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Inspired by the recent threads about the Spanish Succession War: WI Charles II of Spain had died in February of 1685, almost at the same time that Charles II of England? More than the coincidence, I was wondering how England under James II would behave in the very likely war that would happen over the inheritance of the Spanish Empire.

In 1685 the Habsburg heir to the Spanish throne would be Maria Antonia, the 14 years old daughter of the Emperor Leopold I. She only married Maximilian II, Elector of Bavaria on July 1685, so if Charles II dies in February maybe some other arrangement could be done. Also, while she would certainly be recognised in Castile, I'm not sure if the same would happen in Aragon (IIRC the Aragonese laws at the time didn't allow a regnant female).

In the French side, Philip of Anjou - the grandson of Louis XIV who would be the Bourbon claimant in 1700 - was by then only a one year baby. His eldest brother wasn't even 3 years old yet. Their mother - Duchess Maria Anna of Bavaria - was still alive, and she was the sister of Maximilian (who was engaged to Maria Antonia, the Habsburg candidate).

So, what could happen from this mess?
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