WI: Habsburgs go extinct in the 15th century

In the 1400s the House of Habsburg had two main lines: the Albertinian line which held Austria and briefly Hungary and Bohemia, and went extinct following the death of Ladislaus the Posthumous in 1457, and the Leopoldine Line ruling in Syria and Tirol, which would go one to inherit Burgundy and Spain. At the time of the Albertinians' extinction the Leopoldine line was reduced to two adult males- Ferdinand III, who had but one son, Maximilian, in 1459, who would go on to be the progenitor of all the future Habsburgs; and his cousin Sigismund, who ruled Tirol and further Austria and died childless, allowing Ferdinand to inherit.

OTL the extinction of all the other branches of the family allowed Ferdinand to consolidate their holdings, but what if TTL his luck runs out and Ferdinand has no surviving sons at all? Thus when he dies the House of Habsburg goes utterly extinct in the male line.

The question then become, who inherits Burgundy, Spain, Austria, and the Empire? TTL Mary could marry into the Anjou or the Orleans dynasty, while I believe the Wittlesbach will make a play for the crown and also Austria due to a possible marriage into the Habsburgs. As their two main rivals are gone the Wittlesbach would seem the natural candidate for the Imperial throne.
 
Probably Burgundy just goes to French earlier. Iberia might be messy while, but perhaps king of Portugal gains at least Castille and France might take Aragon. Austria and HRE are bit trickier things.
 
If I say Richard III after having all their marriages declared bigamous, will anyone take me seriously? Or Edward IV as a trigamist? (I know, it's polygamist, but the other is funnier.)
 
The question then become, who inherits Burgundy
Burgundy likely remains divided between Valois conquests (Burgundy proper, Somme and Artois, roughly) and the rest (aka, the main part of Low Countries). I don't see much credible way for Valois to take much more than IOTL, which was less inherited than bluntly took over, claiming fiefs mouvants rather than all the Burgundian estates.

Who would marry Marie, ITTL, in the absence of Maximilian?
It's hard to say, giving Louis XI did his very best to crush and possibly "make disappear" anyone he could that wanted to marry Marie (such as the duke of Lorraine).
Overall, I tend to think that whoever inherit HRE have a fair chance to marry her to himself or one of his sons. That's only geopolitically sound.

If not, I'd say a Trastamare or Aviz marriage would be the second best alternatives.

TTL Mary could marry into the Anjou or the Orleans dynasty
Louis XI would probably make everything in his power to prevent this, as he did to prevent the marriage with his brother Charles. Louis XI didn't want any big principalty within his kingdom, even less make one of his vassals even bigger.

House of Aviz would have the more clear claim to inherit Castille, and possibly Aragon.
But at least for one of these kingdoms, it would have meant a succession crisis, if not war, at least for what matter Aragon (I'm not sure who would lead it, tough).

Wittlesbach seems a fair idea. But giving the really divided nature of the Austrian inheritency, I could see other houses making a bid along formes lines, as it existed with Ladislas.

Wittlesbach are a fair possiblity here as well, but Hoenzollern could be chosen too trough a double linkage with Luxemburgs and Habsburgs trough Mary of Austria.
 
Could Venice avail herself of the opportunity to take Trieste and Istria? They were interested in,the region OTL after all and if things are chaotic there might me an opportunity.

Spain entering into a period of upheaval seems likely. Could this see an Angevin resurgence? OTL the Anjou maintained their claims to Naples and even attempted to claim Aragon in 1469, perhaps Louis might support their efforts in exchange for nixing the marriage, or at least make a play for Catalonia and/or Milan.

If Mary married the Duke of Orleans then the French crown would gain all of the Burgundian Inheritance when the main Valois line went extinct... yikes, this could be a major France-wank.
 
Could Venice avail herself of the opportunity to take Trieste and Istria? They were interested in,the region OTL after all and if things are chaotic there might me an opportunity.

Take? Sure. Hold? Not without some sort of Hungarian, Austrian, or Ottoman understanding. It would be interesting
 
Could Venice avail herself of the opportunity to take Trieste and Istria? They were interested in,the region OTL after all and if things are chaotic there might me an opportunity.
Possibly, but I think Venice would have too much to do in Central Italy at this point to really advance in northern Instria : you'd need a really chaotic situation to make that happen IOTL

Spain entering into a period of upheaval seems likely.
Depends where : it's probably more likely (relatively speaking) in Aragon than in Castille where the lack of real alternative would favour Aviz claims.

