WI: Ottokar II defeats the Hapsburgs at the Marchfeld?

Zioneer

Banned
What if Ottokar II of Bohemia defeated and killed Rudolph of Hapsburgs at the Battle on the Marchfeld, thus extinguishing the rising star of the Hapsburgs?

What happens to Germany, and even moreso Central Europe, without the Hapsburgs?
 
Switzerland and Austria as we know them will not exist. In fact Austria would likely remain within the Bohemian Crown lands, which changes a lot.

We've also butterflied away the rise of the Luxembourg dynasty, who indirectly helped the rise of the Hohenzollerns, and so on...
 
That would make quite an interesting timeline.

First, the rise of the Hapsburgs is stopped - and likely avoided. Which means that Ottokar's son wouldn't marry a daughter of Rudolph.

Furthermore, Ottokar's son would be the strongest ruler within the Empire and would have a good chance in becoming Emperor. He was king of Bohemia, Poland and Hungary IOTL although dying already at 34. It's unlikely that he'd accomplish that if he got more involved within imperial policies, I'd say, yet there's definitely a possibility of an early Austria-Hungary.
 

Arrix85

Donor
That would make quite an interesting timeline.

I agree. No Hapsburg? the face of Europe would be completely different.... A bohemia-based dynasty ( granted, if it holds) could also have a different position on the Reformation, we could have protestant holy roman emperors, thus changing or preventing the thirty years' war...
 
I agree. No Hapsburg? the face of Europe would be completely different.... A bohemia-based dynasty ( granted, if it holds) could also have a different position on the Reformation, we could have protestant holy roman emperors, thus changing or preventing the thirty years' war...

The only thing I can think of with more implications would have been no Capetians.;)

With a POD in 1278 also the reformation, if there is one, will be affected and any 30 years' war will be different too.

More on the short term, some of the powerful lords in the Holy Roman Empire will be fearful of a too powerful Ottokar, if Ottokar makes any diplomatic mistakes he may face problems in the future. Furthermore if Rudolph dies, he will be succeeded by Albert in their traditional lands, which will now remain their area of interest; and the electors may again decide to elect someone else than Ottokar, because they might feel Ottokar is too powerful.
 
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