So when doing some research for Apollinis et Dianae I came across something very interesting. In 1694 Duke Francesco II d'Este of Modena died childless, leaving the throne to his uncle, Cardinal Rinaldo. Rinaldo renounced his cardinalate and married a German princess, thus continuing the d'Este line for another generation. Now this in itself is nothing new, but what I found most interesting is the fact that if Rinaldo had died childless the male line of the d'Este family would have gone extinct, leaving the throne vacant and the closest legitimate heir as Francesco's sister Mary Beatrice. The same Mary Beatrice who was married to King James II & VII and mother of James III & VIII and Princess Louisa-Maria.
Now assuming that Mary or her son is able to succeed, we would have a Stuart ruled Italian duchy. How would this affect the Jacobite movement? Would having a true base help the cause or hinder it, as that base is an Italian duchy. Would, if the Jacobite cause fails, the Stuarts become influential Princes in Italy? Could we even see a Stuart Kingdom of Italy farther down the road?