WI:A Catholic Britain involved in War of Spanish succession

Assuming that both Henry VIII and Arthur are dead before they succeed the throne and the Stuarts inherit Britain and still marry Habsburg and gain a Claim to the Spanish throne, how would an alternate war of spanish succession against the Wittelsbachs and Bourbons happen ITTL.
 
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Assuming that both Henry VIII and Arthur are dead before they succeed the throne and the Stuarts inherit Britain and still marry Habsburg and gain a Claim to the Spanish throne, how would an alternate war of spanish succession against the Wittelsbachs and Bourbons happen ITTL.
Impossible to say without knowing the geopolitical (or at least the europolitical) situation. We first need to know what countries exist in this situation, the strength of those countries, the political alliances of those countries, etc.

For example in OTL wars against France Britain had a lot of support among the protestant countries in Germany, if it is catholic would it still have that support? Certainly possible out of realpolitical reasons, but without personal unions (with the Netherlands or Hanover) less of a certainty.
 
Assuming that both Henry VIII and Arthur are dead before they succeed the throne and the Stuarts inherit Britain and still marry Habsburg and gain a Claim to the Spanish throne, how would an alternate war of spanish succession against the Wittelsbachs and Bourbons happen ITTL.
The stakes couldn't be much higher. Not only would Britain be more agressive, the fact that they stood Catholic meant only one thing, Britain will definitely push their claim on the French throne itself, killing two birds in one stone.
 
Impossible to say without knowing the geopolitical (or at least the europolitical) situation. We first need to know what countries exist in this situation, the strength of those countries, the political alliances of those countries, etc.

For example in OTL wars against France Britain had a lot of support among the protestant countries in Germany, if it is catholic would it still have that support? Certainly possible out of realpolitical reasons, but without personal unions (with the Netherlands or Hanover) less of a certainty.
Why ally with the non-existent? If Britain stood Catholic, Netherlands would have not existed in the first place, and second a Catholic Britain would irreversibly change the outcome of the (definitely less than) 30 Years' War to a decisive Catholic victory, what does this mean? Simple, the Protestants will be forced to convert back to Catholicism.
 
If Britain stood Catholic, Netherlands would have not existed in the first place

I am not so certain about that. Yes there would be a large number of butterflies in the war, but assuming England stays out of the Dutch revolt, it is still possible for the Dutch to win. The English did not give much support to the Dutch (and what it gave was often contraproductive) and I agree they were a nice distraction at the right time during the Armada; the Spanish war with France was the deciding moment of the Dutch revolt. Although hardly a certainty, an catholic England does not mean that the Netherlands never arises. Especialy considering that out of realpolitical reasons (the Habsburgs are very strong and are a threat to England too) they could still decide to support the Dutch; the catholic French did after all.

and second a Catholic Britain would irreversibly change the outcome of the (definitely less than) 30 Years' War to a decisive Catholic victory, what does this mean?
Assuming they get involved and get involved on the catholic/Habsburg side. Both are possible, but hardly certain. It is pretty likely they decide to sit that one out (like OTL) or even to support the protestants, hoping to weaken the Habsburgs, just like catholic France did.

Simple, the Protestants will be forced to convert back to Catholicism.
You mean killed, I assume.


Anyway, you are right that it is possible there will be no protestantism, or it is a lot weaker than OTL. But it is possible it still manages to exist and even be strong. Maybe as a counterbalance to being surrounded by catholic, (pro)-Habsburg nations France switches religions or maybe a Austria switches religion. Or France manages to beat Spain at some point and manages to conquer the Southern Netherlands (or all of it if it remains Spanish). Or whatever. My point still stands. Europe will be very different, if England remain catholic and before we can reliably speculate about a war of Spanish succession, we do need to know more about it.
 
