Charles VI dies in 1711: what happens to the Habsburg lands?

Thande

Donor
Well, I'm not sure if it would be possible (is there anyone knowledgeable about the Hannoverians?), but I think such conversion a bit unlikely. By 1711 they haven't got the British throne yet, and they would receive it exactly because they were firmly Protestant. I'm not sure how having a so close relative converting to Catholicism would be seen in London.

Frankly, not well. Under those circumstances I think Parliament would tear up their invitations and go after the Hohenzollerns instead.
 
Frankly, not well. Under those circumstances I think Parliament would tear up their invitations and go after the Hohenzollerns instead.

:eek: I'm sorry but could they? I mean was the house of Hohenzollern the second protestant in line to inherit the throne of 'Britain'? Besides a house of Welf (Hannover) with a Catholic branch in Vienna and a protestant branch, which wouldn't be allowed to inherit eachother's thrones IMHO isn't a huge problem. They were allies most of this era anyway...
 

Thande

Donor
I mean was the house of Hohenzollern the second protestant in line to inherit the throne of 'Britain'?

Yes. Hence why that is sometimes suggested as a what-if here.

Given that the Act of Settlement had already overruled more than fifty people with a better claim to the throne of Great Britain due to links with Catholicism, I don't think adding few more is a huge leap.
 
Not only the Wettins, the Dutch Republic and Britain wouldn't want the Southern Netherlands to become French, they might accept a return to the Spanish Empire though...

Not if a Bourbon end up on the throne, but yes if another famiy end up with the Spanish throne I agree. But I think they would prefer the Wettins, whom are strong enough to defend it, but far enough away to that their main interests lays elsewhere.

Just an idea I had (but it can be unlikely though): considering that the Bavarian Elector had been exiled to France, could the Wettins make an agreement where the Bavarian lands would go to Saxony (except the territories held by the Elector Palatine, of course) while the Bavarian Wittelsbachs are compensated with the Spanish Netherlands or Milan and Mantua?
 
Just an idea I had (but it can be unlikely though): considering that the Bavarian Elector had been exiled to France, could the Wettins make an agreement where the Bavarian lands would go to Saxony (except the territories held by the Elector Palatine, of course) while the Bavarian Wittelsbachs are compensated with the Spanish Netherlands or Milan and Mantua?

Possibly the Spanish Netherlands, can't see them handing over Milan or Mantua. I could see the Habsburgs refusing to vacate Bavaria, and with the French holding the former Spanish Netherlands instead turn them over to the former Bavarian Elector. The Elector did hold Namur for a short time (1708 - 1714 IIRC) as a Marquisate. Would be quite interesting, adding both Bavaria and Electoral Saxony to the Habsburg crown. Electoral Saxony especially, as it was quite economically important. Could be a good start up site for proto-Industrialization, alongside Bohemia.
 
:eek: I'm sorry but could they? I mean was the house of Hohenzollern the second protestant in line to inherit the throne of 'Britain'?.

Yes. George I's sister was married to Frederick I of Prussia. In 1706 (iirc) his daughter married her cousin, Frederick Wiliam I.
 
Possibly the Spanish Netherlands, can't see them handing over Milan or Mantua. I could see the Habsburgs refusing to vacate Bavaria, and with the French holding the former Spanish Netherlands instead turn them over to the former Bavarian Elector. The Elector did hold Namur for a short time (1708 - 1714 IIRC) as a Marquisate. Would be quite interesting, adding both Bavaria and Electoral Saxony to the Habsburg crown. Electoral Saxony especially, as it was quite economically important. Could be a good start up site for proto-Industrialization, alongside Bohemia.

That's interesting, I think that Prussia wouldn't like the idea of the Wettins becoming so powerful.
BTW, now that Augustus III is Emperor (probably as Frederick IV), who could becchoosen as successor of Augustus II in the Polish throne? One of the Emperor's possible sons with Maria Josepha, in order to keep the Wettins in Poland? Or with his family ruling the former Habsburg lands it wouldn't be accepted by the other powers (and the Poles), and other candidate might have better chances?
 
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