No War of the Spanish Succession

What if Carlos II had done better in the genetic draw and managed to have an heir? How would this affect history?
 
Napoleon would have had one less distraction to throw his troops at, and perhaps less antagonism from the Prussians. If I'm remembering correctly.
 
Napoleon is probably butterflied away.

Spain was in desperate need for reforms. When would the Habsburgs introduce them?
 
Considering the discussion in the Chat forum about Charles II and his family tree, I decided to bump this ancient thread... of course, one could argue that the way the Spanish Hapsburgs were going, this dynasty wasn't going to end well, but hey...
 
The only thing I can imagine that could be worse for the Spanish Habsburgs than Charles II is his offspring.
 
To be fair there were some reforms in the late part of Charles II's reign that "announced" those of the following Bourbons but never as important. It was also a time when things that would be seen as anathema in other times were first proposed, like the idea of exchanging the decreasing Burgundian "homeland" for something else (most notably the Roussillon) or changing the status of the American colonies to something more regional and self-sufficient than the forever part of Castile thing. So I don't think that we should have an idea of a "frozen" late Hapsburg Spain perpetuating in any scenario, as there would be change anyway, but probably slower and less rupturist than that imported by the Bourbons. Things that would probably not happen woul be the transformation of the military system from Tercios to French-like Regimientos or the abolition of inner douanes and different laws between the crowns of Castile and Aragon, a la Austria-Hungary. Aside of the continued Spanish presence in Italy and the absence of a rigid alliance with France, I think the bigger effects would be in the Americas: rather than economic reforms to make trade more general and profitable for the homeland, the colonies would remain the economic burden they had become in the 17th century instead, which might be resolved as I said with more self-sufficiency for the colonies, thus in turn making them more stable once independence is achieved (which could came earlier too).
 
There is not a battle of Blenheim. Therefore John Churchill, whether or not he is created the Duke of Marlborough, would not have called any country house he built Blenheim Palace.
 
What if Carlos II had done better in the genetic draw and managed to have an heir? How would this affect history?

Well if u want Carlos II not to become so degenerated we must eliminate somehow the inbreeding and the incest amongst Habsburgs...
 

Susano

Banned
Well if u want Carlos II not to become so degenerated we must eliminate somehow the inbreeding and the incest amongst Habsburgs...

Not really, you just need an unfaithful wife at some point.

Err, no. Genetics is a lottery. With increasing incest the chances become worse, but a lucky draw always remains possible. Besides, look at the Bourbons, they intramarried just as much as the Habsburgs and never had many problems...
 
Well Louis XIV policies towards England and the Netherlands are really the key too avoiding the War of Spanish Succession. Philip V was recognized as Spain's rightful monarch by everyone, except the Austrians. Louis made some pretty bizarre moves as in recognizing James II heir as the rightful king of England, and cutting off Dutch and English commercial interests in the Spanish Empire. Without these factors their will be no Grand Alliance against France and Spain. France would also have had give Austria Spain's Italian possessions, and recognize Austria's control of the Spanish Netherland's.

In OTL Britain acquired Gibraltar as a result of the war and greatly expanded her holdings in North America and the West Indies.
 
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