Japan, mid 18th century, thats pretty recent? Right?
Yep.
But how about current feudalism?
Japan, mid 18th century, thats pretty recent? Right?
This would integrate citizenship in the feudal system. On the other side, this could lead to promoting free cities and a middle class, since every craftsmen - even when in feudal loyalty to some overlord - would still be more of a citizen and a middle-class men. And these were the end of the feudal system.
I'd propose a system that elects the king - as the HRE - AND has a parliament where lords and gents have an equal vote, thus no dominating electorates. Maybe even Liberum Veto?
In Poland that was extremely stable - which was bad for the Poles because other countries used this. No reform was possible. So this system would need a lack of foreign enemies. For that, I'd propose a unified Karolingian empire lasting longer and encorporating England and Denmark.
The next problem would be to hold the citizens back: the new class of free citizens ultimately were the end of feudalism.
Maybe a constant inner war between different factions could stop economic development? Or agricultural development stays behind OTL, so that not that many towns can be supplied...
A change in the Merchant system, after a change in the Church, such that the idea of Profit and Merchants aren't looked down on. If the Lords and Nobles control the Trade, then the Middle class will take longer to arise.