Joseph II of Austria dies in 1767?

One for all the Austrophiles here. Apparently a smallpox epidemic struck the House of Habsburg in 1767 with several members getting sick. What if the Emperor Joseph II caught it and died? (Maybe it doesn't have to be that disease but some other or a fatal accident). What would be the results for the Habsburg Monarchy and its future?
 
Leopold II begins his reign earlier. I think that might be a boon for Austria. Gives her some stability and avoids foreign entanglements (vis-a-vis Russia & the Ottomans). Maybe able to introduce the necessary reforms in a manner more palatable to the realms. Side note for those more familiar (and i don't mean to detract from the actual topic) what's up with Vienna and Smallpox epidemics, basically from Ferdinand III down to Maria Theresia into Joseph II's era, smallpox was all the rage?
 
One for all the Austrophiles here. Apparently a smallpox epidemic struck the House of Habsburg in 1767 with several members getting sick. What if the Emperor Joseph II caught it and died? (Maybe it doesn't have to be that disease but some other or a fatal accident). What would be the results for the Habsburg Monarchy and its future?

I wonder, wouldn't Leopold (who only has a daughter by this point), succeed as king of the Romans, Ferdinand become grand duke of Tuscany, and Max (who knows), since I doubt he'll take Ferdinand's place as Maria Beatrice's bridegroom (she was originally matched to Leopold II, then when Archduke Karl died, he married Karl's intended (Maria Luisa of Naples-Spain) and her engagement shifted to Ferdinand), but Modena might get given over to him (Max) and Beatrice's kids if it does happen, in order to avoid a PU with Tuscany.
 
I wonder, wouldn't Leopold (who only has a daughter by this point), succeed as king of the Romans, Ferdinand become grand duke of Tuscany, and Max (who knows), since I doubt he'll take Ferdinand's place as Maria Beatrice's bridegroom (she was originally matched to Leopold II, then when Archduke Karl died, he married Karl's intended (Maria Luisa of Naples-Spain) and her engagement shifted to Ferdinand), but Modena might get given over to him (Max) and Beatrice's kids if it does happen, in order to avoid a PU with Tuscany.

OK, so Ferdinand inherits Tuscany and probably has a regent for a couple of years. Who does he marry if Maximilian gets to marry the Este princess and inherits Modena?
And does anyone have any ideas how would Leopold and Maria Theresa cooperate? Are Leopold's succession and election secure? Any butterflies on the partitions of Poland? And of course with probably no Austro-Turkish war of 1787 and no Bavarian succession war how do things change?
 
I wonder, wouldn't Leopold (who only has a daughter by this point), succeed as king of the Romans, Ferdinand become grand duke of Tuscany, and Max (who knows), since I doubt he'll take Ferdinand's place as Maria Beatrice's bridegroom (she was originally matched to Leopold II, then when Archduke Karl died, he married Karl's intended (Maria Luisa of Naples-Spain) and her engagement shifted to Ferdinand), but Modena might get given over to him (Max) and Beatrice's kids if it does happen, in order to avoid a PU with Tuscany.

OK, so Ferdinand inherits Tuscany and probably has a regent for a couple of years. Who does he marry if Maximilian gets to marry the Este princess and inherits Modena?
And does anyone have any ideas how would Leopold and Maria Theresa cooperate? Are Leopold's succession and election secure? Any butterflies on the partitions of Poland? And of course with probably no Austro-Turkish war of 1787 and no Bavarian succession war how do things change?

Not sure that Maria Theresia would agree to that. Leopold will definitely inherit the title of king of the Romans should Josef leave no surviving issue. Tuscany likely ends up in a personal union with the Holy Roman Empire for another reign (or at least until Leopold has a second son reach his majority). However, should Maria Theresia set the Habsburg caroussel in motion again - she might see someone (like France) having an issue with Austria controlling a block of territory in northern Italy. There were plans to marry Ferdinando, duke of Parma (grandson of Louis XV) to Maria Beatrice. And since, in 1767, Ferdinand and Maria Beatrice as well as Ferdinando and his Austrian wife, are not yet married, so the entirety of the Bourbon-Habsburg matches not yet finalized (the king of Naples, duke of Parma and the dauphin) might end up at risk.
 
