFAIK they were not so named in Europe.

A son to William and Mary (Wiliam IV seems a likely name for him) is probably going to have a firmer grip on the reins than the alcoholic and hedonistic Anne. Churchill, although he may not initially be entrusted with the command, will probably inherit it, especially if he is successful, and keep it, assuming that the level of influence exerted on William is less than that on Anne. And even if William IV does not become Staadholder he will exert great influence over his Dutch allies, so they will stay the course as well.

This will mean that the outcome will probably be less favorable to Louis XIV than IOTL; how much less favorable is open to question.
 
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