An alternative wife for James, Duke of York

So, this is a question I've been pondering. In a world where either James, Duke of York (future James II) does not try and seduce Anne Hyde, or she has already married someone, who would be proposed as a wife for the heir to the throne? His brother has married Catherine of Braganza, so one might think that a Protestant marriage would be on the cards.

Perhaps Anne Marie, sister in law of Sophia of Hanover?

Perhaps Christine of Baden-Durlach.

Or would a French marriage seem more likely? Perhaps to Madame de Montpensier? Or one of her sisters?
 
Duchesse de Montpensier would be considered a bit too old, though OTL Grand Duchess of Tuscany may work.
If the Protestant brides are in the cards, then top of the list are the rejects from his brother's proposals - Anne Sophie of Denmark, Erdmuthe Sophia of Saxony & Maria of Nassau. Erdmuthe is sick, Anne is young (though a solid pick in hidsight butterflying good deal of European history in one swoop), and Maria looks like solid candidacy, though tying British fortunes to the ones of the House of Orange.
 
Duchesse de Montpensier would be considered a bit too old, though OTL Grand Duchess of Tuscany may work.
If the Protestant brides are in the cards, then top of the list are the rejects from his brother's proposals - Anne Sophie of Denmark, Erdmuthe Sophia of Saxony & Maria of Nassau. Erdmuthe is sick, Anne is young (though a solid pick in hidsight butterflying good deal of European history in one swoop), and Maria looks like solid candidacy, though tying British fortunes to the ones of the House of Orange.
Duchesse de Montpensier would be considered a bit too old, though OTL Grand Duchess of Tuscany may work.
If the Protestant brides are in the cards, then top of the list are the rejects from his brother's proposals - Anne Sophie of Denmark, Erdmuthe Sophia of Saxony & Maria of Nassau. Erdmuthe is sick, Anne is young (though a solid pick in hidsight butterflying good deal of European history in one swoop), and Maria looks like solid candidacy, though tying British fortunes to the ones of the House of Orange.

Hmm, given that Charles has married a Catholic Princess, I can see him wanting his brother to marry a Protestant bride, if only to ensure that he sticks with the faith, given his bendable nature. Maria of Nassau seems like a good bet, and Anne also brings interesting butterflies as you've said, especially in the Saxon quarter.
 
Anne also brings interesting butterflies as you've said, especially in the Saxon quarter.
I wonder if this match causes the "betrothal domino" in Northern Europe, up to and including different match for Elector Palatine - as the Saxony court still wants a Danish princess, it's Frederica Amalia who is next in the list, so Wilhelmina Ernestina goes to Holstein as part of peace treaty (and if Christian Albert and his brother are to die without issue, Denmark has the right to claim Holstein). Leaving Ulrika Eleonora for either Sweden or Palatinate.
 
I wonder if this match causes the "betrothal domino" in Northern Europe, up to and including different match for Elector Palatine - as the Saxony court still wants a Danish princess, it's Frederica Amalia who is next in the list, so Wilhelmina Ernestina goes to Holstein as part of peace treaty (and if Christian Albert and his brother are to die without issue, Denmark has the right to claim Holstein). Leaving Ulrika Eleonora for either Sweden or Palatinate.

Oh now that's a hefty set of dominoes to fall right there. Would a marriage between Anne Sophia and James take place in the early 1660s, roughly around 1662 ish perhaps.

Anne Hyde I remember had a suitor who she abandoned when James said he'd marry her. So, I have to wonder, if her father marries her off to her suitor the moment he learns of the interest expressed that could prevent James from pouncing
 
Henry Jermyn. The problem was that he was a gentleman of James' retinue, so he stepped aside to make the place for his boss.
 
Oh now that's a hefty set of dominoes to fall right there. Would a marriage between Anne Sophia and James take place in the early 1660s, roughly around 1662 ish perhaps.
I think 1662-1663 is the date. Protestant Princesses normally rarely married earlier than at the age of 16, and Anna Sophia turns 16 in 1663.
That said, her youth may be the obstacle that will cause the British court to prefer Maria of Nassau, who is 19 and thus can marry as early as 1661.
 
I think 1662-1663 is the date. Protestant Princesses normally rarely married earlier than at the age of 16, and Anna Sophia turns 16 in 1663.
That said, her youth may be the obstacle that will cause the British court to prefer Maria of Nassau, who is 19 and thus can marry as early as 1661.
IDK. Anne getting smallpox at wrong time?
Hmm this is true, Maria of Nassau would be good. Though seeing parliament react to news that the duke of York has also married a catholic would be hilarious
 
There are no suitable Catholics around from his bros' leftovers. Though there may be a fun situation, when instead of rejecting hand of Hortense Mancini outright in 1660 after Mazarin's screw up, but greedy for 5 million livres dowry, Charles offers the match between Hortense and Duke of York, considering that while a commoner is no good for Sovereign, she may be a nice wife for King's brother.
Though then Charles II may end up in Louis XIV' shoes, that is, lusting after his brother's wife.
 
There are no suitable Catholics around from his bros' leftovers. Though there may be a fun situation, when instead of rejecting hand of Hortense Mancini outright in 1660 after Mazarin's screw up, but greedy for 5 million livres dowry, Charles offers the match between Hortense and Duke of York, considering that while a commoner is no good for Sovereign, she may be a nice wife for King's brother.
Though then Charles II may end up in Louis XIV' shoes, that is, lusting after his brother's wife.
Lol now that would be something, and the scandal that would bring as well. You don’t think Margaret Louise daughter of Gaston would be offered then?
 
I don't know why she was not offered OTL to King Charles. Theoretically she may end up in the running, but by 1660 she is already betrothed to Tuscany, and being wife of Sovereign > being wife of brother of Sovereign.
 
I don't know why she was not offered OTL to King Charles. Theoretically she may end up in the running, but by 1660 she is already betrothed to Tuscany, and being wife of Sovereign > being wife of brother of Sovereign.
Hmm this is true and her sisters are too young
 
OTL Duchesse de Guise is a hunchback (hense low-ranked domestic match for her), and the youngest one is earmarked for Savoy.
 
OTL Duchesse de Guise is a hunchback (hense low-ranked domestic match for her), and the youngest one is earmarked for Savoy.
Aye this is true, I wonder would Sophia of Hanover be considered for James, if her husband died around this time from a fever or some such?
 
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