Maximilian as King of Spain

[maverick]

Back in the day when I was a TL writer beginning in the world of Alternate History at OTL.com, the idea of putting Maximilian of Austria, son of Archduke Franz Karl and brother of Emperor Franz Josef in the throne of Spain after the Revolution of 1868 became interesting to me...

Thus, when I started TLs in the 19h century, I put Maximilian as King of Spain a couple of times, at least two I think, but I never stopped to wonder...Is this realistic?

Well, is it? the Bourbons take many cautions to keep the Hapsburg from returning to power, I think that Salic law in Castilla was one of them, but I can't really remember...

Now, if there's no Mexican adventure of if someone else takes the Spanish throne, would Maximilian be a viable candidate for the Throne of Spain? its not like Amadeo of Saboy had much going for him...

and more importantly, would he have been a good King? he was certainly liberal and would have had the support of the Progresistas and the Spanish left...but would this work out? He'd of course need another wife and an heir if he gets the throne...

 

[maverick]

I'm sorry...I meant what if George Washington had been crowned as King George I of the United Statas

 

[Gonzaga]

Now, if there's no Mexican adventure of if someone else takes the Spanish throne, would Maximilian be a viable candidate for the Throne of Spain? its not like Amadeo of Saboy had much going for him...

I don't know much about the subject, but Austria would like it, and France probably would support him, as it would avoid both Montpensier and Leopold. Personally I doubt he would do much better than Amadeo, but it would be a nice development if he keeps the throne.

He'd of course need another wife and an heir if he gets the throne...

That's true. But I think the most interesting scenario is they still marry and his wife lives as long as IOTL. If he doesn't have children, who would be chosen as his heir? Could he adopt someone, as he did with the Iturbides in Mexico? Of the Spanish would elect other king after his death (maybe it would be a wild card, but what about the stablishment of an elective Spanish monarchy?).

 

[Matthais Corvinus]

If Max's older brother is any indication I don't think that Spain will have to worry about who will be the heir for quite a while. Max would probably be able to outlive his first wife, and then possibly father a child. Or Maximilian could bring in some of his younger brother's sons or grandsons as potential heirs.

Perhaps in the late 19th century Max brings in one of his nephews over to Spain with their family, to become Spanishized (Iberized?), and to give the nephews' children legitimacy with the Spanish population.

I think Max is really well suited to be a European monarch. His ability to get Italian nationalists on side during his time in Italy points to a real ability to deal effectively with European liberals who accepted monarchy as a necessary part of government (versus Juarez & co., who didn't feel the same way).

Personally though, I'm still for Max as the father of the Brazilian Empire. Hapsburg-Braganza FOREVER.

 

[Gonzaga]

Max would probably be able to outlive his first wife, and then possibly father a child.

His first wife lived until 1927, being 87 years old then, and he was eight years her senior. Of course, you can always have one of those anarchists to kill her...

Personally though, I'm still for Max as the father of the Brazilian Empire. Hapsburg-Braganza FOREVER.

Oh, me too! Maybe I should write a TL based on this...

 

[Hierophant]

Back in the day when I was a TL writer beginning in the world of Alternate History at OTL.com, the idea of putting Maximilian of Austria, son of Archduke Franz Karl and brother of Emperor Franz Josef in the throne of Spain after the Revolution of 1868 became interesting to me...

Thus, when I started TLs in the 19h century, I put Maximilian as King of Spain a couple of times, at least two I think, but I never stopped to wonder...Is this realistic?

Well, is it? the Bourbons take many cautions to keep the Hapsburg from returning to power, I think that Salic law in Castilla was one of them, but I can't really remember...

Now, if there's no Mexican adventure of if someone else takes the Spanish throne, would Maximilian be a viable candidate for the Throne of Spain? its not like Amadeo of Saboy had much going for him...

and more importantly, would he have been a good King? he was certainly liberal and would have had the support of the Progresistas and the Spanish left...but would this work out? He'd of course need another wife and an heir if he gets the throne...

I don't think Castille had Salic law, so I don't think theres any problem there, they had several female rulers

 

[Matthais Corvinus]

I don't think Castille had Salic law, so I don't think theres any problem there, they had several female rulers

Specifically, Ferdinand VII changed the laws of succession put into place by his Bourbon ancestors in order to keep any other dynasty off the Spanish throne in order to allow him to put his daughter on the Spanish throne. Isabella II became queen regnant and Spain got to experience the Carlist Wars.

Is Max going to be able to maintain himself on the throne?

If Max doesn't accept the Mexican throne and go on that little adventure though, he is going to be in Austria when the Six Weeks' War goes down. The quick defeat of Austria and the loss of pretension to German leadership and the Italian territories really hurt Austria. With Max in the wings in '66 could Franz Josef be forced off the throne? Max's quite public liberalism and sympathy with local nationalism (see: his time in Italy) he may be seen by various ethnic lobbying groups as the far better alternative. The conservatism of the leadership around F-J had lurched Austria into disaster, why not try a liberal?

 

[Hierophant]

Specifically, Ferdinand VII changed the laws of succession put into place by his Bourbon ancestors in order to keep any other dynasty off the Spanish throne in order to allow him to put his daughter on the Spanish throne. Isabella II became queen regnant and Spain got to experience the Carlist Wars.

Is Max going to be able to maintain himself on the throne?

If Max doesn't accept the Mexican throne and go on that little adventure though, he is going to be in Austria when the Six Weeks' War goes down. The quick defeat of Austria and the loss of pretension to German leadership and the Italian territories really hurt Austria. With Max in the wings in '66 could Franz Josef be forced off the throne? Max's quite public liberalism and sympathy with local nationalism (see: his time in Italy) he may be seen by various ethnic lobbying groups as the far better alternative. The conservatism of the leadership around F-J had lurched Austria into disaster, why not try a liberal?

Ahh see I did not know the Bourbons changed Spanish succession, I was going off the precedent of Isabella I

 

[Matthais Corvinus]

Ahh see I did not know the Bourbons changed Spanish succession, I was going off the precedent of Isabella I

After the war of Spanish Succession, the new Bourbon King of Spain changed the Spanish rules of succession from their previous semi-salic law (the law that allowed Isabella I to rule) to Salic Law. This change was to keep the Hapsburgs (or anyone else) from claiming the Spanish throne.

Salic law continued to be the law of the land until Ferdinand VII changed it to allow his daughter Isabella II to succeed him. Ferdinand VII's brother Charles (Carlos), refused to accept the legitimacy of the changed succession law, and when Ferdinand VII died, made his own bid for the throne. The resulting Carlist Wars were the attempts of Carlos and his descendants to gain the throne that by Salic Law was theirs.

King Maximilian wasn't relying on any succession law for his own ascent to the Spanish throne, though I suppose that some kind of tortured logic could be used to link the Hapsburg to the throne (accepting that the Hapsburg claim was the better one in the Spanish War of Succession- though that would make F-J the claimant, wouldn't it?).

Anyway- If Max manages to stablize the monarchy and cling to his throne (completely doable)- then I think that he can probably bring in some other Hapsburgs as his heirs. His younger brother had children (though they ended up serving as their other uncle's successors- Franz Ferdinand and Emperor Charles I) and they had grandchildren. He might also use his neices' children as heirs. Basically, there are a lot of Hapsburg and (insert dynasty name)- Hapsburgs aound.