Looking outside the Hapsburgs, I think there are two questions: the diplomatic benefits, and the woman in question. Frederick might like a marriage to one of the Wales girls, but historically, two of them were in very bad health, Caroline Mathilde was possibly too young, and Augusta had three sons with issues of mental and physical health. While they wouldn't know that, it seems like marrying her into Prussia would be cruel.
Other options include Maria Kunigunda of Saxony, who didn't marry because Joseph found her too shy to be his second wife, and whose father was a Lutheran until offered the Polish throne. They were all very well educated, and her sisters included the Dauphine, the Electress of Bavaria and the Queen of Spain (and several Abbesses who became these for lack of options.) There's also, I suppose, Joseph's historical second wife, who might be happier married to a man not desperately in love with his first wife, but religion may or may not be an issue.
Looking closer to home, there is Wilhelmine's daughter Elisabeth, one of Philippine Charlotte's daughters, or one of Sophia Dorothea Jr's daughters. There's also Christiane of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, older sister of Charlotte.
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Counterfactuals...
Date: 2025-05-31 09:03 am (UTC)Other options include Maria Kunigunda of Saxony, who didn't marry because Joseph found her too shy to be his second wife, and whose father was a Lutheran until offered the Polish throne. They were all very well educated, and her sisters included the Dauphine, the Electress of Bavaria and the Queen of Spain (and several Abbesses who became these for lack of options.) There's also, I suppose, Joseph's historical second wife, who might be happier married to a man not desperately in love with his first wife, but religion may or may not be an issue.
Looking closer to home, there is Wilhelmine's daughter Elisabeth, one of Philippine Charlotte's daughters, or one of Sophia Dorothea Jr's daughters. There's also Christiane of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, older sister of Charlotte.