1625 Christian IV dies at Hameln

[arctic warrior]

May 2. 1625 Christian IV was elected Colonel of the Lower Saxon Kreis. On June 7. Christians newly raised army of almost 20.000 crossed the Elbe advancing to the river Weser. Tilly was positioned with the Catholic League army in the Diocese of Paderborn on the opposite side of the river.
Tilly crosses the river July 18. at Höxter and on the 20. Christian during an inspection of the fortress wall of Hameln crashes through a section of the wall and drops 7 m. His horse being dead on impact but Christian survives but is only able to resume command in August 1625.

But WI Christian dies as well?

Obviously the throne goes to his son Christian, the chosen prince, who will also be Duke of Sleswig and Holstein.
Christian being dead the seat of the Colonel of the Lower Saxon Kreis is vacant - Christian's election was a narrow run due to his actions in Northern Germany to secure secularized Bishopric's for his sons. So probably Denmark is out on this one?
But who is going the stem the tide of the Catholic onslaught or will peace be sought by the Protestant Princes?

 

[arctic warrior]

Too specific WI?

I don't see Christian 5. being as aggressive as his father. Nothing much is known of him except that he was a collecter of arts and lover of music and apparently didn't handle the domestic situation during Christian IV's campaign in Lower Saxony to his fathers wishes.
On that I'd say that the Council gets it's will in making peace with the Emperor/Catholic league. Probably easy as Wallenstein is just about finishing recruitment. Getting Denmark out of German affairs at a small cost will be no small feat of the Emperors at this time.

With a Danish-HRE peace the Danish mercenaries could be sent to support Ernst v. Mansfeld and Duke Christian of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel.