WI: James Wins at the Battle of Boyne?

I had thought of that, but considered it too unlikely to mention. The title of stadholder was sort of heriditary as William III's father, Willem II, was stadholder, and his father, Frederik Hendrik, before him, and before Frederik Hendrik his brother Maurice (who left no ligitimate children) etc. Also Willem Friso was almost the closest living (ligitemate) relative of William III. But you are right, the elector of Brandenburg had a slightly closer claim to the stadholdership. The thing is, the stadholdrship of the Netherlands wasn't officialy a heriditary position.* Which was why Holland just ignored William III's wishes and didn't appoint a stadholder and that is why Holland didn't have a stadholder after William III father died. So the elector of Brandenburg (I believe it would be Frederick I) had a claim, but I don't think the Dutch would accept him. Frederick being a foreigner; they didn't even accept the Frisian (and thus Dutch) stadholder.

But I must admit a personal union between the Netherlands and Prussia/Brandenburg would be a very cool idea: the naval power of the Dutch and the militairy migth of the Prussians could make them very strong.

*the position of stadholder was made heriditary though, after Willem IV was apointed stadholder. Actually the Dutch wikipedia even mentions that the position of stadholder had been made heriditary for the children (and apparently only his children) of William III if he would have had them, so maybe the elector could have made a claim. Not that it would have been accepted

I imagined that the position of stadholder would go to Friso or other Dutch leader. I was wondering only about William's title as "Prince of Orange", that IOTL was given to William Friso in William's will, but was claimed by the Prussian king as his closest relative. For what I understand, the title of Prince of Orange was considered important by the stadholders because it made them more "attractive" for marriage proposals of European royalty.
 
I was wondering only about William's title as "Prince of Orange", that IOTL was given to William Friso in William's will, but was claimed by the Prussian king as his closest relative. For what I understand, the title of Prince of Orange was considered important by the stadholders because it made them more "attractive" for marriage proposals of European royalty.

Hmmm, that does depend on when the will was made, I am not certain about that, but it seems a good thing to make before you go invade another country. It wouldn't surprise me if the end result is more or less the same and they share the title in the end.
 
Why do you all assume the topic of thread was not about James defeating either his brother or his father at the Battle of Boyne?:D

Admittedly well after either of them was dead but...
 
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