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*SMACK!*
[Begin Audio]
Audio track narrated by Bill Durham
Information obtained by Will Rinehart
Track One: Point of Departure.
The Issue of Spanish Succession in the late 1600s was part of the key to This Universe's Divergence. Upon the birth of horribly deformed Charles II of Spain, it became apparent that the king wouldn't have an heir, and die you-
Skip -Track 2-
The War of Swedish Supremacy, known as the Great Northern Wa-
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The Crisis of Moscow was a direct result of the War of Swedish Supremacy.-
Rev. Skip -Track 2-
Rev. Skip -Track 1-
The Issue of Spanish Succession in the late 1600s was part of the key to This Universe's Divergence. Upon the birth of horribly deformed Charles II of Spain, it became apparent that the king wouldn't have an heir, and die young. France's Bourbon Dynasty suggested Louis, Dauphin, heir apparent of France. The Hapsburg family, who had been ruling Spain at that point suggested Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor. Each suggestion brought Spain into a Precariously high position in the Balance of Power; The Bourbon claims would unify the Spanish and French crown, and the Hapsburg claim would reunite the Powerful Austria and Spain.
A different claimant appeared from the small German state of Bavaria, in 1692. Joseph Ferdinand, Prince of Asturias, was also a descendant of Phillip IV of Spain, yet belonging to the House of Wittelsbach. Remember these Royal Families. They will return later in this recording.
The Powers of England and the United Provinces (Our Netherlands) had decided to support The Wittelsbach claims of Spain.
After the War of the Grand alliance, France and Britain felt weary of War, and decided to settle the issue of succession with a Treaty, the Treaty of The Hague, which would partition the Spanish Empire between The Hapsburgs and France. France would recieve Spain's Italian holdings of Naples, Sicily, and Tuscany, while Austria would get Modern Belgium.
Charles II of Spain protested this, and said Joseph Ferdinand would rule
all of Spain.
Josephs' father, Maximilian II Emmanuel, Elector of Bavaria, also protested. The Hapsburgs, upset that they were excluded from the Treaty of The Hague, showed support for Maximilian's fury, should it boil into war.
Luckily, This never came to pass. Joseph Ferdinand came down with Smallpox, which in Our world killed him, and yet again left the question of dispute open, preempting the War of Spanish Succession. In this world, Joseph survives his smallpox infection, albeit left blind in his right eye.[1]
Upon Charles II's Death, Joseph Ferdinand, sporting an eyepatch, ascended upon the Spanish Throne. An Alternate Treaty of London allotted Austria the Sicily and Naples, and France won Parma and Tuscany, balancing each other in the region. Spain kept The Spanish Netherlands in order to keep French interests in the region at bay.[2]
Track 2: The War of Swedish Supremacy...
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1. Common ailment for smallpox survivors.
2. The French sought dominance in Italy IOTL, as well as wanting to recieve the Netherlands. Of course, Spain sought to keep something, and a good agricultural region, between Allies, and a port to Central European waters.
Comment, respond, or something. I would like some kind of feedback with this TL.