So I finally managed to get my fathers copy of Clarks Iron Kingdom and atm read it. He mentions that there was a plan to marry Frederick the Great (then the crown prince) to Amelia of Great Britain, the second daughter of Georg II. According to Clark Frederick became a strong supporter of the match and the soldier king preventing it contributed to his attempt to flee for France.
Upon reading a bit more about it, it is not quite as simple as that. George I., who was in general in favour of the idea, delayed it the first time, because he considered the couple to be not old enough (11 and 12 years old). The marriage agreement should have been finalised on his next trip to Hanover, but he died on the way and his son was far less in favour of the match. The political conditions he wanted were not acceptable to Frederick William (and FWs in turn not to George II.). Furthermore the Austrians learned rather early of the match and through extensive bribing formed an influential lobby against the match (led by the Prussian minister of war and the Prussian ambassador in London, who made quite a sum from the incident it seems).
But George I. might well not suffer his stroke on the way to Hannover, but a year or so later. Frederick William might well be persuaded by a trusted advisor like the old Dessauer that the impact on the already strained relationship with his son could be worse than a politically less than optimal marriage (pointing to the example of the Great Elector who staid out of reach of his father for fear of the wrong marriage) and that said marriage might even mature the crown prince. And Austria might learn too late about the marriage (or underestimate its likelihood) to built much momentum against it.
Lets say the marriage goes through until 1730. Frederick will still not be terribly interested in his wife, but she was not forced on him and he won´t resent her as his otl wife since neither his Fathers pressure nore Habsburg meddling were involved. His conflicts with his father will likely be reduced, though not vanish, if Frederick William backs of a bit after the marriage as he did otl. Certainly Frederick won´t attempt to flee this time. Might lack a few of the lessons he learned in civilian administration from his release from prison until he was reinstated into the army later on.
Of course Austria won´t like the marriage.
Any idea what effects will be in the long run?
Upon reading a bit more about it, it is not quite as simple as that. George I., who was in general in favour of the idea, delayed it the first time, because he considered the couple to be not old enough (11 and 12 years old). The marriage agreement should have been finalised on his next trip to Hanover, but he died on the way and his son was far less in favour of the match. The political conditions he wanted were not acceptable to Frederick William (and FWs in turn not to George II.). Furthermore the Austrians learned rather early of the match and through extensive bribing formed an influential lobby against the match (led by the Prussian minister of war and the Prussian ambassador in London, who made quite a sum from the incident it seems).
But George I. might well not suffer his stroke on the way to Hannover, but a year or so later. Frederick William might well be persuaded by a trusted advisor like the old Dessauer that the impact on the already strained relationship with his son could be worse than a politically less than optimal marriage (pointing to the example of the Great Elector who staid out of reach of his father for fear of the wrong marriage) and that said marriage might even mature the crown prince. And Austria might learn too late about the marriage (or underestimate its likelihood) to built much momentum against it.
Lets say the marriage goes through until 1730. Frederick will still not be terribly interested in his wife, but she was not forced on him and he won´t resent her as his otl wife since neither his Fathers pressure nore Habsburg meddling were involved. His conflicts with his father will likely be reduced, though not vanish, if Frederick William backs of a bit after the marriage as he did otl. Certainly Frederick won´t attempt to flee this time. Might lack a few of the lessons he learned in civilian administration from his release from prison until he was reinstated into the army later on.
Of course Austria won´t like the marriage.
Any idea what effects will be in the long run?
