As the tin says, what if Maximilian Habsburg died in 1478 shortly after the birth of his son Philip? Obviously, Mary of Burgundy is going to remarry asap since she needs a powerful husband to help defend Burgundy from France but to whom? All of Edward IV’s brothers are married and his Woodville cousins are bit too low for her, not to mention the fact he’s an unreliable ally. Might she marry a rebellious French noble? Secondly, how do the Habsburgs react? Frederick III has no other son and is a widower so might he remarry? Might his cousin Sigismund try to position himself as an alternative heir to the young Philip? What else might change?
WI: Maximilian I dies in 1478?
- Thread starter RedKing
- Start date
On the upside Philip might grow up better here.Do you have to do this, man?
If Margaret of Foix died birthing Isabeau, Francis II would be an ideal husband for Mary.
A potential Breton-Burgundian union would be quite interesting and a good way to help defend both duchies from France. Maybe Philip could marry Anne too to consolidate? It’d require a dispensation but that could be obtained easily enough.
Probably one or other of these.
One big channge. Mary's riding accident is probably butterflied away, so she could live quite a long time and have several more children. Allso her survival means no struggle over Philip's guardianship, so she could intervene in the English civil conflict.
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That is true, any idea what her stance on it would be? Unlike Margaret of York she doesn't have firm ties to any of the players (Edward IV, Richard III, Henry Tudor, the Woodvilles, etc) and so might support whoever she views the most useful ally to Burgundy.
Rene II would be a good match, connecting the Duchy of Burgundy to the Lowlands. It could also lead to a reunification of Lotharingia.
With a male heir, Mary's postiton is stronger, but she needs to wed someone that benefits Burgundy and that the estates general will accept. Brittany isn't gonna be able to help Mary against the French, given that they will most likely invite French wrath upon them if they do.
The best match, and as far as I see it, is Rene.
Tbf Brittany would add an extra front against France and bring them a navy but true. René does make more sense that way.
Johann II, duke of Cleves only married in 1489, and Marie's BFF Philipp of Cleves, Lord of Ravenstein, is available until 1485. The latter isn't much to look at, but his mom was a Portuguese infanta and his stepmom is Marie's former governess.
I like the John of Cleves proposal, it’d help Marie manage her German flank and provide her with a husband with experience to help her govern her realm. Was Cleves rich at this point or was that after the union with Julich, because if they are rich that’s a boon to Burgundy. Ravenstein might be good if it can get burgundy an alliance with Portugal but otherwise wouldn’t be that useful imo.
If only Catherine of Navarre was a man, dammit!
Maybe Anne of Brittany's dad? If we can get Margaret out of the equation.
Maybe Anne of Brittany's dad? If we can get Margaret out of the equation.
Frederick is already too old to matter, Philip might be an infant but he's still alive so he's still a heir, although to young so the princes might not like it, so Sigismund as the eldest Habsburg is probably the obvious candidate, but relations between the Emperor and Sigismund weren't particularly great and Siggy wasn't the most impressive guy in town to convince the electors.
What about Matthias Corvinus? He married Beatrix of Naples in 1476 IOTL, but perhaps not ITTL for some reason? Matthias could adopt Philip as his son and successor, possibly allowing him to improve his relation with Frederick III and secure all of Bohemia with his support. With Habsburg and Hungarian-Bohemian support behind her back, Mary could be in a rather comfortable situation this way.