Wow, you all have been busy overnight! Okay, addressing one subject at a time.
Wow, that really was an almost-duel! Now I can't help but wonder what would have happened if they'd actually gone through with it and one of them (*cough*presumably FW) had managed to kill the other!
For starters: who kills who really depends on the method of duelling. We tend to automatically think "pistols", but swords are still a viable alternative, see Hervey fighting his duel with swords, and of course the chances of both parties surviving generally is higher then. However, in the particular case of FW vs G2, swords would have been a death sentence (or at least a humiliating defeat sentence) for FW, given his weight and shape (even if not just sick). I'm not sure how heavy G2 ws in the late 1720s, but neither Hervey nor anyone else mentions constant illnesses, which FW definitely had. So presumably even FW would have had enough sense to go for pistols, at which they'd have been evenly matched. In which case it's 50/50, and either King could have died (or be severely wounded). As to what had happened, let's see.
G2 DIES
Does England declare war against Prussia? Nope. Enough witnesses around to testify it was an honorable duel. Also, new King Frederick I, aka former Fritz of Wales, more likely to send thank you bouqet to FW.
Do the English marriages happen for Fritz and Wilhelmine? Hell no, is my first thought, though on second thought SD could try to spin this as a reconciliation project to FW and try to guilt trip him into agreeing to push it. Otoh, the Brits were never keen on the match in the first place, and now they really have no reason.
Does the 1730 escape attempt therefore still happen? I think so, yes.
What about Hannover family dysfunction?: Well, in the late 20s it wasn't as bad yet as it would become, but Fritz of Wales would still have been long enough around his family to notice no one wanted him, everyone wanted little brother Billy the Butcher, and even if there's now a complete turnaround once he's on the throne, I doubt mother Caroline will ever gain much influence on him. Unless she's really really convincing. Otoh, late 20s is when he's just become friendly with Hervey and they're nearing Orestes/Pylades territory. Therefore, I guess Hervey gets his wish and becomes mentor to the new King, with a nice cabinet office to go with it, and Caroline can say goodbye to her Vice Chamberlain. (He did like and respect Caroline, but not enough to give up a shot at the top for her sake.)
FW DIES
Does Prussia declare war on England? No, see above. Honorable duel. Also secret thank you boquet from SD. And massive attempt to guilt trip G2 into offering his two kids to her two kids now.
Do the English marriages happen for Fritz and Wilhelmine?: Definitely can see that. Not least because MT's Dad Charles might send a "two of my Electors killing each other, WTF? Make sure the new kid on the block won't continue the feud against you, G2!" reprimand. As to whether these marriages will be happy, err. For Fritz, mayyyyyyybe better, because Emily/Amalie of England was brainy, well educated, sharp tongued. Otoh, given SD would have resented any sign of the new Queen getting more respect than she did, and Emily/Amalie would not have been nearly as shy as EC and would not have taken any humiliating silently... For Wilhelmine, see below.
What about Hannover family dysfunction? That stays the same. And because Fritz is the new King in/of Prussia, he's not around to support Wilhelmine. Which means that she still has to deal with in-laws that hate on her new husband, imply that she's faking her first pregnancy, and her husband trying to get her elswhere during labor.
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What if: FW vs G2 duel goes go through, ends lethally
Date: 2021-02-21 07:22 am (UTC)Wow, that really was an almost-duel! Now I can't help but wonder what would have happened if they'd actually gone through with it and one of them (*cough*presumably FW) had managed to kill the other!
For starters: who kills who really depends on the method of duelling. We tend to automatically think "pistols", but swords are still a viable alternative, see Hervey fighting his duel with swords, and of course the chances of both parties surviving generally is higher then. However, in the particular case of FW vs G2, swords would have been a death sentence (or at least a humiliating defeat sentence) for FW, given his weight and shape (even if not just sick). I'm not sure how heavy G2 ws in the late 1720s, but neither Hervey nor anyone else mentions constant illnesses, which FW definitely had. So presumably even FW would have had enough sense to go for pistols, at which they'd have been evenly matched. In which case it's 50/50, and either King could have died (or be severely wounded). As to what had happened, let's see.
G2 DIES
Does England declare war against Prussia? Nope. Enough witnesses around to testify it was an honorable duel. Also, new King Frederick I, aka former Fritz of Wales, more likely to send thank you bouqet to FW.
Do the English marriages happen for Fritz and Wilhelmine? Hell no, is my first thought, though on second thought SD could try to spin this as a reconciliation project to FW and try to guilt trip him into agreeing to push it. Otoh, the Brits were never keen on the match in the first place, and now they really have no reason.
Does the 1730 escape attempt therefore still happen? I think so, yes.
What about Hannover family dysfunction?: Well, in the late 20s it wasn't as bad yet as it would become, but Fritz of Wales would still have been long enough around his family to notice no one wanted him, everyone wanted little brother Billy the Butcher, and even if there's now a complete turnaround once he's on the throne, I doubt mother Caroline will ever gain much influence on him. Unless she's really really convincing. Otoh, late 20s is when he's just become friendly with Hervey and they're nearing Orestes/Pylades territory. Therefore, I guess Hervey gets his wish and becomes mentor to the new King, with a nice cabinet office to go with it, and Caroline can say goodbye to her Vice Chamberlain. (He did like and respect Caroline, but not enough to give up a shot at the top for her sake.)
FW DIES
Does Prussia declare war on England? No, see above. Honorable duel. Also secret thank you boquet from SD. And massive attempt to guilt trip G2 into offering his two kids to her two kids now.
Do the English marriages happen for Fritz and Wilhelmine?: Definitely can see that. Not least because MT's Dad Charles might send a "two of my Electors killing each other, WTF? Make sure the new kid on the block won't continue the feud against you, G2!" reprimand. As to whether these marriages will be happy, err. For Fritz, mayyyyyyybe better, because Emily/Amalie of England was brainy, well educated, sharp tongued. Otoh, given SD would have resented any sign of the new Queen getting more respect than she did, and Emily/Amalie would not have been nearly as shy as EC and would not have taken any humiliating silently... For Wilhelmine, see below.
What about Hannover family dysfunction? That stays the same. And because Fritz is the new King in/of Prussia, he's not around to support Wilhelmine. Which means that she still has to deal with in-laws that hate on her new husband, imply that she's faking her first pregnancy, and her husband trying to get her elswhere during labor.