Post by Bob on Jul 20, 2023 14:41:31 GMT
In case this hasn't been done already, I'd like to discuss the scenarios of an alternative to the OTL Hohenzollern prince-electors of Brandenburg inheriting the Duchy of Prussia in 1618.
Some history books say many if not most of Prussia's Junkers elite opposed the union with Brandenburg, and that year offered the throne of their homeland to the King of Poland (which the Duchy of Prussia was a fief of) - knowing full well that the tax and military burden from Warsaw would far lower than that from Berlin.
The complication is that the King of Poland is an ardent Catholic, and Prussia is by now fully Lutheran; on the other hand, religious difference didn't stop France and Sweden. Also, Poland was constitutionally religiously tolerant and averted the 30 Years War.
ATL: On the eve of the 30 Years War, the Polish King accepts the offer, supports the Junkers insurgency and defensively campaigns against Brandenburg, which pursues its claim. [That's instead of (OTL) Poland aggressively campaigning in Upper Hungary to cover Austria's flank against Transylvania. Concentrating on Prussia, Poland averts the OTL Polish Ottoman War (1620–1621) for Moldavia.]
Does Poland do this in alliance with Austria, which wants a land bridge along the lower Oder from Silesia to the Baltic? Or does Poland negotiate with Berlin, vowing to stay out of the 30 Years war in return for Berlin recognizing its claim on Prussia - much as in OTL Berlin obtained the release of Prussia from Poland in return for staying out of The Deluge?
Thoughts?
Some history books say many if not most of Prussia's Junkers elite opposed the union with Brandenburg, and that year offered the throne of their homeland to the King of Poland (which the Duchy of Prussia was a fief of) - knowing full well that the tax and military burden from Warsaw would far lower than that from Berlin.
The complication is that the King of Poland is an ardent Catholic, and Prussia is by now fully Lutheran; on the other hand, religious difference didn't stop France and Sweden. Also, Poland was constitutionally religiously tolerant and averted the 30 Years War.
ATL: On the eve of the 30 Years War, the Polish King accepts the offer, supports the Junkers insurgency and defensively campaigns against Brandenburg, which pursues its claim. [That's instead of (OTL) Poland aggressively campaigning in Upper Hungary to cover Austria's flank against Transylvania. Concentrating on Prussia, Poland averts the OTL Polish Ottoman War (1620–1621) for Moldavia.]
Does Poland do this in alliance with Austria, which wants a land bridge along the lower Oder from Silesia to the Baltic? Or does Poland negotiate with Berlin, vowing to stay out of the 30 Years war in return for Berlin recognizing its claim on Prussia - much as in OTL Berlin obtained the release of Prussia from Poland in return for staying out of The Deluge?
Thoughts?