Can Medicean Tuscany be saved?

As the title says, preferably with the latest possible PoD and an emphasis on turning the crippled economy around.

I would postulate Grand Duke Cosimo III having the top-tier scientific education that his father, Fernando II, suggested. This would swap the theological education that his mother, Vittoria della Rovere, forced on him, leading to his calamitous reign.

Cosimo continues his father's vigour for the sciences, bolstering the Accademia his father built, attracting some of Europe's finest scientific minds. Instead of enacting unpopular and constricting laws, he instead amends the taxation and reforms the economy of the state. This different Cosimo marries someone other than Marguerite Louise, having sons that could continue the dynasty into the future.
 
Actually, Marguerite Louise would still be a good match. And if Cosimo is less of the mommy's boy (due to his education) then said match will be happier. The true trick would be ensuring that Ferdinandino and Giovan' Gastone are either not gay or married to women they're sexually repulsed by.
 
Actually, Marguerite Louise would still be a good match. And if Cosimo is less of the mommy's boy (due to his education) then said match will be happier. The true trick would be ensuring that Ferdinandino and Giovan' Gastone are either not gay or married to women they're sexually repulsed by.

That might take quite a lot. Especially Giovan' Gastone's... proclivities. :eek:
 
Actually, Marguerite Louise would still be a good match. And if Cosimo is less of the mommy's boy (due to his education) then said match will be happier. The true trick would be ensuring that Ferdinandino and Giovan' Gastone are either not gay or married to women they're sexually repulsed by.

That might take quite a lot. Especially Giovan' Gastone's... proclivities. :eek:

Is Cosimo's depression and general moodiness the reason they were unhappy in the first place? But I would have to agree with Cymraeg's point; even if the marriage is happier, I don't think it's possible that the couple's OTL sons continue the dynasty.

Any thoughts on the economy? Is it possible that at the beginning of Cosimo's reign it is still in a position through which it can be turned around? Of course if he is a different person then he won't further cripple the Tuscan economy through his reign with crazy taxes and strange laws.
 
Bump.

Looks like there may not be too much interest on this subject. My query is for part of a greater TL I'm working on. Any/all help greatly appreciated.
 
Is Cosimo's depression and general moodiness the reason they were unhappy in the first place? But I would have to agree with Cymraeg's point; even if the marriage is happier, I don't think it's possible that the couple's OTL sons continue the dynasty.

Any thoughts on the economy? Is it possible that at the beginning of Cosimo's reign it is still in a position through which it can be turned around? Of course if he is a different person then he won't further cripple the Tuscan economy through his reign with crazy taxes and strange laws.

Yeah it would have been. Just give Ferdinando and Gian Gastone more attractive wives. I mean holy hell both were dull, boring and ugly as sin. Swap them out for great beauties or boyish girls and your good.

As for Tuscany's economy, I think that less crazy taxes and laws it would certainly be better off. You would also need to keep the law that forbid Tuscans from going to university outside of the Grand Duchy from being enacted, as it really crippled educated tier of Tuscany. Really Tuscany could have been easily saved if Cosimo wasn't such a fool.
 
I think Gian Gastone is too late. While plenty of gay men have successfully fathered children over the millennia I don't think anyone as gay as Gian Gastone was going to reverse the demographic collapse and extinction of the family.
 
Yeah it would have been. Just give Ferdinando and Gian Gastone more attractive wives. I mean holy hell both were dull, boring and ugly as sin. Swap them out for great beauties or boyish girls and your good.

As for Tuscany's economy, I think that less crazy taxes and laws it would certainly be better off. You would also need to keep the law that forbid Tuscans from going to university outside of the Grand Duchy from being enacted, as it really crippled educated tier of Tuscany. Really Tuscany could have been easily saved if Cosimo wasn't such a fool.

As for wives, the solution I've proposed in our TL project (attractive wife (=heirs) for Ferdinando) and cardinalate for Gian Gastone who IMO will do a lot better than his debauching uncle.
 
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I think Gian Gastone is too late. While plenty of gay men have successfully fathered children over the millennia I don't think anyone as gay as Gian Gastone was going to reverse the demographic collapse and extinction of the family.
If I recall my history correctly, the problem with Gian Gastone is that he and his wife just didn't get along. They ended up hating each other and separating, despite his making a huge effort at the beginning of their marriage to conciliate her. A better match could make wonders from that point of view.

However, even if the Medici continue, it could be too late to improve the economy in Tuscany. That could make much more difference. By then Tuscan economy was mostly agricultural.

If you really want Medicean Tuscany to survive, I think you need an earlier POD where the Medici financial organization survives and adapts better to the new economic conditions in Europe.
 
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