How long can it actually last. Even if Charles III does not inherit immediately, Ferdinand IV survives Barbara's death, is the usually quoted reason, so the Wall ministry continues unimpeded. For sake of argument we'll give him another 20 to 25 years.
Is it realistic to suppose they remain out the entire duration as British fortunes in Fr. America continue to mount. Is a loss of all of French America likely. The Spanish can almost certainly exercise their diplomatic influence, what they have (still considerable at this point) to affect a diplomatic outcome they might favour.
Do the French simply keep more islands if all their mainland possessions are lost.
Where is Spain likely to draw the line and enter the war. Obviously an outcome that threatens their interests in New Spain is paramount, and the allure of re-capturing Gibraltar, while appealing, has not been appealing enough yet to induce them to side with their Bourbon relatives.
Aside from that, how soon do the Cortes start pushing for a re-marriage and the possibility of a Spanish born heir to the throne. Charles III is a Spanish born Prince raised to the Kingdom of Naples, but his heirs are not, and their residency in Spain is likely to be delayed considerably, even if Ferdinand still dies heirless. They will be more Italian than Spanish, unless one of them comes while Charles and Ferdinand still reign to be "groomed" as prince of Asturias in waiting shall we say. Does it actually need to be Charles IV, or could Ferdinand and the Spanish Cortes induce Charles ( in Naples ) to allow the Spanish throne to pass to another more junior son instead? Is that even possible? Is their wiggle room given Phillip's introduction of French Salic succession. This is still new in Spain, can Ferdinand and the Cortes revise it in favour of more historical previous Spanish traditions, if say Charles (OTL III) could be induced to agree to the change and pass his succession rites down to one of his sons.
Is it realistic to suppose they remain out the entire duration as British fortunes in Fr. America continue to mount. Is a loss of all of French America likely. The Spanish can almost certainly exercise their diplomatic influence, what they have (still considerable at this point) to affect a diplomatic outcome they might favour.
Do the French simply keep more islands if all their mainland possessions are lost.
Where is Spain likely to draw the line and enter the war. Obviously an outcome that threatens their interests in New Spain is paramount, and the allure of re-capturing Gibraltar, while appealing, has not been appealing enough yet to induce them to side with their Bourbon relatives.
Aside from that, how soon do the Cortes start pushing for a re-marriage and the possibility of a Spanish born heir to the throne. Charles III is a Spanish born Prince raised to the Kingdom of Naples, but his heirs are not, and their residency in Spain is likely to be delayed considerably, even if Ferdinand still dies heirless. They will be more Italian than Spanish, unless one of them comes while Charles and Ferdinand still reign to be "groomed" as prince of Asturias in waiting shall we say. Does it actually need to be Charles IV, or could Ferdinand and the Spanish Cortes induce Charles ( in Naples ) to allow the Spanish throne to pass to another more junior son instead? Is that even possible? Is their wiggle room given Phillip's introduction of French Salic succession. This is still new in Spain, can Ferdinand and the Cortes revise it in favour of more historical previous Spanish traditions, if say Charles (OTL III) could be induced to agree to the change and pass his succession rites down to one of his sons.