Belgians in Brazil

Originally, when Pedro II of Brazil needed husbands for his daughters, Isabel and Leopoldina, he wrote to his sister the princesse de Joinville to sound out prospective husbands.

Originally, Francisca offered her son, the duc de Penthièvre, and her nephew, Philippe, Comte de Flandres. Both had the added benefit of belonging to dynasties of liberal reputations, and above all, Penthièvre was half-Brazilian through his mother.

However, Penthièvre wanted a career in the navy, while Flandres was loath to leave Europe and settle in America.

What if one or both marriages went through?
 
A furthering of the studfarm that was the Coburg dynasty. Charlotte as Empress in Mexico, Philippe as prospective Emperor-Consort in Brazil - and no one is interested?
 
not much different.

now, for different, try on this for size:

Francisco Lopez allegedly wanted one of the two daughters as a bride. WI Pedro said yes? You get a meglomaniac with access to the controls of the largest, most powerful country of South America. Which, of course, is why Pedro said no, but, WI?
 
It depends on who marries Isabel. If it's Penthievre, I see less people complaining about him being the Empress' consort since he is not completely a foreigner. The Count of Flanders, however, might be even worse than Gaston, as he was actually a member of the ruling family and the head of his house had a private colony himself, so he might get accused of trying to colonize Brazil nder Belgian (or Leopold's) supremacy, claims which might take deeper roots and gain more legitimacy among the Brazilians than the accusations of an Orleanist coup d'etat ever had.
 
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