William IV of Britain's daughter Elizabeth survives.

Alright interesting, I do think Leopold would convert to Orthodoxy, he seems the type to know the political sense behind that. As for waiting to marry a daughter of Nicholas I, could he afford to? I suppose if he becomes King in 1832, and waits until 1835, that should be fair, and in the meantime, I imagine one of his brothers is going to be heir apparent and pressurised into converting as well

Well, Leopold didn't convert to Catholicism IOTL, hence why he took a Catholic wife to assure people his kids would be Catholics. Although then again his sister converted to Orthodoxy after marrying Nicholas's brother Constantine, so maybe she encourages him.

As for waiting, that time might be shorter than expected. A generation later IOTL saw 16-year-old Olga Konstantinova married to the King of Greece, so I wouldn't be floored if political pressures encourage Nicholas to hand over one of his girls at a young age. IOTL Maria Nikolaevna apparently wanted to stay in Russia and not have to convert, but I'm sure Nicholas could use her devotion to Orthodoxy to sell a Greek marriage as a big deal for the faith.

Of Leopold's family members, Prince Albert might honestly be the best heir unless we go through the lines of Leopold's sisters. However, if Albert is defacto heir to Greece until Uncle Leopold has kids, he might be urged to take a Russian for a wife (either Maria's sister Olga or a cousin like Maria Mikhailovna) instead of Victoria. The point likely becomes moot once cousins start popping out, leaving Albert free to take Cousin Victoria as a bride, but that might delay the marriage some or Albert might decide not to leave his betrothed and marry his Russian fiancee.
 
Well, Leopold didn't convert to Catholicism IOTL, hence why he took a Catholic wife to assure people his kids would be Catholics. Although then again his sister converted to Orthodoxy after marrying Nicholas's brother Constantine, so maybe she encourages him.

As for waiting, that time might be shorter than expected. A generation later IOTL saw 16-year-old Olga Konstantinova married to the King of Greece, so I wouldn't be floored if political pressures encourage Nicholas to hand over one of his girls at a young age. IOTL Maria Nikolaevna apparently wanted to stay in Russia and not have to convert, but I'm sure Nicholas could use her devotion to Orthodoxy to sell a Greek marriage as a big deal for the faith.

Of Leopold's family members, Prince Albert might honestly be the best heir unless we go through the lines of Leopold's sisters. However, if Albert is defacto heir to Greece until Uncle Leopold has kids, he might be urged to take a Russian for a wife (either Maria's sister Olga or a cousin like Maria Mikhailovna) instead of Victoria. The point likely becomes moot once cousins start popping out, leaving Albert free to take Cousin Victoria as a bride, but that might delay the marriage some or Albert might decide not to leave his betrothed and marry his Russian fiancee.

Hmm interesting, so are you of the view then that Leopold wouldn't convert, and remain as he was, but that he'd marry Maria to show his kids would be raised Orthodox, and then go from there?

And interesting, you don't think they look to bring Ferdinand and one of his kids as potential heirs?
 
How so? Surely they'd know the consequences if he waits for time for the girl to mature
Otto fell in part because Greece was a geopolitical nightmare dominated by easily irritated foreign factions. What helped George I in OTL was not just his Russian marriage, but his own preexisting links to multiple sides in those disputes. Already dynastically a cousin to the Romanovs, George was a good candidate, and one who proved willing to go native. If Leopold would not embrace Catholicism, he's not going to be Orthodox either.

Give Constantine Greece.
 
Otto fell in part because Greece was a geopolitical nightmare dominated by easily irritated foreign factions. What helped George I in OTL was not just his Russian marriage, but his own preexisting links to multiple sides in those disputes. Already dynastically a cousin to the Romanovs, George was a good candidate, and one who proved willing to go native. If Leopold would not embrace Catholicism, he's not going to be Orthodox either.

Give Constantine Greece.

This is true, and Constantine? As in Grand Duke Constantine?
 
