I was under the assumption that basically the whole idea was that the British parliament were the ones basically saying "yeah, come on and we'll crown your ass" -- they'd probably move onto another claimant.
I was under the assumption that basically the whole idea was that the British parliament were the ones basically saying "yeah, come on and we'll crown your ass" -- they'd probably move onto another claimant.
What happens if a couple of days before his planned invasion of England, the otl William III of England, slips and falls and breaks his neck, dying from this incident?
Does the Glorious Revolution still happen?
What happens in the netherlands?
They were crowing him and his wife, Mary II (since she was the actual Stuart with the claim to the throne) so I just assume that they'd crown her exclusively and make her a puppet-queen.
Interesting, though without a clear male leader, would the invasion be as successful? Would people still rally to Mary II's banner?
Interesting, though without a clear male leader, would the invasion be as successful? Would people still rally to Mary II's banner?
I'm sure the Dutch have some other member of the House of Orange to have Mary 'marry', or they could back her younger sister Anne's claim since she was already married to a Danish Prince.
If Mary brings the army and the fleet I actually think that it's more likely to succeed as she will be independent. It's not a package deal. OTOH the Dutch Estates might demand something tangible such as the end of the Navigation Acts, a sugar island (or two) or something in Asia or Africa.
Probably not. There is a good chance that the Netherlands enter a new Stadholderless-era. If that's the case a Orange-match for Mary (if she would want to marry in the first place) is actually going to lessen the Dutch support for her.
If Mary brings the army and the fleet I actually think that it's more likely to succeed as she will be independent. It's not a package deal. OTOH the Dutch Estates might demand something tangible such as the end of the Navigation Acts, a sugar island (or two) or something in Asia or Africa.
I really doubt that mary would get support from the estates, on the other hand there is a huge fleet ready for the attack, so they might just try an actual invasion.
Interesting, so we'd still see support for Mary if she can bring an army, but how likely is that?
I really doubt that mary would get support from the estates, on the other hand there is a huge fleet ready for the attack, so they might just try an actual invasion.
Which might piss a fair few English people.
And would Mary command the men?
Well the 'Seven' thought that Willem would need nothing but a symbolic force to make the Jacobite regime fall down. They prefered it actually. Willem disagreed. Personally I don't think that Mary simply sailing into London port will do it. It's possible ofcourse but it only takes one loyal unit to put her in the Tower.
For the Estates and the Regenten this wasn't about putting Willem on the throne though. In fact most of them probably feared a King Willem. Quite rightly so as it turned out. No, they payrolled and organized the invasion because they feared a formal Anglo-French alliance and a re-run of 1672, because King Louis was hurting Dutch trade in a lot of different ways and because war seemed imminent anyway.
What? A invasion or a cancelled invasion? Damned if you do and damned if you don't really and in both cases also not very important.
Mary has a pretty good commander in Frederick Schomberg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Schomberg,_1st_Duke_of_Schomberg) though they will probably assign a Englishman to be the face of command. Just as they did with the fleet. A Englishman in the lead, Dutchmen leading.
What's really important in the scenario is knowing when exactly Willem dies. Is it when he is en route to Hellevoetsluis to board the invasion fleet? Is it earlier? If it's right at the end it's always possible that the Regenten call it off and pull their support. On the other hand it's obvious to all that war IS imminent and the invasion fleet is ready to sail. Either they try to get England out of the French camp or they fact a two-front war.
Interesting, so if William dies say before the invasion fleet is readied, what happens?
Preparation for the invasion (though not yet the fleet itself) began in roughly Januari 1688 when King James ordered all Englishmen serving in Dutch regiments to return home. Only 200 of them did. If Willem dies before this happens anything can happen in England internally really. I'm not knowledgeble enough about English history to really say what will happen to be honest![]()
I do think it's very unlikely that the Dutch will organize a invasion though. They probably mostly support any rising against James with money. They could send over the British regiments in their service though if a civil war breaks out.
In April Willem get's support from English notables known as the Seven. This brings the situation in England to greater tensions. Still not changing things in the Netherlands though.
Between April and November chances of the invasion going through regardless of the death of Willem increases.
- In June the mayors of Amsterdam hired 260 ships for use in the invasion fleet.
- In July 14.000 German mercenaries were hired to replace the elite Dutch regiments that were going to participate in the invasion.
- 4 million guilders (of a total costs of 7 million) was loaned by the state.
- In September France starts a campaign towards Germany distracting it's army from possible intervention in England. Letters from Louis XIV actually convince the Estates General to support the invasion.
- 22nd of September the French confiscate a hunderd Dutch ships. Intended as a warning this makes the Dutch think war is just around the corner.
- 26th of September the government of Amsterdam officially supports the invasion.
- 29th of September the Estates of Holland do the same saying they want to make 'King and State live in a good relationship with each other, and other nations, especially this one'. Accepting that a preventive strike is necessary to prevent a new 1672. William meanwhile denies that he wants to be King.
Personally I think that the last entry really signals that after that point the invasion of England will go through regardless of Willems death.