WI: Austrian Savoy

[GauchoBadger]

With a PoD between 1559 (recognition of savoyard independence by Valois France) and 1848, how can we unite the Austrian kingdom with Savoy-Piedmont?
How does this affect Italy as a whole, what with the Habsburgs controlling most of northern Italy (and possibly also southern Italy, if we can avoid the Polish Succession War)?

 

[The Undead Martyr]

Have the Savoyards die out sometime in the 16th century, and this almost certainly happens. By Imperial law the Emperor gets to decide what happens to the land and has some right to claim it for his own family, and given their existing holdings there, the importance of Savoy- especially if, say, Austria got the Netherlands this time around- and the fact that the kingdom was a firm Austrian ally and staunch catholic should make it relatively easy to snag.

It might cost a war, as France might object, but given this is the period when Habsburg hegemony in Italy was the order of the day it would be a rather perfunctory affair IMHO.

 

[balthasargettysburg]

I like this because it throws a giant butterfly into the mix of border settlements and national questions which will come up along the entire swath of Europe from the Pyrenees to the Balkans. I like the intercultural palate of unique cultural flavors scattered across the whole region, with an emphasis on local pride and living a good, fun life. They celebrate, while nationalists integrate. The Savoyards might have done better under the Hapsburgs than under the founders of modern Italy.

 

[GauchoBadger]

Could a union happen in the late 17th or early 18th centuries, considering that Savoy was allied to Austria during the Spanish and Austrian succession wars?

 

[JonasResende]

What about marrying Maria Beatrice to Emperor Gudinand der Fertige instead of her younger sister Maria Anna. Her mom was in favour of them changing Savoy's Salic Law that she would succeed instead of her uncle. So, if Bea is married to Gudinand instead, it might be a good way to assert Austrian dominance. Whether there'd be kids from said marriage is anyone's guess, though.

 

[GauchoBadger]

What about marrying Maria Beatrice to Emperor Gudinand der Fertige instead of her younger sister Maria Anna. Her mom was in favour of them changing Savoy's Salic Law that she would succeed instead of her uncle. So, if Bea is married to Gudinand instead, it might be a good way to assert Austrian dominance. Whether there'd be kids from said marriage is anyone's guess, though.

I did a thread on a similar scenario not too long ago:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...ria-and-maria-anna-of-savoy-had-a-son.432753/