Mikestone8
Member Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Peterborough, UK.
Posts: 1000 or more
Another possibility. The Peace of Utrecht had split Naples and Sicily apart, giving Naples (and Sardinia) to Austria and Sicily to Savoy. However, after a brief war with Spain about 1718, the islands were swapped over.
Suppose they'd sone the swap the other way, exchanging the mainland territories instead of the islands. The Duke of Savoy then becomes King of Naples and Sicily, while Savoy and Piedmont becomes a western province of Austria. Could be a god dela for the Habsburgs, as it gives them a strong frontier against France. Not sure if Savoy would fancy it though.
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=163859&highlight=sardinia