Orange War of Succession?

In 1660 Mary, Princess of Orange, mother of William III, Prince of Orange (future King of England), died of smallpox. William obviously didn't die and became a central figure in European politics.

However what if William had been with his mother in London where she contracted the illness, or he contracts it in the Netherlands at around the same time. This leaves the next person in line to be either William III's aunt, Countess Louise Henriette of Nassau - also married to the Duke of Prussia, - or the nearest male candidate is William's cousin Henry Casimir, son of Albertine Agnes and who's only 3 years old.

My question is, how would the succession go? The wars in the east are over by this point, so could the Prussian Duke try and help install his wife as the Princess of Orange, and would the Dutch accept her? Or would they rather go for a male candidate, despite his age?

If they go for Henry Casimir, would Louise Henriette try and force her claim, or would she merely accept the decision. If she doesn't who would the Dutch themselves support, would we see a civil war, or would it be more of a Prussian invasion of the Netherlands?
 

HJ Tulp

Donor
In 1660 Mary, Princess of Orange, mother of William III, Prince of Orange (future King of England), died of smallpox. William obviously didn't die and became a central figure in European politics.

However what if William had been with his mother in London where she contracted the illness, or he contracts it in the Netherlands at around the same time. This leaves the next person in line to be either William III's aunt, Countess Louise Henriette of Nassau - also married to the Duke of Prussia, - or the nearest male candidate is William's cousin Henry Casimir, son of Albertine Agnes and who's only 3 years old.

My question is, how would the succession go? The wars in the east are over by this point, so could the Prussian Duke try and help install his wife as the Princess of Orange, and would the Dutch accept her? Or would they rather go for a male candidate, despite his age?

If they go for Henry Casimir, would Louise Henriette try and force her claim, or would she merely accept the decision. If she doesn't who would the Dutch themselves support, would we see a civil war, or would it be more of a Prussian invasion of the Netherlands?

The position of Stadholder of the Provinces wasn't hereditary at that point. As per IOTL after the death of Willem III the Estates would wash their hands clean of a dynastical quibble.

Willem III not surviving childhood could very well be the final nail on the coffin of Orangist rule over the Netherlands. The Stadholder of Friesland (also a Nassau) was the one would lead an army against Amterdam so his line is pretty much out as well.
 
The position of Stadholder of the Provinces wasn't hereditary at that point. As per IOTL after the death of Willem III the Estates would wash their hands clean of a dynastical quibble.

Willem III not surviving childhood could very well be the final nail on the coffin of Orangist rule over the Netherlands. The Stadholder of Friesland (also a Nassau) was the one would lead an army against Amterdam so his line is pretty much out as well.
True, but what would happen with the Prince of Orange succession, whih I believe is seperate from the Statholders? And would whoever takes over as the Prince allow the Statholders to take over so much, or could we see another attempt by the Orange group to take more power as William II tried?
 
True, but what would happen with the Prince of Orange succession, whih I believe is seperate from the Statholders? And would whoever takes over as the Prince allow the Statholders to take over so much, or could we see another attempt by the Orange group to take more power as William II tried?
I don't realy understand your question. Basicly if (OTL) Willem III dies there won't be stadholder for quite a long time (if ever). Assuming no will is made, the king of Prussia* will inherit the titles of Willem III, which means he will get some titles in the Netherlands. This way he might be able to get some influence in the Netherlands, but not the influence a stadholder would have. Just the influence a Dutch noble would have. The king of Prussia would gain the title prince of Orange, which is nice for him, but that title alone holds no autority in the Netherlands, just in the principality of Orange, which was in the middle of France. Anyway there is no reason for any war to occur.



* I did not want to check out of laziness, but it is possible he wouldn't be king of Prussia yet
 
Question is what happens in 1672, assuming France still invades. Does the Netherlands go under, or is it saved by someone else?
 
I don't realy understand your question. Basicly if (OTL) Willem III dies there won't be stadholder for quite a long time (if ever). Assuming no will is made, the king of Prussia* will inherit the titles of Willem III, which means he will get some titles in the Netherlands. This way he might be able to get some influence in the Netherlands, but not the influence a stadholder would have. Just the influence a Dutch noble would have.
Indeed. He'd be the pre-eminent noble (by name even in Zeeland), but nothing beyond that. The Oranges were very canny in extending their influence throughout the power structures instead of going for a purely top-down hierarchy (they had to be due to the nature of the Republic); however, that influence was crowned by powerful the positions of the stadholderate of most provinces and the Captain/Admiral-Generalcy. Without those, the heirs to the Orange estate have just influence, not power.

Maybe there'd be something interesting if William III's will was altered to make Willem-Frederik, the stadholder of Friesland, his heir. It wouldn't be too dissimilar from what he did himself several decades later. That does require the slight absurdity of a ten year old with a last will and testament.
 
Question is what happens in 1672, assuming France still invades. Does the Netherlands go under, or is it saved by someone else?
I think someone else can do what Willem III did. I could see the Frisian stadholder do the same, Actualy since Brandenburg-Prussia now has some minor investments in the Netherlands, I think they can get involved even more easily than OTL. Assuming it still happens. Part of the plans for the Netherlands Loeuis and Charles had was to install William III in the Netherlands as a Franco-British puppet (Obviously Willem III did not like that idea).

I think that no glorious revolution is a more relevant factor.
 
I think that no glorious revolution is a more relevant factor.

very relevant, because the decline that happened during the period that willem became king william might not happen.

And lets face it, the glorious revolution was only such in name.
In reality it was a successful invasion of the UK. Maybe instead they still invade the UK with success, and carve it up.
 
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