Habsburgs keep Württemberg in 1520

[Max Sinister]

Duke Ulrich of Württemberg in SW Germany attacked the free city of Reutlingen in 1519, but was defeated and deposed one year later. Until 1534, the Habsburgs administrated the country instead of him.
Now Ulrich introduced the reformation in his country after 1534. So WI the Habsburgs had decided to keep his country for themselves? This would've meant that Protestatntism would be effectively excluded from SW Germany and that the Habsburgs would dominate in this part of Germany, too.

Maybe we'd see a changed history like this:
The counter-reformation is more successful in Germany, OTOH Switzerland leaves the HRE earlier. In the 30-year war and the war of Spanish succession (I think there'll still be a big war between Catholics and Protestants, or France and Austria, and since the Spanish Habsburgs had definitely too much inbreeding, they could die out TTL too), Habsburg makes more territorial gains. When the lands of the Wittelsbachs (Bavaria and Palatinate) are reunited, the Austrian monarchs suggest them an exchange: Bavaria against Belgium. Even if there's a Frederick the Great around, he can't stop it, and the Habsburgs now rule half of Southern Germany. After the wars of the French revolution, they add Baden (which prince is relocated to another country, maybe in the Rhineland) and Franconia to their territory.

Even if Northern Germany is united by another power or leaves the HRE, Austria will matter more than OTL. If neither happens, the Habsburgs might even reform the HRE in a way that their king automatically becomes emperor.

[Faeelin]

Originally Posted by Max Sinister

Duke Ulrich of Württemberg in SW Germany attacked the free city of Reutlingen in 1519, but was defeated and deposed one year later. Until 1534, the Habsburgs administrated the country instead of him.
Now Ulrich introduced the reformation in his country after 1534. So WI the Habsburgs had decided to keep his country for themselves? This would've meant that Protestatntism would be effectively excluded from SW Germany and that the Habsburgs would dominate in this part of Germany, too.

Hmm. Lutheranism was still a problem in the Habsburg lands in OTL, so I think it would go protestant. The Habsburgs would be stronger in Southwest Germany, of course.

Even if Northern Germany is united by another power or leaves the HRE, Austria will matter more than OTL. If neither happens, the Habsburgs might even reform the HRE in a way that their king automatically becomes emperor.

The Habsburgs were trying to reform the HRE, actually; it didn't work out, but it was worth a shot.