Konstantin Pavlovich died in 1831 though, and had already had a rebellion on his hands in Poland so his cache as a ruler without civil unrest wouldn't really support his candidacy.
 
But which Grand Duke Constantine? If we mean Nicholas's brother then his marriage (to Leopold's sister of all people) has been annulled and he's currently in a morganatic marriage to a Polish noblewoman. If we mean Nicholas's son then he's currently very young (b.1827) and Greece isn't going to want a long regency.

A sensible Russian option would be Grand Duke Michael, but he only has girls. However to POD is such that one or more of his daughters could be boys, giving Greece a ready-made Orthodox heir not too far from marriage and several princesses for dynastic matches.
 
Konstantin Pavlovich died in 1831 though, and had already had a rebellion on his hands in Poland so his cache as a ruler without civil unrest wouldn't really support his candidacy.

This is very true. I do still think Leopold would be the best choice. British nominee, perhaps married to a Russian Princess?
 
But which Grand Duke Constantine? If we mean Nicholas's brother then his marriage (to Leopold's sister of all people) has been annulled and he's currently in a morganatic marriage to a Polish noblewoman. If we mean Nicholas's son then he's currently very young (b.1827) and Greece isn't going to want a long regency.

A sensible Russian option would be Grand Duke Michael, but he only has girls. However to POD is such that one or more of his daughters could be boys, giving Greece a ready-made Orthodox heir not too far from marriage and several princesses for dynastic matches.

Hmm interesting, but then would the other powers allow it?
 
I’m unsure if France, Britain and Russia would allow the other states to put members of their families on the throne. Proxies yes. Butndirect members?
 
Idea time, maybe the best candidate is one of the Tsarina's brothers Charles of Prussia (all facts are from OTL).
  • He's the third son of four, so his removal from the succession isn't dire
  • His wife is the Tsar's niece and the Tsarina is his sister
  • His son Frederick is 4 at the time, which is young enough to be Hellenized and raised Orthodox
  • Said son is also of the right age to marry one of the Mikhailovna girls (likely Catherine, who's a year older) thus securing an Orthodox succession
  • He also has a daughter at this point to use on the marriage market
  • His last child IOTL was born in 1836 (a girl called Anna) meaning he could still produce a spare son or two
 
Idea time, maybe the best candidate is one of the Tsarina's brothers Charles of Prussia (all facts are from OTL).
  • He's the third son of four, so his removal from the succession isn't dire
  • His wife is the Tsar's niece and the Tsarina is his sister
  • His son Frederick is 4 at the time, which is young enough to be Hellenized and raised Orthodox
  • Said son is also of the right age to marry one of the Mikhailovna girls (likely Catherine, who's a year older) thus securing an Orthodox succession
  • He also has a daughter at this point to use on the marriage market
  • His last child IOTL was born in 1836 (a girl called Anna) meaning he could still produce a spare son or two
Hmm interesting and out of left field, could be very interesting, I’m torn between him. Leopold or Nicholas I brother aha
 
Idea time, maybe the best candidate is one of the Tsarina's brothers Charles of Prussia (all facts are from OTL).
  • He's the third son of four, so his removal from the succession isn't dire
  • His wife is the Tsar's niece and the Tsarina is his sister
  • His son Frederick is 4 at the time, which is young enough to be Hellenized and raised Orthodox
  • Said son is also of the right age to marry one of the Mikhailovna girls (likely Catherine, who's a year older) thus securing an Orthodox succession
  • He also has a daughter at this point to use on the marriage market
  • His last child IOTL was born in 1836 (a girl called Anna) meaning he could still produce a spare son or two
Will France accept a Prussian candidacy?
 
The issue is always going to be finding someone with enough political connections to make Greece work without being too intertwined to be unpalatable to any great powers. Maybe the Russian Oldenburgs?
 
The issue is always going to be finding someone with enough political connections to make Greece work without being too intertwined to be unpalatable to any great powers. Maybe the Russian Oldenburgs?
The Russian Oldenburgs were going by the name Romanov....
 
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