Portugal Avoids Its 1861 Anno Horribilis

[JonasResende]

1861 was a BAD year to be a Portuguese infante. Several male members of the royal house died before their time that year, nor were those who survived necessarily unaffected.

King Pedro V died on 11 November 1861, his brother, Infante Fernando had died a few days before (6 November); and the duque of Beja followed on 12 December. Which left two boys standing, Luiz, now king, and Augusto, duque de Coimbra.

And Augusto was reportedly "slow" IIRC thanks to the treatment of his illness in 1861. He never married, although he was considered for Isabel II's eldest daughter (who when she heard that they planned to marry her to him, threw a tantrum and screamed something about rather marrying a Carlist than "that idiot" IIRC).

So, what if Portugal has more infantes standing after 1861 (Pedro can still die, although that seems a pity. Not sure if he'd remarry though). Would João or Fernando be considered for their Brasilian cousins? Or would one of them be offered for Isabel II of Spain's daughter.

 

[Lusitania]

Well the death of king Pedro V was an omen over the Portuguese royals and even the prospects of economic reforms and progress for the kingdom.

King Pedro was very well liked and wether through a combination of luck or guided by him the country was in the midsts of a growth. Investment in education, health and growing economy contributed to the positive attitude of people towards the king. He also was perceived a genuine caring towards his subjects.

Therefore let’s say that he recovers from his illness and continues modernizing the country what would the result be?

 

[JonasResende]

Therefore let’s say that he recovers from his illness and continues modernizing the country what would the result be?

I admit that I don't know much about Portuguese history in general and about this period in particular. Here was my thread from a while back asking about Pedro's survival.

 

[Lusitania]

I admit that I don't know much about Portuguese history in general and about this period in particular. Here was my thread from a while back asking about Pedro's survival.

Yes your thread discussed the situation and implication of Pedro V survival as I envisioned them.

 

[JonasResende]

Yes your thread discussed the situation and implication of Pedro V survival as I envisioned them.

So no pink map (or a bigger push to colonize Africa before the Scramble starts, to put Portugal in a better position), more industrialization, less interference from the monarch...

I've read Queen Estefania was still a virgin when she died (but I'm not sure if I should believe this or not). Which is odd, she and her husband were both teenagers (and if his father, brother and maternal grandfather (not to mention his Coburg relations) were anything to go by, Pedro SHOULD have been a normal, healthy and horny young man. The point of a royal marriage was to get an heir (weren't the royal linens inspected the morning after the wedding night?), kinda hard if she's still intacta (Louis XVI didn't consummate immediately and it caused a scandal, why would Pedro's lack of performance be any less of one. And yet there's no real mention (besides that Estefania died a virgin) of a failure to rise to the occasion ( pun intended) from Pedro).

 

[Lusitania]

At one time I considered doing a TL about Pedro living but instead decided to go with marquis Pombal POD. It would still be interesting but I have too much on my plate with a pre 1900 and post 1900 TL going to contemplate it now.

 

[JonasResende]

At one time I considered doing a TL about Pedro living but instead decided to go with marquis Pombal POD. It would still be interesting but I have too much on my plate with a pre 1900 and post 1900 TL going to contemplate it now.

And unfortunately I know too little about the period. What about Pedro's little brothers? Coburg tendencies suggest they'd be unlikely to be left to while away the time as bachelors, so would we simply see them stepping into similar shoes as their other Kohary cousins? Maybe one gets included in the list of candidates for Romania or Bulgaria when those thrones fall vacant? And Pedro II originally wanted August of Coburg for Isabel (the comte d'Eu would get Leopoldina. Unfortunately when the boys got to Rio, and Pedro gave the girls the choice and each picked the other guy. Taking into account his own marriage, Pedro let them swap) but that was after his original preferences of Philippe, comte de Flandres and Pierre, duc de Penthièvre refused. So might he be more partial to one of his nephews (à la Pierre) from Portugal? Although I can't see ANYONE in Brasil going for it.