What now? We bury...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1755_Lisbon_earthquake

WI Portuguese king Joseph I, his wife Marianne de Borbon and the Marquis de Pombal had died during the 1755 Lisbon earthquake?

Bump!

The Portuguese dynasty would still be secured. The heir would be the princess Maria, who would became queen 22 years earlier than IOTL, and probably would still marry her uncle Pedro in order to continue the House of Braganza. The major difference would the the death of Pombal. Without his energy and modern views Portugal would probably be much more poor and undeveloped than IOTL. Probably a powerful noble would become Secretary of State - maybe the Duke of Aveiro?
 
Remember what we talked about in that thread about Brazil? Change the WI and have Pombal survive. Would he influence Maria to move her court to Brazil? Did he have any influence on her to begin with? If the move happens, keep in mind that the colonial capital of Brazil at that time was Bahia (Salvador); Rio de Janeiro would take its place in 1763 in OTL.

How would this influence the territorial disputes with Spain in South America? If the clash with Spain during the 7 Years' War still happens could it lead to a weaker defense of (European) Portugal?
 
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Remember what we talked about in that thread about Brazil? Change the WI and have Pombal survive. Would he influence Maria to move her court to Brazil? Did he have any influence on her to begin with? If the move happens, keep in mind that the colonial capital of Brazil at that time was Bahia (Salvador); Rio de Janeiro would take its place in 1763 in OTL.

How would this influence the territorial disputes with Spain in South America? If the clash with Spain during the 7 Years' War still happens could it lead to a weaker defense of (European) Portugal?

Well, Maria didn't like Pombal, one her first actions as queen IOTL was to dismiss him. Of course, the origin of her hatred towards Pombal was the Távoras' Affair, which happened after the POD, but I think that she was already deeply religious enough in 1755 to dislike Pombal's modern views. IOTL she didn't want to go to Brazil in 1807, but at that time she was old and insane. But now she would be young and still healthy, I think that she wouldn't accept.

But, if somehow they had made it, and the Seven Years War still happens in the schedule, then that would probably be a tragedy. Portugal would need to be neutral or would suffer a lot. IOTL the Spanish invaded the territories North of the Douro River, and in South America large parts of the capitaincy of Rio Grande do Sul were occupied. Now if you add to this equation a court that fled from Portugal when the country needed leadership it doesn't soud good.
 
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