Louis II of Hungary was the only son of the previous Vladislaus II Jagiellon. He's mostly notable for his unfortunate reign, during which Hungary suffered from feudal chaos and foreign meddling, ultimately resulting in a military defeat at the hands of the Ottomans in 1526 at Mohacs and the eventual partition of the realm between the Turks, their feudal allies (like John Zapolya), and the Habsburgs, who already had close dynastic ties with the Hungarian Jagiellons.
But what if Louis II had not even been born, or died in infancy?
Would this lead to an earlier period of political dominance for the magnates? Or would it lead to a smoother royal succession? Who was best poised to take the throne after Vladislaus II's death in 1516?
 
Louis II of Hungary was the only son of the previous Vladislaus II Jagiellon. He's mostly notable for his unfortunate reign, during which Hungary suffered from feudal chaos and foreign meddling, ultimately resulting in a military defeat at the hands of the Ottomans in 1526 at Mohacs and the eventual partition of the realm between the Turks, their feudal allies (like John Zapolya), and the Habsburgs, who already had close dynastic ties with the Hungarian Jagiellons.
But what if Louis II had not even been born, or died in infancy?
Would this lead to an earlier period of political dominance for the magnates? Or would it lead to a smoother royal succession? Who was best poised to take the throne after Vladislaus II's death in 1516?

I don't know if there would be a marriage with the Habsburgs without Louis II. But a Civil War is a likely possibility. Selim may attack Belgrade after his Egyptian Campaign (important city/fortification).

Not sure how Hungarian succession works but I can't see all the Magnates agree to a Habsburg ruler unless something makes them.
 
I don't know if there would be a marriage with the Habsburgs without Louis II. But a Civil War is a likely possibility. Selim may attack Belgrade after his Egyptian Campaign (important city/fortification).

Not sure how Hungarian succession works but I can't see all the Magnates agree to a Habsburg ruler unless something makes them.
So, do you believe the kingdom could be torn apart earlier than OTL?
 
If Louis dies in infancy (very likely scenario-it was miracle that he survived) Vladislaus may decide to remarry. He was depressed after death of Anne de Foix, but being in need of heir he could be urged to marry again-especially because Zapolyas would demand that. Late reign of Vladislaus would be even less stable if he had no son. Zapolya and anti-Habsburg party would not allow smooth succession and Sultan would also try to prevent Habsburg succession. Also Sigismund the Old may not be willing to renounce his claims to Hungary and Bohemia in 1515 if that means automatic Habsburg takeover. Still, with Habsburg supporters not being decimated at Mohacs Habsburgs could be more successful
 
I don't know if there would be a marriage with the Habsburgs without Louis II. But a Civil War is a likely possibility. Selim may attack Belgrade after his Egyptian Campaign (important city/fortification).

Not sure how Hungarian succession works but I can't see all the Magnates agree to a Habsburg ruler unless something makes them.
The Habsburg weddings for Vladislaus’ children were already established before Louis II’s birth...

If Louis dies in infancy (very likely scenario-it was miracle that he survived) Vladislaus may decide to remarry. He was depressed after death of Anne de Foix, but being in need of heir he could be urged to marry again-especially because Zapolyas would demand that. Late reign of Vladislaus would be even less stable if he had no son. Zapolya and anti-Habsburg party would not allow smooth succession and Sultan would also try to prevent Habsburg succession. Also Sigismund the Old may not be willing to renounce his claims to Hungary and Bohemia in 1515 if that means automatic Habsburg takeover. Still, with Habsburg supporters not being decimated at Mohacs Habsburgs could be more successful
Well Max can always offer Eleanor to Sigismund for balancing the Karl/Anna match (as at this point Karl would not have reason to refute a match with the heiress of Hungary and Bohemia) and if he see who can not get both Bohemia and Hungary maybe also a split of Vladislaus’ Kingdoms between them (and I wonder what is more likely in this case for the Habsburgs: Bohemia or Hungary?)
 
The Habsburg weddings for Vladislaus’ children were already established before Louis II’s birth...


Well Max can always offer Eleanor to Sigismund for balancing the Karl/Anna match (as at this point Karl would not have reason to refute a match with the heiress of Hungary and Bohemia) and if he see who can not get both Bohemia and Hungary maybe also a split of Vladislaus’ Kingdoms between them (and I wonder what is more likely in this case for the Habsburgs: Bohemia or Hungary?)

As I should have said, royal marriages aren't my thing... I find it horribly complicated.

Before Louis II you said...
 
As I should have said, royal marriages aren't my thing... I find it horribly complicated.

Before Louis II you said...
Yes, Louis II (or better the first son of Vladislaus II) was engaged to Mary of Austria (born the 15 September 1505) on 17 March 1506 (and at the same time was decided the engagement of Anne of Bohemia and Hungary and a son of Philip and Juana) and Louis was born (prematurely) the 1 July 1506...
Not the only case of such wedding pacts (sometimes were created contracts in which both bride and groom were still ipotetical)...
Mary and Louis were married the 22 July 1515 and at the same time Anne (aka Louis’s elder sister and only sibling) was betrothed again to one of Mary’s brother with the Emperor Maximilian (grandfather of the supposed groom) as proxy.
Practically the future Karl V had refuted the match with Anna as she was not good enough for him and Ferdinand was in Spain under the custody of his maternal grandfather so Max was forced to promise to marry Anne himself if either grandson had not accepted the match in a year (Luckily Ferdinand of Aragon died before the term and so Ferdinand of Austria was shipped to Maximilian and eventually married to Anna). Here with Anna as only child and heiress of the still alive Vladislaus the garancy of succession of at least one between Bohemia and Hungary will be enough for convincing Karl to marry Anna
 
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