WI: Allied victory at Villaviciosa

I think it would prolong the struggle only until the death of Joseph at which time Charles would have to leave Spain to become Holy Roman Emperor. No one, not even his allies, wanted a sole ruler of Austria and Spain. Maybe Austria could have grabbed more in the peace negotiations, however. Maybe Bavaria with the duke getting Sardinia as his booby prize.
 
What happens if the Allies decisively won against the Bourbon-Spanish forces in 1710 at the Battle of Villaviciosa?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Villaviciosa

If you want to knock the Bourbons out in one blow, perhaps the best chance is here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Almenar

"Villadarias opened the battle with a cavalry attack which was initially successful, but the initiative was wasted by pursuing groups of fleeing enemies.

Then the British infantry attacked the left wing which fled, taking the second line with it. Then the Austrians attacked and destroyed the right wing, where Philip V risked his life fighting and was almost captured by the allies."

An alternate history program from Catalunya Ràdio dealt with this particular scenario on one of its episodes some years back.

http://www.catradio.cat/audio/79292/I-si-Felip-cinquè-hagués-mort-a-la-batalla-dAlmenar

Unfortunately: it is both audio, in Catalan and I don't think we're many here that speak it.

My take is that it would complicate matters somewhat for the Bourbons. Louis, Philip's son, is 3. Not the best candidate one can put to the throne.

His uncles, either Louis the Petit Dauphin or the Duke of Berry, are more suitable and available as well. In the case of Louis, it would probably butterfly the measles that killed him, his wife and his son Louis.

OTL's Louis XV might not have become king in this scenario.
 
I don't but I'll have to make an effort to understand. The what-ifs posed are awesome.

The treatment of said what-ifs, on average is quite good. Some are more rigorous than others, though.

Also, since the historian is very often Oriol Junqueras, -whom you might know now as the Vice President of the Catalan Generalitat- Catalonia comes off quite well, better than OTL, on many timelines explored.

But not always when you expect it to be, and they explained their choices rather well.

To me, it is kind of a pity that when Junqueras left to be an MP at the European Parliament, the program changed name to "En guàrdia" and doesn't deal in Alternate History anymore. (It is still very well done and entertaining)
 
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