Emperor Leopold has a son by Claudia Felicitas.

Emperor Leopold I had two daughters by his wife Claudia Feliticas, however both of them died young, and then his second wife died in 1676.

If one of his daughters had been born a boy, named either Ferdinand or Leopold, what might this have changed? I imagine Leopold might wish to marry again, to secure the succession both for the Holy Roman Empire and for the Habsburg's hereditary Austrian possessions.

When it came time for the Spanish War of Succession, would Leopold support his son by Claudia' and any potential claim he could make to the throne, or would he support a younger son by a third marriage for the throne?

If this kid was born in say 1675, in place of their otl daughter Maria Josepha, that would make him twenty-five when Carlos II does finally kick, he'd likely be married at that point if there is an option for a marriage, who could he marry? His brother Joseph's otl wife?

Having the kid be somewhat smart administratively, with an eye on reform, could make him appealing to certain elements of the Spanish nobility, given Spain's rapid decline.
 
Emperor Leopold I had two daughters by his wife Claudia Feliticas, however both of them died young, and then his second wife died in 1676.

If one of his daughters had been born a boy, named either Ferdinand or Leopold, what might this have changed? I imagine Leopold might wish to marry again, to secure the succession both for the Holy Roman Empire and for the Habsburg's hereditary Austrian possessions.

When it came time for the Spanish War of Succession, would Leopold support his son by Claudia' and any potential claim he could make to the throne, or would he support a younger son by a third marriage for the throne?

If this kid was born in say 1675, in place of their otl daughter Maria Josepha, that would make him twenty-five when Carlos II does finally kick, he'd likely be married at that point if there is an option for a marriage, who could he marry? His brother Joseph's otl wife?

Having the kid be somewhat smart administratively, with an eye on reform, could make him appealing to certain elements of the Spanish nobility, given Spain's rapid decline.

Except he has a pretty weak claim to the Spanish throne - and his age would make it unlikely that he can marry somewhere in the hopes of shoring it up. Most likely, Leopold keeps that son for succeeding in the Habsburg hereditary domains and the empire, and takes a son from a third marriage as his candidate for the throne of Spain, or backs his daughter's claim and then his daughter's son's.
 
Except he has a pretty weak claim to the Spanish throne - and his age would make it unlikely that he can marry somewhere in the hopes of shoring it up. Most likely, Leopold keeps that son for succeeding in the Habsburg hereditary domains and the empire, and takes a son from a third marriage as his candidate for the throne of Spain, or backs his daughter's claim and then his daughter's son's.
Very true if Maria Antonia had a daughter of an age with one of leopolds sons by his third marriage I can see those two getting married
 
Ahaha this is true. Would you suggest that if Maria Antonia dies that Leopold push forward Joseph or Charles for the throne?

No, if she has kids like she did OTL, he'll use them ahead of Josef/Karl (which is what he planned to do OTL - Hell, he had Maria Antonia renounce her rights to the Spanish inheritance on three separate occasions (before her marriage, when her son was born and when she lay dying)).
 
No, if she has kids like she did OTL, he'll use them ahead of Josef/Karl (which is what he planned to do OTL - Hell, he had Maria Antonia renounce her rights to the Spanish inheritance on three separate occasions (before her marriage, when her son was born and when she lay dying)).

This is true, and if those kids die as per otl, then what would he do?
 
I do think seeing an Emperor who has good administrative skills and is willing to listen to his advisors would be a good thing, especially, with all the potential conflicts building up in Europe at the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century.

As for who Leopold could marry, how about Joseph I's otl wife, Wilhemine, or if not her, how about Eleonora Farnese, daughter of Rannuccio II Farnese Duke of Parma?
 
I do think seeing an Emperor who has good administrative skills and is willing to listen to his advisors would be a good thing, especially, with all the potential conflicts building up in Europe at the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century.

As for who Leopold could marry, how about Joseph I's otl wife, Wilhemine, or if not her, how about Eleonora Farnese, daughter of Rannuccio II Farnese Duke of Parma?

OTL Josef I basically fits the bill for your description. He just died young and was succeeded by his doltish brother because he had no son. If he had had a son, and the son was half as capable as he was, then we might be doing well. Especially since from what I can make out, Josef and Wilhelmine both were rather strong political personalities, as opposed to Karl VI who could've been much better if his wife had been the one ruling.
 
OTL Josef I basically fits the bill for your description. He just died young and was succeeded by his doltish brother because he had no son. If he had had a son, and the son was half as capable as he was, then we might be doing well. Especially since from what I can make out, Josef and Wilhelmine both were rather strong political personalities, as opposed to Karl VI who could've been much better if his wife had been the one ruling.

Alright interesting, in that case then, if Josef I himself had not caught syphillis or measles and actually lived beyond 1712, would that have potentially made it easier for the Empire to reform and improve, and perhaps aid his brother more in terms of gaining the Spanish throne?
 
Alright interesting, in that case then, if Josef I himself had not caught syphillis or measles and actually lived beyond 1712, would that have potentially made it easier for the Empire to reform and improve, and perhaps aid his brother more in terms of gaining the Spanish throne?

Aiding his brother belongs in cloudcuckoo land. England and the Netherlands are pulling out in the early 1710s (Josef I's death just gave them a face-saving method of doing so) whether Austria wants them to or not. So Josef's not going to aid any more than he did until 1711, and by then France is starting to bounce back (Denain - the battle which saved France). Most likely, Josef will be smarter about the alt-Utrecht. And his brother is relegated to a mere archduke, probably ruling the Austrian Netherlands or Naples (if Austria holds onto them)
 
Aiding his brother belongs in cloudcuckoo land. England and the Netherlands are pulling out in the early 1710s (Josef I's death just gave them a face-saving method of doing so) whether Austria wants them to or not. So Josef's not going to aid any more than he did until 1711, and by then France is starting to bounce back (Denain - the battle which saved France). Most likely, Josef will be smarter about the alt-Utrecht. And his brother is relegated to a mere archduke, probably ruling the Austrian Netherlands or Naples (if Austria holds onto them)

Okay interesting. I think seeing Charles in Naples would be good, as well as MIlan as well I think. There'd likely be some form of war later on over Italy though, as Felipe would want those lands back
 
Okay interesting. I think seeing Charles in Naples would be good, as well as MIlan as well I think. There'd likely be some form of war later on over Italy though, as Felipe would want those lands back

Except Karl was an idiot. Scratch what I said about him before. I wouldn't trust him to rule Liechtenstein, let alone Naples or the Netherlands... But Josef might feel otherwise, and that his brother is entitled to something. Although he was bargaining on giving the kingdom of Corsica to Infante Manuel of Portugal, so it's not impossible that he'd put Karl in a ruling position but hamstring him in such a way that he's no more powerful than a mere governor, not a viceroy.
 
Except Karl was an idiot. Scratch what I said about him before. I wouldn't trust him to rule Liechtenstein, let alone Naples or the Netherlands... But Josef might feel otherwise, and that his brother is entitled to something. Although he was bargaining on giving the kingdom of Corsica to Infante Manuel of Portugal, so it's not impossible that he'd put Karl in a ruling position but hamstring him in such a way that he's no more powerful than a mere governor, not a viceroy.

Hmm interesting, so somewhere such as the Austrian Netherlands, rather than Naples? Or perhaps Milan
 
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