I am not so certain about that. Yes there would be a large number of butterflies in the war, but assuming England stays out of the Dutch revolt, it is still possible for the Dutch to win. The English did not give much support to the Dutch (and what it gave was often contraproductive) and I agree they were a nice distraction at the right time during the Armada; the Spanish war with France was the deciding moment of the Dutch revolt. Although hardly a certainty, an catholic England does not mean that the Netherlands never arises. Especialy considering that out of realpolitical reasons (the Habsburgs are very strong and are a threat to England too) they could still decide to support the Dutch; the catholic French did after all.
English intervention in the Dutch Rebellion is inevitable, but being Catholic, they will instead side with the Spanish.

Assuming they get involved and get involved on the catholic/Habsburg side. Both are possible, but hardly certain. It is pretty likely they decide to sit that one out (like OTL) or even to support the protestants, hoping to weaken the Habsburgs, just like catholic France did.
The fact that France sides with the Protestants, and that pre-Protestant Britain is ironically fanatic Catholic, they WILL join the Catholics. Besides, the Habsburgs are their in-laws, so they're cool with them.

You mean killed, I assume.


Anyway, you are right that it is possible there will be no protestantism, or it is a lot weaker than OTL. But it is possible it still manages to exist and even be strong. Maybe as a counterbalance to being surrounded by catholic, (pro)-Habsburg nations France switches religions or maybe a Austria switches religion. Or France manages to beat Spain at some point and manages to conquer the Southern Netherlands (or all of it if it remains Spanish). Or whatever. My point still stands. Europe will be very different, if England remain catholic and before we can reliably speculate about a war of Spanish succession, we do need to know more about it.
Nevertheless, Europe will be pre-dominantly Catholic.
 
English intervention in the Dutch Rebellion is inevitable, but being Catholic, they will instead side with the Spanish.


The fact that France sides with the Protestants, and that pre-Protestant Britain is ironically fanatic Catholic, they WILL join the Catholics. Besides, the Habsburgs are their in-laws, so they're cool with them.

You can't say these things. It depends completely on the situation at that point. I see no reason wh6y English intervention is inevitable. They barely did OTL and it is cerainly possible they wouldn't if they were catholic. 16th century Spain is a threat to Englans, weather England is protestant or catholic. Besides that you don't know if Britain will be fanatical catholic, especialy not during the 30 year war. France wasn't fanatical catholic, why would England be?
 
You can't say these things. It depends completely on the situation at that point. I see no reason wh6y English intervention is inevitable. They barely did OTL and it is cerainly possible they wouldn't if they were catholic. 16th century Spain is a threat to Englans, weather England is protestant or catholic. Besides that you don't know if Britain will be fanatical catholic, especialy not during the 30 year war. France wasn't fanatical catholic, why would England be?

The Henrician Affirmation indicates that, while maybe not fanatical, pre-Anglican England was certainly taking a hard stance against Protestantism. Couple this with England's traditional hatred of France and the Stuart-Habsburg marriage and you could easily see them coming to the aid of Austria and Spain in the 30 years war.
 
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The Henrician Affirmation indicates that, while maybe not fanatical, pre-Anglican England was certainly taking a hard stance against Protestantism. Couple with with the England's traditional hatred of France and the Stuart-Habsburg marriage and you could easily see them coming to the aid of Austria and Spain in the 30 years war.
It is possible, I won't deny that, but it is not inevitable.
 
Henry VII wasn't a fanatical catholic it was HenryVIII who gained defender of the faith status. If both Arthur and Henry dead then thethrone goes to Margaret Tudor de jure but I would have thought that the De la Poles might have organised a grab for the throne. However that is incidental to this post.
The English church always had an ambivalent position towards Rome. Basically the English had always objected to money going from the English Church to Rome. Also even then English policy was to try and thwart whoever was the most powerful nation in Europe which means Spain which means supporting the Dutch, paradoxically perhaps more efficiently than in OTL.
There are butterflies here as if JamesV is James I of England that means no Flodden. So Scotland may be able to create a partnership more of equals in TTL. Also isn't he too young for Catharine of Aragon?
 
There would be no war of Spanish Succession, probably. like in my TL, I had OTL Mary I have a son with Philip II. That son became Fernando VI of Spain so no Philip III so no Philip IV and Carlos II so no war.
 
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