Archduke Ernest of Austria survives.

Archduke Ernest of Austria was the second born son of Maximilian II Holy Roman Emperor and his wife Maria of Spain. He was born in 1553 and died in 1595. He was a proponent of the counter reformation, and served as regent for his cousin Ferdinand in Inner Austria. What consequences could there have been if he had not died in 1595, and had instead lived to see through the rest of his brother Rudolf's reign as, and perhaps succeed as emperor? Who might've he had married?
 
Oh now that's quite interesting, would he serve a time as governor of the netherlands alongside his wife? Perhaps they could have some children?
They could, if they married earlier than Isabela and Albert IOTL chances for surviving offspring increase.
 
Perhaps around 1588 then for a marriage?

In 1588 she's still technically betrothed to Rudolf. Felipe is angling for Isabella to be named as queen of France (and I have a feeling that he was toying with marrying her to another Habsburg if she was, but the French ultras might have only agreed to Queen Elisabeth I if she was married to a (Catholic) prince of Bourbon or Lorraine)), so I don't think she's going to be marrying Ernst until the dust has settled in France.
 
In 1588 she's still technically betrothed to Rudolf. Felipe is angling for Isabella to be named as queen of France (and I have a feeling that he was toying with marrying her to another Habsburg if she was, but the French ultras might have only agreed to Queen Elisabeth I if she was married to a (Catholic) prince of Bourbon or Lorraine)), so I don't think she's going to be marrying Ernst until the dust has settled in France.
Ah I see so around 1594 then? At which point she'd be in her late twenties.
 
If Rudolf had died around 1588, would Ernest have had an easier or tougher time ascending the imperial throne?
 
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