Could this see an Angevin resurgence?
Unlikely, and possibly only in scattered order. Louis XI was really wary about making a vassal too important within French sphere of influence, and any support would imply cessation at term of Anjou, possibly Provence as well. Contrary to Valois-Orléans, he had different geopolitical goals and interests in Italy : Milan was as close of a French ally one could get, and apart from Savoy enjoyed relatively normalized relations with Venice or Rome (bit of the contrary of Valois-Orléans or Valois-Angouleme situation)

In fact, for what Louis could be concerned with, if Angevines wanted to make a go at Naples, good for them, but I doubt he would feel compelled to act against Naples, while he might throw some support against Aragon.1469, perhaps Louis might support their efforts in exchange for nixing the marriage, or at least make a play for Catalonia and/or Milan.

If Mary married the Duke of Orleans then the French crown would gain all of the Burgundian Inheritance when the main Valois line went extinct... yikes, this could be a major France-wank.
Again, that's extremely unlikely. Louis XI did his best to prevent Charles de France and Nicolas of Lorraine to marry Marie, and would be equally opposed to see any of his vassals or clients doing it, simply because having a too powerful vassal or rival would be a no-no.
 
So who would Mary marry then, whoever becomes Emperor?

The collective Habsburg states are such a rich prize that some sort of conflict over them seems quite likely.

In regards to Hungary, at this time she is locked in a death struggle with the Ottomans, that said Hungary still did conquer Bohemia and parts of Austria in the 1470s and 1480s, that could happen again if they get lucky and the situation is in upheaval.
 
So who would Mary marry then, whoever becomes Emperor?
I tried to answer, and the rest of your OP, this not five posts before.

Anyway, yes, whoever becomes emperor have great chances would it be only because it would have been the logical geopolitical choice.

But, barring this, a marriage with Trastamare (or possible, if less likely) Aviz are secondary alternatives, would it be only because it was attempted in the 50's IOTL.

The collective Habsburg states are such a rich prize that some sort of conflict over them seems quite likely.
Maybe not : dont' get me wrong, the situation would be certainly tense and conflicting. But a full-fledged civil war? With Valois-Bourgogne disappearing, there went a massive distabilizing factor for the HRE. The League of Swabia shows how much imperial power could be held in check, but the result of the Swabian conflict points that a rough negociation (with all the show of strength and strong-arming deemed necessary) could take place.

As for Austria, I completly forgot about him, but what about Sigismond of Austria? I don't see him being at the latest an HREmperor, but obtaining his cousin's inheritency (the question of his competence to hold it in one part is open, tough)...
 
My mistake regarding Mary. In any case who says the Valois-Burgundy disappear as OTL? They might stick around longer, they might not. In fact they might try to claim the Emperorship for themselves- the wealth of the Low Countries gives them the opportunity for bribes, and even if the Rhenish electors vote for someone else out of fear the other four might not care, especially if he offers, say, Austria to Brandenburg, Mary to Saxony and Alsace to the Palatinate of the Rhine (IIRC the Habsburgs had pawned the region to the Burgundians) and a big sack of gold to all of them.

In regards to Sigismund from Wikipedia the man seemed entirely incompetent as well as heirless, so even if he inherits and dies as OTL it will only be postponing the problem of the succession.
 
In any case who says the Valois-Burgundy disappear as OTL?
I admit that Valois-Bourgogne-Nevers may have a chance ITTL to maintain their line, but that's all. I don't see how Frederic having no issue is going to influe on Charles' fate.

It's not because it's alternate history that everything can change at the same moment. Main Valois-Burgundy branch was going to be screwed at this point : too much powerful ennemies, too much wishful thinking, and barely hanging out on a thread. The fate of most "border kingdoms".
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In regards to Sigismund from Wikipedia the man seemed entirely incompetent as well as heirless, so even if he inherits and dies as OTL it will only be postponing the problem of the succession.
Maybe, but for what matters the immediate consequences, it could make imperial succession going more smoothly than if succession crisis concerned Austria as well.
 
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