Ferdinand III has surviving sons with Eleonora Gonzaga

In my previous Habsburg thread:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/emperor-ferdinand-iv.437297/
survival of Ferdinand IV created enough butterflies to prevent Jan Sobieski from taking Polish throne, among other changes. So this time I'll try with Leopold's younger brothers and watch what I'll get. So in December 1654 Eleonora Gonzaga gave birth to healthly twins-daughter Maria Anna Josepha and son, Ferdinand Joseph Alois, in February 1657, another son, Maximilian Francis is born. So we still have Emperor Leopold and there should be little changes untill 1666-then Margaret Theresa is going to marry, ITTL Ferdinand Joseph could marry her instead of Leopold, and live with her in Spain as heir to the Spanish throne, Leopold could marry Claudia Felicitas as his first wife, just earlier than IOTL (with additional brothers he would not be in hurry) ATL they have one surviving daughter, born in 1671, Maria Antonia. Maximilian Francis would be expected to start carrier in the Church, but...
Leopold IOTL was seriously ill in 1675, say ITTL he hasn't recovered. By this time Ferdinand Joseph likely lives in Spain with Margaret Theresa and their kids (not as inbred like OTL Margaret's children), so should we expect 18 y.o. Max to succeede Leopold on Imperial throne?
 
In my previous Habsburg thread:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/emperor-ferdinand-iv.437297/
survival of Ferdinand IV created enough butterflies to prevent Jan Sobieski from taking Polish throne, among other changes. So this time I'll try with Leopold's younger brothers and watch what I'll get. So in December 1654 Eleonora Gonzaga gave birth to healthly twins-daughter Maria Anna Josepha and son, Ferdinand Joseph Alois, in February 1657, another son, Maximilian Francis is born. So we still have Emperor Leopold and there should be little changes untill 1666-then Margaret Theresa is going to marry, ITTL Ferdinand Joseph could marry her instead of Leopold, and live with her in Spain as heir to the Spanish throne, Leopold could marry Claudia Felicitas as his first wife, just earlier than IOTL (with additional brothers he would not be in hurry) ATL they have one surviving daughter, born in 1671, Maria Antonia. Maximilian Francis would be expected to start carrier in the Church, but...
Leopold IOTL was seriously ill in 1675, say ITTL he hasn't recovered. By this time Ferdinand Joseph likely lives in Spain with Margaret Theresa and their kids (not as inbred like OTL Margaret's children), so should we expect 18 y.o. Max to succeede Leopold on Imperial throne?

Wouldn't Karl Josef (b.1649) be offered for Margarita instead, assuming he also survives. If not then Ferdinand will be offered.

As to Leopold, I'm not sure about Klaudia Felizitas making it as his first wife. She/her branch of the family rather/her mom wasn't very popular in Vienna. If she hadn't become Leo's 2e wife, his 3e wife would've been vaunted into the seat sooner.

And with a POD in 1654, we might see Klaudia's dad surviving (I'm not sure what killed him in 1662), though I don't think he'll have more kids though, or her uncle surviving and having kids.
 
I decided to still let Karl to die young, problems would start in 1675. Ferdinand is older, but he's married to Spanish heiress, electors would preffer his younger brother, they don't want another wandering emperor like Charles V. So Ferdinand would be pissed, that younger Max has Imperial title, when he he still have nothing.
 
I decided to still let Karl to die young, problems would start in 1675. Ferdinand is older, but he's married to Spanish heiress, electors would preffer his younger brother, they don't want another wandering emperor like Charles V. So Ferdinand would be pissed, that younger Max has Imperial title, when he he still have nothing.
Has Carlos ii kicked it?
 
I decided to still let Karl to die young, problems would start in 1675. Ferdinand is older, but he's married to Spanish heiress, electors would preffer his younger brother, they don't want another wandering emperor like Charles V. So Ferdinand would be pissed, that younger Max has Imperial title, when he he still have nothing.

