Elizabeth of Bohemia, Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland

Just an idea I had: WI the future Charles I of England had died in 1623, while he was travelling incognito to Spain? His sister Elizabeth would be made heir of the throne, but her husband, the Elector Palatine Frederick V was then already living in exile in Holland, after his defeat to the Imperial troops during the early Thirty Years War, and was deprived from the Palatinate.
So, what would happen now, as the Protestant branch of the Wittelsbach from the Palatine become the Royal House of England and Scotland? And how could this affect the 30 Years War?
 
Well, Britain is almost certain to be dragged into the 30 Years War on the protestant side, which could lead to all kinds of interestingness. English entry into the war in 1632 probably butterflies away the OTL battle of Lützen which badly damaged Sweden's effectiveness in the war. Instead we probably see a joint Anglo-Swedish operation, which could result in the conflict being known as the 14 Years War.
 
Wouldn't this push France closer to spain and the catholic side of the war than otl. This might be the Causus Belli that would bring France to exert its might against the British.
 
With English on the Protestant Side, the French will have to choose who they hate more, the English or the Hapsburgs. IMO they'll still fight the Hapsburgs as they probably see the English as small potatoes.
 
Wouldn't this push France closer to spain and the catholic side of the war than otl. This might be the Causus Belli that would bring France to exert its might against the British.

Not likely at all. France is much more worried by the prospect of Habsburg encirclement than England; at this time France and England are usually allied against the Habsburgs, and will continue to be so until well into Loius XIV's reign. Besides, by this point the French are already fairly entangled with supporting the protestants, even if they haven't become directly involved yet.
 
Yeah France is sticking with the protestants.
Spain will be more determined of course but...they were already pretty involved.
 
How would this involvement be seen in France? One thing is siding with protestants agains the Hapsburg, but another thing is siding with the English.
 
How would this involvement be seen in France? One thing is siding with protestants agains the Hapsburg, but another thing is siding with the English.

Um ... like I said upthread, they had worked with the English in previous conflicts with the Habsburgs, and the two were willing to ally against the Habsburgs on multiple occaisions, until Loius XIV's expansionism soured the alliance.
 
Although the new English monarchs might WANT to get involved in the 30YW I don't know that they will be able to. The English Parliament of the era refused to allow Charles I to raise the funds necessary to go war, and now a foreign monarch wants English resources in order to rescue his occupied territory (which consequently has NO strategic value for England).

If Elizabeth and Frederick attempt to raise funds in the same way that Charles I did, then the same effect (the English Civil War) will occur. Actually, this POD could be a good start for an enduring English Commonwealth, since the English would probably be much less willing to invite the thoroughly foreign monarchs that they ousted back to the throne.
 
Although the new English monarchs might WANT to get involved in the 30YW I don't know that they will be able to. The English Parliament of the era refused to allow Charles I to raise the funds necessary to go war, and now a foreign monarch wants English resources in order to rescue his occupied territory (which consequently has NO strategic value for England).

It may be completely wrong, but could not the Habsburgs attack first, making England more willing to go to war? England was at war against Spain in 1625, maybe we could have some situation here, where war against Spain becomes worse, with some kind of involvement from the Austrian Habsburgs. Also, Frederick was seen as a champion of Protestantism, maybe the Parliament would not be so harsh to him.
 

Thande

Donor
Parliament would probably be more willing to back a war whose stated aim is defending Protestants in Germany, given the connections between radical Puritanism in Parliament in this period and the Protestant movements in Germany.
 
It may be completely wrong, but could not the Habsburgs attack first, making England more willing to go to war? England was at war against Spain in 1625, maybe we could have some situation here, where war against Spain becomes worse, with some kind of involvement from the Austrian Habsburgs. Also, Frederick was seen as a champion of Protestantism, maybe the Parliament would not be so harsh to him.

Under this POD Elizabeth and her husband and Frederick V would actually be James I's heir for nearly 2 years prior to James' death.

The fact that Charles died in Spain (which presumably will be blamed on the Spanish) is going to provoke outrage in Parliament. If Buckingham survives Spain (he was in Spain with the Prince of Wales) then he can probably rally England against the Spanish.

Elizabeth and Frederick quickly get to the court (they were in exile at the Hague). The presence of Frederick (whose Electorate was being occupied by the Spanish at the time) is used by Buckingham to rally support, and force the King to call a new Parliament. With the presence of Frederick and the death of Charles, I think that James I will declare war on the Spanish.

How this war goes is anybody's guess, but the war will happen. I think the English Parliament would probably be much more focused on the sea than on the land. The image of stealing Spanish treasure (as in Elizabeth I's time) was a great motivator OTL for the push for war with Spain. The "Golden Age of Piracy" would start in 20 years, but I think that we can push that forward a bit, since British (English, Scottish, and Welsh) and French seaman made up most of the pirates. And those two countries would be the ones handing out privateers' commissions like Halloween candy.
 
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