Carlos son of King Philip II does not fall

I've been looking through the Spanish monarchy for a timeline, I'm working on, and I began wondering, what if Prince Carlos, eldest son of King Philip II of Spain, had not fallen down that flight of stairs? A lot of what I've read suggests he went mad after the operation which was conducted to safe his life. So butterfly the fall, and what happens?
 
his behaviour already was somewhat irrational before though.

OTL the duke of alba became commander of the troops in the low countries, a position that was planned to go to don carlos.
so ittl he gets that position, it could cause a lot of changes.
depending if his dislike for his father already existed or not is what is the big question.

assuming it already did, it is very well possible that he will side with the dutch revolutionaries. if he doesn't side with them, then the spanish defeat will only be bigger, since he will lack the military skills that alba has.

one interesting thing could be how much the religiousness of his father played a role in the dislike don carlos had for him.

imagine don carlos siding with the revolutionaries, accepting to be stadtholder and converting to protestantism.
that would not only send shockwaves, but also would influence conversion to protestantism in the south.
 
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I've been looking through the Spanish monarchy for a timeline, I'm working on, and I began wondering, what if Prince Carlos, eldest son of King Philip II of Spain, had not fallen down that flight of stairs? A lot of what I've read suggests he went mad after the operation which was conducted to safe his life. So butterfly the fall, and what happens?
Shouldn't this be in before-1900 (not Post-1900 where it is at the time of this post), involving as it does events in 16th century Spain?
 
his behaviour already was somewhat irrational before though.

OTL the duke of alba became commander of the troops in the low countries, a position that was planned to go to don carlos.
so ittl he gets that position, it could cause a lot of changes.
depending if his dislike for his father already existed or not is what is the big question.

assuming it already did, it is very well possible that he will side with the dutch revolutionaries. if he doesn't side with them, then the spanish defeat will only be bigger, since he will lack the military skills that alba has.

one interesting thing could be how much the religiousness of his father played a role in the dislike don carlos had for him.

imagine don carlos siding with the revolutionaries, accepting to be stadtholder and converting to protestantism.
that would not only send shockwaves, but also would influence conversion to protestantism in the south.

Interesting, but what would make him convert?
 
if he chooses the side of the dutch revolutionaries, he no doubt will be exposed to a lot of protestantism.
that is why i wondered about how much religion was part of the dislike don carlos had for his father. if it is a considerable part, i could see him convert as act of resistance against his father. hit him where it hurts most, his religious pride.
furthermore if he intends to become stadtholder he has to convert, a catholic is not acceptable in that place and time for that job.
so in the end it might be a combination of revenge and practical attitude (he wants that job, so he converts)
 
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if he chooses the side of the dutch revolutionaries, he no doubt will be exposed to a lot of protestantism.
that is why i wondered about how much religion was part of the dislike don carlos had for his father. if it is a considerable part, i could see him convert as act of resistance against his father. hit him where it hurts most, his religious pride. furthermore if he intends to become stadtholder he has to convert, a catholic is not acceptable in that place and time for that job.
so in the end it might be a combination of revenge and practical attitude (he wants that job, so he converts)

Hmm interesting, and you do not think he'd want to remain heir to spain?
 
the whole case of don carlos is strange, i do not think it is impossible that he gives up spain. if his experiences in the low countries are much better than his previous experiences he might just decided that he likes it so much better there that he wants to stay.

but it can go both ways, it depends what kind of story you want.
 
the whole case of don carlos is strange, i do not think it is impossible that he gives up spain. if his experiences in the low countries are much better than his previous experiences he might just decided that he likes it so much better there that he wants to stay.

but it can go both ways, it depends what kind of story you want.

Hmm okay interesting
 
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