Makes sense. Anything to get away from the dratted in-breeding. If a half-uncle marriage is as good as it gets for Gretl its still better than a full uncle-niece match of OTL
 
I have idea: Ferdinand Joseph would marry Margaret around 1670, they'll have just one kid, boy named Philip, luckily born healthly in 1672, just few months after his birth Ferdinand dies, thus saving Margaret's live. Spanish Royal court had terrible doctors, true mass murderers-half of Habsburg Queens died in childbirth, when for general populace likehood of death in childbirth was 2% for every birth. So no more pregnancies = Margaret lives, unless she remarried. Meanwhile Max would be only adult Habsburg man besides Carlos II in 1675, so no controversy who should run for Imperial throne.
 
I have idea: Ferdinand Joseph would marry Margaret around 1670, they'll have just one kid, boy named Philip, luckily born healthly in 1672, just few months after his birth Ferdinand dies, thus saving Margaret's live. Spanish Royal court had terrible doctors, true mass murderers-half of Habsburg Queens died in childbirth, when for general populace likehood of death in childbirth was 2% for every birth. So no more pregnancies = Margaret lives, unless she remarried. Meanwhile Max would be only adult Habsburg man besides Carlos II in 1675, so no controversy who should run for Imperial throne.
Why did the habsburgs never get better doctors. Surely they knew about the population issue
 
Why did the habsburgs never get better doctors. Surely they knew about the population issue

Generally, 16-17th Century medicine had as much in common with science as astrology. @Kellan Sullivan once mentioned, that expulsion of Spanish Jews (thus Jewish doctors) worsened situation.
Spain had bad healthcare even in comparison to France (and French doctors left much to be desired). Their doctors operated on "pray and hope" basis to be honest.
 
Spain had bad healthcare even in comparison to France (and French doctors left much to be desired). Their doctors operated on "pray and hope" basis to be honest.
Maaan that’s shit luck for Spain, imagine if they’d not been so damn stupid aha
 
Maaan that’s shit luck for Spain, imagine if they’d not been so damn stupid aha

What I don't get about Spanish medicine, wasn't Vesalius or somebody house physician to Karl V/Felipe II? Why didn't he try to persuade them to establish a "good" medical school? Sure they can't do autopsies, but it might be better than what they had, wouldn't it?
 
What I don't get about Spanish medicine, wasn't Vesalius or somebody house physician to Karl V/Felipe II? Why didn't he try to persuade them to establish a "good" medical school? Sure they can't do autopsies, but it might be better than what they had, wouldn't it?
Short sightedness I imagine
 
So would Leopold wait for Eleonora Magdalena to marry for the first time? Being 30 by this time?
Likely no. His OTL first wife, however, can get betrothed to a cadet Austrian Habsburg without any hesistation, as it would remove any ambiguity regarding the Spanish succession rights.
By 1660-1665 the people who OTL lobbied for Eleonora Magdalena would likely lobby for one of her aunts (mentioned in previous thread).
There are also French pricesses (Orleans girls) to consider, as well as Catalina Farnese (the only other quasi-Habsburg, though the situation with her is messy, as was also mentioned in previous thread.
 
Leopold already had younger brother IOTL untill 1664, but not married untill 1666, having 3 younger brothers, he'll rather be less likely to marry earlier than IOTL.
 
Leopold already had younger brother IOTL untill 1664, but not married untill 1666, having 3 younger brothers, he'll rather be less likely to marry earlier than IOTL.
That's why 1665 as the earliest date - 1667-1668 for actual marriage, maybe even to Eleonora of Neuburg.
In between 1660-1665 the decision would be made who is to marry Margaret Theresa.
 
So if Leopold is is not in hurry and Claudia Felicitas is not popular choice for new Empress, then it is likely, that Claudia would marry Archduke Maximilian instead?
 
So if Leopold is is not in hurry and Claudia Felicitas is not popular choice for new Empress, then it is likely, that Claudia would marry Archduke Maximilian instead?

It's not impossible. Especially if Klaudia ends up as heiress like OTL. Also means that Leopold doesn't have to cut anything off the main branch's lands for his little brothers.
 
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