WI Frederick the Great marries Maria Theresa

wilcoxchar

During the 1730s, both the future Frederick the Great and Maria Theresa were seeking spouses. Frederick even once suggested himself that he marry Maria Theresa to his father (although he said he would renounce his succession), but his father was convinced otherwise.

What if it was agreed that Frederick would marry Maria Theresa, without renouncing the succession (but maybe retaining the two separate realms). What could make this marriage possible, and how would it affect the rest of 18th century Europe?
 

Susano

Banned
Even barring the confessional divide (and were talking about the, next to the Bourbons, most archcatholic dynasty here), the fact that Frederick had no desire to procreate and the enemyship over SIlesia it wouldnt work. Maria Theresia was a woman who had to continue the House of Habsburg. That worked well with the House of Lorraine because it was so much lesser and at the same time had only one surviving member, Francis, too. It was a perfect match to merge the two Houses under the name of Habsburg.

Any theoretical descendants of Frederick and Maria would be considered Hohenzollerns, though, and Habsburg would be discontinued. Thats not something Maria Thersia wanted. So, no. Just too much speaks against it.
 

MariaTheresia

I like this one....could be fun! OK so suppose Frederick converts to Catholicism to marry MT. He does not renounce the throne of Prussia but agrees that there should be no Austro-Prussian union. He is elected Holy Roman Emperor.

In the War of Austrian Succession it is Austria, Prussia, Britain, Holland, Denmark, Russia and Portugal vs. France, Spain, Saxony-Poland, Sweden, Turkey, Sardinia and Naples. It is an embarassing set back for France.

Not only is MT confirmed as ruler of Austria, she gains lower Bavaria as well. Frederick is confirmed as Holy Roman Emperor. Prussia gains Swedish Pomerania, West Prussia and Mainz. Russia acquires territories in Eastern Poland and Ukraine. France's colonial empire is diminished to the advantage of Britain.

The marriage would be a strange one obviously. Frederick was not up to the task of procreation, yet MT was a lusty woman. Do they slip a strapping aide-de-camp into MT's bed to produce and heir? Was she too prudish for that? Maybe, maybe not. In OTL MT's sister Maria Anna was childless. What if she married Francis of Lorraine? Would there be heirs? Perhaps.

If there is no heir, Prussia passes to a nephew of Frederick. Is there a second War of Austrian Succession with Saxon, Bavarian and Prussian claimants? One would think Vienna would favor the Prussian claimant with a reenactment of the earlier war resulting.

Then we would have a Hohenzollern dominated Central Europe...a Protestant Branch in Prussia and a Catholic Branch in Austria. This development could lead to a Franco-Russian alliance down the road.

Any other thoughts?
 

General Zod

Banned
Susano said:
Even barring the confessional divide (and were talking about the, next to the Bourbons, most archcatholic dynasty here), the fact that Frederick had no desire to procreate and the enemyship over SIlesia it wouldnt work. Maria Theresia was a woman who had to continue the House of Habsburg. That worked well with the House of Lorraine because it was so much lesser and at the same time had only one surviving member, Francis, too. It was a perfect match to merge the two Houses under the name of Habsburg.

Any theoretical descendants of Frederick and Maria would be considered Hohenzollerns, though, and Habsburg would be discontinued. Thats not something Maria Thersia wanted. So, no. Just too much speaks against it.
Click to expand...

A monarch regnant, as the fount of honor, is perfectly entitled to rename his/her House as he or she damn please, notwithstanding normal heraldic rules. Cfr. the regnant House of Britain, which renamed itself "Windsor" in 1917, and everyone accepted it. So Maria Teresa and Frederick sign a joint decree by which their descendants shall hold the surname "Habsburg-Hohenzollern", and everything is fine.
 

Gladi

Bright day
Hmm, you folks are not mentioning that Francis I was tremendously good with money. By his death "Austria" owned him mountain of gold plus interest- all of which got simply erased after he passed away.

It is entirely possible that TTL Austria will not be any better of financially or at least not much better than OTL Austria.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top
Top