The Original "Power Couple"

Maria Theresa was Friedrich's first choice for who he wanted to marry, so one who assume he intended to have a son with her, or else he be planning to have Prussia inherited by his nephew and Austria to either the House of Lorraine via Maria Anna or the House of Wittelsbach, via Maria Amalia.

But would Maria Anna still marry Charles Alexander of Lorraine ITTL? After all, the she might have knew him since childhood, but only felt in love for Charles after her sister was already married to his brother Francis. And her father didn't approve the union, that could only be done after the death of Charles VI. I think it's more likely ITTL to have Maria Anna marrying the first husband was chosen for her, Infante Felipe of Spain, future Duke of Parma.
 
But would Maria Anna still marry Charles Alexander of Lorraine ITTL? After all, the she might have knew him since childhood, but only felt in love for Charles after her sister was already married to his brother Francis. And her father didn't approve the union, that could only be done after the death of Charles VI. I think it's more likely ITTL to have Maria Anna marrying the first husband was chosen for her, Infante Felipe of Spain, future Duke of Parma.
Yes but that means that there is the possibility of a Bourbon on the Austrian Throne and that makes my head hurt... a lot. So I choose to ignore it, and life in my happy little world where Maria Anna still marries Charles of Lorraine.
 
Maria Theresa was Friedrich's first choice for who he wanted to marry, so one who assume he intended to have a son with her, or else he be planning to have Prussia inherited by his nephew and Austria to either the House of Lorraine via Maria Anna or the House of Wittelsbach, via Maria Amalia.

Actually, this is where some questions start to mount up:

1. Would Frederick absolutely be forced to renounce his claim to the Prussian throne were he to marry Maria Theresa? Was there any flexibility in that?

2. Would Frederick have to renounce BOTH the crown of Prussia AND his father's position as Elector of Brandenburg? This is important as it would make the power struggle after Charles VI's death even more complicated. (Especially if...)

3. How would the Habsburg-Hohenzollern union affect the covetous Wittelsbachs?

Remember, while Frederick, OTL, was the first to pounce (The Silesian War) it was actually the Charles Albert of the House of Wittelsbach, Elector of Bavaria that invaded the German Habsburg possesions. The Wittlesbachs controlled three votes amongst the Prince-electors: Charles Albert, as Elector of Bavaria, his brother Clemens August, Elector of Cologne and his cousin Charles III Philip, Elector of Palatine.

Conversely, The House of Habsburg-Hohenzollern would control (at the death of Charles VI: The Elector of Brandenberg (either Frederick or his brother Augustus William, depending on what Frederick could or couldn't inherit) and the vote of Elector vote of the Bohemian crown, provided they can get Maria Theresa the crown and considering the moves made by Charles Albert in summer of 1741, they'll be forced to fight for it. Couple that with the loyalty of Franz Georg, Archbishop and Elector of Trier, that makes three, (provide they can secure the Bohemian crown) with another vote pretty locked up the minute Charles Albert signs the Treaty of Nymphenburg and invades Habsburg territories: King Geroge II, King of Britain and Elector of Hanover, bound to the Habsburg-Hohenzollerns by the Anglo-Austrian Alliance of 1731, which also soon sees British troops heading for the continent and the fleet put to sea chasing French (as well as Spanish, who they were already at war with, War of Jenkin's Ear) ships.

Votes oustanding:

Phillip Karl von Eltz, Elector of Mainz and Augustus III, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony.

Here's where things get complicated and neccessitate the first two questions:

If Frederick absolutely must concede BOTH the crown of Prussia and inheritance of the position as Elector of Brandenberg, his brother, Augustus William assumes both on the death of their father in 1740. Obviously, Augustus William back his brother and sister-in-law in the conflict...but if Frederick can retain both titles, as King of Prussia and Elector of Brandenberg, he has the electoral vote himself AND controls the armies of the Habsburgs AND Prussia, without having to go through his brother to direct the Prussian forces.

This would definately have an effect on his overall strategy against the Wittelsbachs and their Bourbon allies marching east. One of Frederick's prime motivations for seizing Silesia OTL was to deny Augustus III the chance to use it to connect Saxony and Poland.

This also presents an intriguing prospect for the Houses of Habsburg-Hohenzollern and Hohenzollern: a successful defense of Bohemia and Upper Austria, coupled with a crushing victory over Saxony-Poland could see Frederick install Augustus William as Elector of Saxony and, with his own vote as Elector of Brandenberg, Maria Theresa's vote as Queen of Bohemia, Franz Georg's vote as Elector of Mainz and the vote of King Geroge II, as Elector of Hanover, gives the Habsburg-Hohenzollerns five votes amongst the Prince Electors and secures the Imperial Crown for...?

I'm at a loss here. Frederick and MT could make Augustus William Emporer, with MT gaining full recognition as Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Bohemia as a compromise if it will create a lasting peace. Then again, if Frederick had to renounce the Prussian crown, I doubt he'll settle for anything less than the Imperial Crown for himself, with his wife maintaining her rightful hereditary positions under the Pragmatic Sanctions of 1713.

Unless, off course, Frederick decides the Wittlesbachs need to be punished and the war drags on until each branch of the House is driven into exile in France, to be replaced by other houses, willing to accept a continous line of succession through the House of Habsburg-Hohenzollern, an elimination of the Prince-electors for purposes of determining Emporers, (retained as The High Offices, however) and the imposition of a stronger more centralized Imperial government. (Beginings of the German Empire?)

I don't know, ther HRE was a mess and the twists and turns of German politics of the era can burn a person out quickly. I'm not sure if what much of what I just posted makes sense.

Thoughts?
 
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