alternatehistory.com

One scenario I've always been curious about has been the possibility of another family other than the Habsburgs gaining a hegemony over a large part of Europe. One obvious POD I can think of is if Elizabeth of Luxembourg is born male, butterflying the merger between their families. Or, if instead of her marrying Albert von Habsburg, she marries another man, perhaps the eldest son of either the Bavarian or Palatinate branches of the House of Wittelsbach. Are there eny other ways to get one family to achieve a near hegemony over a large area of Europe? Perhaps some family from the Italian city-states? Perhaps some branch of the House of Capet? Or, perhaps more interesting, if no family gained such a hegemony. A scenario where the houses of Habsburg, Luxembourg, and Wittelsbach, among others, vy for domainance in Germany, while native lines dominate Spain, Portugal, and the Low Countries. Any ideas?
Top