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Between 1598 and 1621, the Hapsburg Netherlands were jointly ruled by Archduke Albert of Austria and the Infanta Isabella. Sovereignty over them passed to Spain upon the death of Albert in 1621 because the couple had no children.

However, the instrument of cession which had given the Hapsburg Netherlands to the couple stated that if a male child were born, he would inherit. If a female child inherited, she would have to marry whoever the Spanish King insisted she marry. For the purposes of this WI, lets pass over the possibility of yet another intra-Hapsburg wedding and say that Albert and Isabella have a son in 1600. When will this son, who we'll call Maximilian, inherit? In 1621 upon his father's death, or will he have to wait until his mother (co-soverign with his father) passes away in 1633? Either way, he will be of age. Who does he marry? What effect does this have on European history after 1600, with a Hapsburg-ruled, yet independent Flanders?
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