Not the Miracle Child

Apparently Louis XV was known as the miracle child when he was young. He was the only surviving heir of Louis XIV of France at the age of four, after all of his close relatives died from various diseases. He was only saved by the actions of his governess, who stopped doctors bleeding him. What if she had not been able to this?

According to Wikipedia if Louis XV-to be had died, the French throne would have passed to Philippe d'Orléans, the nephew of Louis XIV, but this would likely have been disputed by Philip V of Spain, who would probably have denounced the treaty under which he renounced the crown of France, leading to a major European war, as well as a French civil war.

So assuming that Louis XV had died at the age of four, leading to Philip V of Spain claiming the French throne and major war, what might the consequences have been for Europe and the world as whole?
 
England and Austria would be pleased to see France in troubles and to seek a way to destroy his power as an European power. However, they wouldn't like the idea of France and Spain unified under a single king, so they would support Orleans instead of Borbon.
 
A personal union of France and Spain... say, didn't we just have a war about that?

I'm pretty sure the French govt would find some way to prevent it. It's not in its interest to piss off the rest of Europe even more.
 
carlton_bach said:
A personal union of France and Spain... say, didn't we just have a war about that?

I'm pretty sure the French govt would find some way to prevent it. It's not in its interest to piss off the rest of Europe even more.

But L'etat, c'est moi. The "French government" is Phillip, and the "Spanish government" is Felipe. Other people matter only so much. Although with Britain and the HRE both acknowledging Orleans as the legitimate King, I don't think Spain will be able to reverse the Treaty of Utrecht. The only possible allies the Spanish could drum up are the Dutch, and I'm skeptical there.

So...a short war between only Spain and France, started by Spain and finished by France. What Spanish colony will France take as reparation?
 
ShawnEndresen said:
But L'etat, c'est moi. The "French government" is Phillip, and the "Spanish government" is Felipe. Other people matter only so much. Although with Britain and the HRE both acknowledging Orleans as the legitimate King, I don't think Spain will be able to reverse the Treaty of Utrecht. The only possible allies the Spanish could drum up are the Dutch, and I'm skeptical there.

So...a short war between only Spain and France, started by Spain and finished by France. What Spanish colony will France take as reparation?
Florida, Lousianne, Cuba...
 
Sorry for bumping...

I just thought this thread was interesting. I don't recall reading any rules against bumping.

Anyway, the result of Louis XV (as Louis, duke of Anjou) passing away depends on when he died. If it was in 1714 as said, Philip had smaller chances of becoming king than in 1712, when he hadn't given up his rights yet.
 
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