Francia Invicta

Lately, I've been reading a history of the Austrian Habsburgs, and in the process, I've come upon an interesting idea for a TL:
Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I was known to be sickly most of his life; in 1670, he fell gravely ill and nearly died of fever, though he miraculously recovered. So, what if things had gone differently, and the Emperor had died in 1670?

Obviously, this would have massive consequences for Europe. His only surviving child at the time was Maria Antonia, born the year before; further, the only other remaining Habsburgs would be the wife of Leopold, Margarita Teresa (b. 1651) and the mentally handicapped King Carlos II of Spain (b. 1661). And, as there is no precedent in Austria for female succession, well, the possibilities are endless...

I doubt the ambitious King Louis XIV would be able to resist the opportunities now present for him. There'd be a war of course, for Austrian succession, but I'm sure that the infant Maria Antonia would end up with most of her father's possessions: Hungary, Bohemia and Austria, with her mother as regent. However, as King Carlos II of Spain is both mentally ill and a minor at this time, I sincerely doubt the electors would jump at the chance of giving him the imperial crown. Elector Ferdinand Maria of Bavaria, a French ally, would probably be elected emperor, much to the pleasure of Louis XIV, I would imagine. Queen Maria Antonia will most likely marry his son, Maximilian, as she does in OTL.

This means that France could end up profitting quite handsomely, especially with the pro-French Charles II on the British throne. Louis XIV would probably be able to seize the Spanish Netherlands somewhat easily in the Franco-Dutch War (which is bound to happen still, and all the more so).

And then, of course, there'd be the War of Spanish Succession, which I am quite sure would not be butterflied away...

France could become very powerful indeed, much more so than in OTL.

What does everyone think? Any suggestions? I'm curious to start a discussion on this...
 
The old Habsburg-McCoy fued huh?

Perhaps with a marriage alliance a decade or two in the future, there could be a House of Bourbon-Habsburg. If that happened, France would be unstoppable in the 18th Century on the Continent. Could they have the manpower to expand their colonies, or would the French Army have a full time job just holding down territory in Europe.
 
The old Habsburg-McCoy fued huh?

Perhaps with a marriage alliance a decade or two in the future, there could be a House of Bourbon-Habsburg. If that happened, France would be unstoppable in the 18th Century on the Continent. Could they have the manpower to expand their colonies, or would the French Army have a full time job just holding down territory in Europe.

It'd be the House of Habsburg-Bourbon. The House of Bourbon-Habsburg implies that the Bourbon male line died out, that the senior female line married into the Habsburg line, and that the Bourbon line had more precedent then the Habsburg line.
 
That's a very intriguing scenario. We've already discussed it on an earlier thread, with some interesting consequences:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=97309
Of course, it doesn't mean that people shouldn't post new ideas here.:eek:

Ah, mea culpa :eek:
Still, an interesting scenario; I'm surprised it didn't catch on more...

So, Endymion, will you pick this up and run with it?
Would be intriguing to say the least on how the French Century turns out :D
 
Fascinating idea. But I'm not sure I would bet on French hegemony. Wouldn't the powers of Europe be arrayed against them even more so? Hrmm.
 
Fascinating idea. But I'm not sure I would bet on French hegemony. Wouldn't the powers of Europe be arrayed against them even more so? Hrmm.

I think this would only happen later. After all, by the 1670's France wouldn't have any major power to stop them. The Austrian Habsburgs are extinct, Bavaria is a French ally, Spain is weakened and under the rule of a deformed child king, the king of England is pro-French... Who would oppose them? At least for two decades Louis XIV would have a chance of build a French hegemony without any major power to oppose him.
 
I think this would only happen later. After all, by the 1670's France wouldn't have any major power to stop them. The Austrian Habsburgs are extinct, Bavaria is a French ally, Spain is weakened and under the rule of a deformed child king, the king of England is pro-French... Who would oppose them? .

But what will he do with this opportunity? Conquering all of Germany seems a bit unlikely - and if he were to, say, obliterate the Dutch Netherlands as an independent state, this will, I think, be enough to make his allies rather nervous.

Bruce
 
But what will he do with this opportunity? Conquering all of Germany seems a bit unlikely - and if he were to, say, obliterate the Dutch Netherlands as an independent state, this will, I think, be enough to make his allies rather nervous.

Bruce

I think he would use this opportunity to have a Bourbon or an Orleans as the heirs of Spain, and try to grab Southern Netherlands, Milan or Naples. I'm not sure if he would try to obliterate the Dutch independence, but even if he tries, with the end of the Habsburgs and the conflicts to ensure who would get what from their former domains, who would be powerful enough to stop him?
 
I think this would only happen later. After all, by the 1670's France wouldn't have any major power to stop them. The Austrian Habsburgs are extinct, Bavaria is a French ally, Spain is weakened and under the rule of a deformed child king, the king of England is pro-French... Who would oppose them? At least for two decades Louis XIV would have a chance of build a French hegemony without any major power to oppose him.

Sweden, possibly... although Louis XIV could probably buy their cooperation. Again. In OTL, he did so in 1672 concerning the Netherlands, but the prospect of a united Austro-Frankish empire might be sufficiently threatening to Swedish interests that they would be unwilling to do so for a price acceptable to France.
 
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