The Widower Merrie Monarch?

WI Catherine of Braganza's illness of 1663 had been fatal? Charles II will need to marry again. Who might make a good match for him?

If you can keep the war between France and Spain, ragging on well into the 1660's have Maria Theresa of Spain, daughter of Philip IV of Spain and Elisabeth of France, marry Charles instead of Louis XIV of France.

If Christine of France, was the daughter of Henry IV of France and Marie de' Medici, thought that marrying her only living child, Princess Henriette Adelaide of Savoy, to King Charles II of England, you could see Britain gain the Kingdom of Savoy?
 
Well, I was thinking that in '63/'64 Margarita Teresa might make a match for Charles II if Spain were interested in detaching England from her alliance with Portugal.

Likewise Margherita Violante of Savoy is still up for grabs. Though Anna Sofia of Denmark might be an interesting option...
 
What about a domestic match? Lady Frances Stewart was reportedly being pursued by Charlie during the nights while he spent the days at Catherine's bedside.
 
This website about the diary of Samuel Pepys gives some ideas of matches that were being talked about at the time : http://www.pepysdiary.com/indepth/2006/08/30/queen-catherines-il/

Apparently many at the time thought that he would marry Frances Stewart out of love, but I think this piece is very interesting:

"The more politically seasoned French Ambassador, de Lionne “told Louis that the meanest of the courtiers was busy in selecting a new wife for Charles, and that the daughter of the Prince de Ligne, to whom Charles had been reported to be attached during his exile, was confidently spoken of. This would be an alliance greatly backed by Spain, who had had enough of England as Portugal’s ally”. (Davidson, p. 203). Where Charles was so cash strapped choosing between love, money and political alliances only added to the dimensions the courtiers had to consider."

Does anyone have information about this princess? I couldn't find any.
 
de Ligne would make an interesting candidate.

That said, what about the other ladies who were proposed for Charles at various points? Maria Maddalena/Caterina Farnese, and I'm not sure if this was an actual proposal, but in Velasco's TL Prospero's Prosperity D. Felipe IV proposes the Dowager Empress (the younger Eleonora Gonzaga).

It does seem odd though, that la Grande Mademoiselle or the still single Mademoiselle d'Alençon weren't offered by the French court.
 
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