Infante Philip Duke of Calabria born without mental defects.

A question, if Infante Philip, Duke of Calabria, eldest son of Carlos III and Maria Amalia, was born without any sort of mental handicap, what sort of thing might have changed? Otl he was replaced as heir to the throne when by his brother Carlos, who became Carlos IV of Spain. If born without handicaps, who might be potential wives for him?
 
A question, if Infante Philip, Duke of Calabria, eldest son of Carlos III and Maria Amalia, was born without any sort of mental handicap, what sort of thing might have changed? Otl he was replaced as heir to the throne when by his brother Carlos, who became Carlos IV of Spain. If born without handicaps, who might be potential wives for him?

Same Austrian archduchesses (perhaps including the OTL duchess of Parma) as were considered for Fernando. I think the only reason why no archduchess was married to Carlos IV OTL was because Maria Theresia lacked a daughter suitable agewise. I suppose had Johanna or Josefa lived to marry Fernando, she would've probably sent Karoline to Madrid (if Carlos III had been willing). And before someone suggests Antoinette, she was always slated (from the cradle if one believes Antonia Fraser's biography) to marry back into France to ease the bad feeling between the house of Lorraine and the house of Bourbon.

As to what changes - the sons of Carlos (with the exception of Gabriele) were a singularly uninspiring lot. Even if he was 100%, Filippo is still likely to resemble Carlos IV/Ferdinando IV personality-wise.
 
Same Austrian archduchesses (perhaps including the OTL duchess of Parma) as were considered for Fernando. I think the only reason why no archduchess was married to Carlos IV OTL was because Maria Theresia lacked a daughter suitable agewise. I suppose had Johanna or Josefa lived to marry Fernando, she would've probably sent Karoline to Madrid (if Carlos III had been willing). And before someone suggests Antoinette, she was always slated (from the cradle if one believes Antonia Fraser's biography) to marry back into France to ease the bad feeling between the house of Lorraine and the house of Bourbon.

As to what changes - the sons of Carlos (with the exception of Gabriele) were a singularly uninspiring lot. Even if he was 100%, Filippo is still likely to resemble Carlos IV/Ferdinando IV personality-wise.
Okay very interesting, so he likely marries karoline of Austria and has a few kids with her.

And interesting you say they, what consequences could there be if he was a good administrator. Meaning he was good with his numbers and keeping things within budget?
 
I suppose a tangent to this would be what if Carlos IV dies young and before during children. Thus when Carlos iii dies it isn't Gabriel who succeeds him?
 
If Filippo were to marry an Austrian Archduchess then, as he was born in 1747 I think Maria Amalia (Duchess of Parma in OTL) would be a strong possibility as she was born in 1746 and was therefore an almost perfect fit agewise. In light of her adventures in Parma she would certainly make for an interesting choice!
 
If Filippo were to marry an Austrian Archduchess then, as he was born in 1747 I think Maria Amalia (Duchess of Parma in OTL) would be a strong possibility as she was born in 1746 and was therefore an almost perfect fit agewise. In light of her adventures in Parma she would certainly make for an interesting choice!

Oh very interesting. Let's say Philip is born without any mental defects, and has some common sense, has a similar administrative streak to his father and a desire to reform things, how might he get along with Maria Amalia?
 
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Quite well I would think. I believe that the issues in her marriage to Ferdinand of Parma were that he was 5 years younger, immature for his age and ruled a fairly insignificant duchy. Had Amalia been married to a man who was fairly bright and capable, and ruler of an Empire I think she would have liked it much better. One question is how much influence her husband would allow her to have. I think she would need to prove to him that she was capable of making sensible decisions.
 
Quite well I would think. I believe that the issues in her marriage to Ferdinand of Parma were that he was 5 years younger, immature for his age and ruled a fairly insignificant duchy. Had Amalia been married to a man who was fairly bright and capable, and ruler of an Empire I think she would have liked it much better. One question is how much influence her husband would allow her to have. I think she would need to prove to him that she was capable of making sensible decisions.

Oh definitely, and would most likely need to prove to him as well that she'd remain faithful. If I remember correctly, she almost immediately started having affairs, once she got to Parma. Though, I suppose if she hits it off with Philip from the off, then there's no likelihood she'd stray. I presume they'd get married around 1766 ish.
 
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