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Post by TheRomanSlayer on Apr 13, 2019 6:26:30 GMT
The Livonian War was a major influence in the creation of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, in that the Grand Duchy of Lithuania had to compromise with the Poles due to them losing a lot of resources in their war against the Tsardom of Russia in order to secure Polish backing in pushing the Russians out of Livonia.
But what happens if Ivan IV decided not to launch a war against Livonia? Without the Russian conflict in Livonia that dragged the Grand Duchy of Lithuania into said war, what is the fate of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth? Would it even exist at all, or would it have some different approach to unity? Or would there be a civil war between the Poles and Lithuanians?
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stevep
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Post by stevep on Apr 13, 2019 10:39:39 GMT
The Livonian War was a major influence in the creation of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, in that the Grand Duchy of Lithuania had to compromise with the Poles due to them losing a lot of resources in their war against the Tsardom of Russia in order to secure Polish backing in pushing the Russians out of Livonia. But what happens if Ivan IV decided not to launch a war against Livonia? Without the Russian conflict in Livonia that dragged the Grand Duchy of Lithuania into said war, what is the fate of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth? Would it even exist at all, or would it have some different approach to unity? Or would there be a civil war between the Poles and Lithuanians?
Don't know enough about the period but wasn't Lithuanian still largely 'pagan' at this point. So without a clear and immediate threat from Russia it might be that the alliance doesn't continue, especially if say the Poles seek to impose Catholic Christianity on the Lithuanians. Although sooner or later Russian is likely to be a serious threat to Lithuania.
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Post by TheRomanSlayer on Apr 13, 2019 19:47:38 GMT
Lithuania is already Christianized at this point, though the majority of its population were Orthodox Ruthenians from White Ruthenia and modern Ukraine. On the other hand, Sweden would still want Livonia in order to turn the Baltic into their own 'lake', but if there is no Livonian War, then I could see the Swedes trying to negotiate with the Poles and Lithuanians on the status of Livonia.
Internally however, there were hotheads within both the Polish and Lithuanian factions that have extreme demands: for the Poles, they wanted full incorporation of Lithuania into the Polish Kingdom and the Lithuanians wanted to preserve their status within the personal union.
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