WI Maximilian dies and Mary of Burgundy lives?

WI Mary of Burgundy lives and her Husband Maximilian the future Holy Roman Emperor dies in 1482, how does this affect the European landscape in the late 15th and early 16th century.
 
Maximilan does not have to fight the flemish for starters. Burgundy would be more inclined to be loyal to Mary as she is the rightful duchess. But Max dying leaves her vounerable to french ambitions. She does need a second husband to support her.
 
For Mary's remarriage? Haven't gotten the foggiest. If Anne Neville had died before Maximilian the I can see Edward IV offering his brother Richard as groom for Mary, but I'm not sure who else would be a good option. John II of Cleves?
 
Would Louis XII of France try and grab Mary for his son, Charles, or even himself if he lives longer than his first wife, Charlotte of Savoy?
 
Perhaps Mary remarries to duke René II of Lorraine?

The implications for the HRE will also be significant, since Philip the Handsome will be too young to be eligible as a candidate for the throne of the Empire.
 
Perhaps Mary remarries to duke René II of Lorraine?

The implications for the HRE will also be significant, since Philip the Handsome will be too young to be eligible as a candidate for the throne of the Empire.
Intriguing. Could Rene claw back County Burgundy and Artois like Max did with the Treaty of Senlis? How does his new marriage/kids affect his attempts to claim Naples?
 
Of the gentlemen who were (seriously) considered for her OTL:
1) Maximilian I
2) Louis XI's brother Charles.
3) Francis of Brittany
4) Nicholas of Anjou
5) Philibert of Savoy
6) Philip of the Palatinate.

Now, Max, the duke of Guyenne and the duke of Anjou are all dead by 1482. The duke of Savoy only remarried in 1485, while the Elector Palatine was already married to Margarethe of Bavaria-Landshut.
Which leaves us with four candidates:
1) Charles VIII
2) Filiberto, Duke of Savoy
3) Rene II, duke of Lorraine
4) Frañsez II, duke of Brittany

Now, each of these (save Filiberto) comes with their own issues. Charles is significantly younger than Marie, and she's lost some of her appeal by having two surviving kids already, which means that France might not want her. René is already married, but considering the marriage was set aside in 1485 without too much of a fuss, I could see him divorcing his first wife earlier.

The duke of Brittany is still married for a bit, however if Marie is prepared to wait (her remarriage isn't THAT urgent, she's got an heir and a spare) the duke of Brittany might be a consideration.

The thing is, Marie might not WANT to remarry. Burgundy (AIUI) proved more than a match for France under the Diabolical Duchess (Margaret of York). I could almost see the two of them ruling Burgundy by themselves, TBH. The big question that is raised here is what happens to the Holy Roman Empire?

Matthias Corvinus is still around and kicking - while without a legitimate heir. He was a considerable headache for Friedrich III OTL, and Friedrich was able to play on the xenophobia of the German electors to have Max elected king of the Romans. Here, the only Habsburg males are Friedrich's cousin, Sigmund (a widower between 1480 and 1484), and his grandson, Philipp (who might be likewise seen as foreign given his Burgundian heritage). Sigmund has no children, and he and Friedrich have a long history of bad blood between them apparently. So, what does Friedrich do now? He's still a decade away from the grave, with a widowed daughter-in-law (and two infant grandchildren) and an unwed daughter. Corvinus might put pressure on Friedrich to let him marry Kunigunde (of course presupposing that he gets an annulment from Beatrice of Naples). Sigmund might likewise be interested in wedding Marie (if he can - his lands are in Switzerland and Swabia IIRC) or Kunigunde, in the hopes of becoming Holy Roman Emperor Sigmund II if Friedrich dies before Philipp of Burgundy reaches his majority.
 
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Then there is problem of Anne of Brittany marriage (Yes, I know that horse riding accidents are extremaly vulnerable to butterfly effect, but still, Fracis of Brittany dying in 1488 is not impossible). Philip of Burgundy would be marriagable soon...
 
She's definitely going to need to remarry. Louis XI tried to force Mary's hand following the death of her father, and I imagine he may try again if Maximilian dies in 1482—though it really depends on how things are going in France—his vassals may not be keen to go off on another adventure for the Burgundian inheritance: an earlier Mad War if he decides to make another push at it?

Sigismund of Tyrol is unmarried in 1482—but I don't really see Frederick III pressing Mary to make the match. His marriage to Catherine of Saxony in 1484 was pretty much regarded as a farce: he was considered senile at the time. Plus, it'd be in Frederick's interest to keep his Tyrolean cousin without any issue in hopes to reunifying the Habsburg domains in Austria. Sure, the House of Habsburg is reduced with Maximilian's death to Frederick, Sigismund, and the young Philip, but I can't see Frederick III pressing the match... or Mary seriously considering it. She's in the flush of her youth with the Lowlands as a potential prize. She can have almost any man in the Christendom.

I could see Frederick III suggesting Philip be sent to Vienna to be reared and raised, though—Frederick would look upon his grandson as his future successor, and there's no age requirement for the King of the Romans. I can seeing him wanting to do his best to control how Philip is reared.

I feel like René, the Duke of Lorraine would be the best match, given their realms are astride—though given the time period, this isn't a requirement. But it'd make administration easier. The Duke of Brittany could be fun if she can hold off marrying someone else ASAP, but it could be a potential headache—would she go to Brittany, or would he come to her? If she leaves, she's going to need a Regent, but there is Margaret of York, of course. Assuming things in England carry on and Mary remains unmarried for a bit, there could be a suggestion that Mary marry Richard upon the death of Anne Neville? That'd certainly be interesting, especially given French support of Henry Tudor.

Another fun idea would be Frederick IV of Naples. There were plans in the 1470s for a possible marriage between the two, but they ultimately came to naught and he married Anne of Savoy. She died in 1480, though, and he didn't marry his second wife until 1487. There is not yet any hint that France might tear the Italian peninsula asunder, and Frederick IV c. 1482 has no male heir—Mary would have the chance to become Queen of Naples and to possibly sire a future king, too.

There's no rush for Mary to find a second husband, but given the political situation, I think it'll happen at some point. She has a son and a daughter, but child mortality in the period means there's no guarantees—either child could be whisked off at the slightest fall or cough. She was the recognized heiress, of course, but it was pretty much expected in this period of history that a woman needed a husband beside to rule—and most heiresses in this period did marry and reign with their spouses.
 
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Rene or Napels would be interesting. And if Mary can prevent the clusterfuck that was Napels and the Italian wars even better. Besides, if Mary has more children the there is a possibility of Burgundy staying independent. She might choose to give Philip to the imperial ambitions and her second son to her own domains.
 
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