alternatehistory.com

The following is a first draft, centered around a few maps:

It is a sad day in Schönbrunn Castle: The young Archduchess Sophia died in childbirth today. The child, that a midwife, following his mothers last request had baptized Franz-Josef, died only a quater of an hour later.
Her husband Archduke Franz-Karl might be one of the less grive-strucken. He never really loved his wife and within two years he will marry again (an unimportant countess that shares his love for the theater).
Much more sorrowful is Clemens von Metternicht the chancellor. Unlike her husband who had no sense for politics and his weak-willed brother Emperor Ferdinand, Archduchess Sophia was strong, intelligent and a born leaderess. And the house of Habsburg would have needed such qualities in times to come. Metternicht had for years fought to preserve the balance of powers and stall upcoming political changes. Nobody knew better than he that Europe was a barrel of gunpowder ready to explode.

220px-1805_Sophie.JPG
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