Leopold II begins his reign earlier. I think that might be a boon for Austria. Gives her some stability and avoids foreign entanglements (vis-a-vis Russia & the Ottomans). Maybe able to introduce the necessary reforms in a manner more palatable to the realms. Side note for those more familiar (and i don't mean to detract from the actual topic) what's up with Vienna and Smallpox epidemics, basically from Ferdinand III down to Maria Theresia into Joseph II's era, smallpox was all the rage?
Please correct me if I am wrong. But Josef II was the reform minded "Enlightened Despot" along with Frederick the Great and Catherine the Great during the Age if reason. Didn't Leopold II in his very short two year reign in real time reverse many of his brothers reforms to please his and the aristorcracy's conservative social and political agenda? If anything a longer Leopold II reign might create a more conservative and absolutist state that might even fire up the masses not unlike the French third estate was fired up by 1789. At least many of the Hapsburg Empires peasants tasted enough enlightened reforms such as Freedom of Religion, ending of serfdom, etc., from Josef II, successful or not, that they didn't revolt in the same manner as did the French.

So would a longer Leopold II reign create a wider gap between the masses and the conservative and real time line similar reaction as happened in France in 1789? Perhaps a much wider revolution in other parts of Europe not just France.
 
Please correct me if I am wrong. But Josef II was the reform minded "Enlightened Despot" along with Frederick the Great and Catherine the Great during the Age if reason. Didn't Leopold II in his very short two year reign in real time reverse many of his brothers reforms to please his and the aristorcracy's conservative social and political agenda? If anything a longer Leopold II reign might create a more conservative and absolutist state that might even fire up the masses not unlike the French third estate was fired up by 1789. At least many of the Hapsburg Empires peasants tasted enough enlightened reforms such as Freedom of Religion, ending of serfdom, etc., from Josef II, successful or not, that they didn't revolt in the same manner as did the French.

So would a longer Leopold II reign create a wider gap between the masses and the conservative and real time line similar reaction as happened in France in 1789? Perhaps a much wider revolution in other parts of Europe not just France.

Based on what I came across, Leopold and Joseph were similar in that regard. The difference was that Leopold was a bit more cautious compared to Joseph. One sourcehttp://www.habsburger.net/en/chapter/pietro-leopoldo-grand-duke-tuscany?language=de

The concessions made after Joseph II's death were due to the internal & external troubles that Austria faced. At war, food shortage in the capital, revolts in the A. Nederlands & Hungary and an unperforming army at war with the ottomans with Prussia ready to attack Austria for more territory.
 
Based on what I came across, Leopold and Joseph were similar in that regard. The difference was that Leopold was a bit more cautious compared to Joseph. One sourcehttp://www.habsburger.net/en/chapter/pietro-leopoldo-grand-duke-tuscany?language=de

The concessions made after Joseph II's death were due to the internal & external troubles that Austria faced. At war, food shortage in the capital, revolts in the A. Nederlands & Hungary and an unperforming army at war with the ottomans with Prussia ready to attack Austria for more territory.
Thank you for the additional information. That cleared up my confusion. Thank you also for the link, I plan to look it over.
 
At least many of the Hapsburg Empires peasants tasted enough enlightened reforms such as Freedom of Religion, ending of serfdom, etc., from Josef II, successful or not, that they didn't revolt in the same manner as did the French.

Which they weren't too fond of , especially when he started micromanaging and saying they couldn't bake gingerbread, wear corsets or how their funerals should look. And they did revolt - they just weren't as successful as their buddies in France - establishing the United Belgian States in 1790
 
I think who if Joseph will die before Leopold had sons who can replace him in Tuscany, Ferdinand will be one the new Grand Duke and will still marry Maria Beatrice and their eldest son will became the heir of both his parents because there are not any reason for dividing the lands (while Tuscany and the Austrian’s lands were never in personal union and likely can not be held by the same person)
 
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