A New Portugal (an alternate Ksar-el-Kebir)

[Nasei]

Unfortunately they didn't. The POD (1578) is too late for their survival. But Portugal still has other areas that might be interesting to colonize.

In OTL it was after the union of the Iberian crowns that those colonies wore lost, mainly after the Dutch and the English declared war on Spain.
D. Sebastião even made legislation to improve the conditions of the fisherman that went and lived in the Great Banks to catch cod.
The colonies wore in Terra Nova (Newfoundland Island) mainly summer camps for fisherman, Ilha do Cabo Bretão(Cape Breton Island) in here there was a serious attempt to make a colony since the time of the kings D. João II and D. Manuel I and the Ilha Fagundes(Sable Island) in which the Portuguese freed caws, pigs, goats and horses so to have fresh meat during their stay in the Great Banks.
Without the wars with the Dutch and the English at least Cape Breton and Sable Island should be Portuguese.

 

[Gonzaga]

Great update, Gonzaga!

Thanks Archangel!

A French South. That will be very interesting!

Indeed, it will lead to some interesting consequences in North America.

In OTL it was after the union of the Iberian crowns that those colonies wore lost, mainly after the Dutch and the English declared war on Spain.
D. Sebastião even made legislation to improve the conditions of the fisherman that went and lived in the Great Banks to catch cod.
The colonies wore in Terra Nova (Newfoundland Island) mainly summer camps for fisherman, Ilha do Cabo Bretão(Cape Breton Island) in here there was a serious attempt to make a colony since the time of the kings D. João II and D. Manuel I and the Ilha Fagundes(Sable Island) in which the Portuguese freed caws, pigs, goats and horses so to have fresh meat during their stay in the Great Banks.
Without the wars with the Dutch and the English at least Cape Breton and Sable Island should be Portuguese.

Could you give a source for that? I must confess that when I tried to research about them I couldn't find any information after 1570. As I had more texts to read about other territories I assumed they simply died out, or never developed from seasonal harbours for fishing ships.

I actually found a line about the cardinal-king Dom Henrique giving to Vasco Annes Corte-Real the title of Lord of Newfoundland in 1579, but didn't pay much attention because my source wasn't completely reliable and also for a title being only a title (the English kings were also kings of France, and the kings of Spain claimed Jerusalem, but how much did they really control of it?).

Maybe I can make a retcon about it, or cover them in a future installment about the Portuguese colonies that I'm already preparing. Anyway, for now I will leave them as just seasonal places for fishermen. The Portuguese sailors know and used the region every year, but without a permanent presence (blame the weather ).

 

[Nasei]

Could you give a source for that? I must confess that when I tried to research about them I couldn't find any information after 1570. As I had more texts to read about other territories I assumed they simply died out, or never developed from seasonal harbours for fishing ships.

For two of the newest papers about the subject, that I know :
-Pedro Magalhães de Abreu "Fagundes e a descoberta do do Canada", Ponte de Lima 2000
-Varela, Consuelo "O controlo das rotas do bacalhau nos seculos XV e XVI" revista Oceanos nº45, Lisboa,Janeiro/Março, Comissão Nacional para as Comemorações dos Descobrimentos Portugueses , 2001

I actually found a line about the cardinal-king Dom Henrique giving to Vasco Annes Corte-Real the title of Lord of Newfoundland in 1579, but didn't pay much attention because my source wasn't completely reliable and also for a title being only a title (the English kings were also kings of France, and the kings of Spain claimed Jerusalem, but how much did they really control of it?).

Indeed.

Maybe I can make a retcon about it, or cover them in a future installment about the Portuguese colonies that I'm already preparing. Anyway, for now I will leave them as just seasonal places for fishermen. The Portuguese sailors know and used the region every year, but without a permanent presence (blame the weather ).

That's fine.
I will wait to see how you will expand the Portuguese Empire, and your promised surprises, .

 

[Hobelhouse]

As a glimpse of the future, the Eastern Coast of North America in 1635:

French New York? Awesome. But you could have come up with a more badass name than Novelle Nancy...

 

[Gonzaga]

For two of the newest papers about the subject, that I know :
-Pedro Magalhães de Abreu "Fagundes e a descoberta do do Canada", Ponte de Lima 2000
-Varela, Consuelo "O controlo das rotas do bacalhau nos seculos XV e XVI" revista Oceanos nº45, Lisboa,Janeiro/Março, Comissão Nacional para as Comemorações dos Descobrimentos Portugueses , 2001

I will wait to see how you will expand the Portuguese Empire, and your promised surprises, .

Thanks for the information!

About the chapter, I need to finish the problems with the 30 Years War before, but it's already being prepared.

French New York? Awesome. But you could have come up with a more badass name than Novelle Nancy...

Well, you know, you can't have good names everywhere, some place needs to take a dull one.

 

[Gonzaga]

Chapter 43
France’s darkest hour (part 2)

From “The Orange War” by François Taunay

…The first effect the “Declaration of Paris” [1] had was the collapse of all French fronts in the war against the Habsburgs. Now, instead of fighting the common enemy, generals and officers began to avoid any engagement with Spanish or Imperial forces and started to attack the forces that were under the command of nobles whose loyalty was contrary to theirs…

...The operations of war were paralyzed due to the winter. But the civil war in France was being watched with interest from Madrid. With the French forces garrisoned at the Pyrenees now busy attacking the Protestants of Navarre, Spanish troops could be sent to reinforce the invasion of Portugal, worsening the situation of that country even more …

…Philip IV and his ministers considered the war a blessing, and wanted to ensure that its result would be the most beneficial to Spain. But their greatest problem in order to achieve this goal was to discover who to back…

From “The war of the two Louis XIIIs”, by Dominique Pineau

…From the beginning the division of the forces in the conflict was a complicated affair. Roughly, the Duke of Orleans had the support of the Protestants and the Catholic nobles and ministers that were loyal to his father and brother. However, the accusation of regicide against the infant Antoine II made some of his probable supporters insist that he should renounce his claims to throne and pass them to his only male son, the five-year-old Louis, who was recognized among some circles as Louis XIII instead of his father…

…In the new “Catholic League” [2] the situation was even more complicated. While some supported the idea of Orleans’ renunciation in favour of his son, others believed that such crime should exclude all the Duke’s lineage from the throne. Therefore, the King of France should be Louis, Count of Soissons, whose father, Charles de Soissons, was a cousin of Henry IV. During the last succession war Charles fought against Henry of Navarre until his conversion, becoming a loyal subject after that. But his son did not have the same concerns…

…Louis de Soissons disliked the former King Antoine I and his brother because they never gave him the command of an important regiment in Savoy, as he wanted, due to his young age (he was born in 1604). Instead he received the mission of defending the town of Cuiseaux, in the southern border of the Habsburg Burgundy. It should be an easy task, as the French position in that region was good after the fall of Besançon. But the Habsurgs organized a “revenge raid”, and due to Louis’ incompetence the town was taken in the early 1627. He blamed the king for not sending reinforcements that were eventually commissioned to other fronts as the cause of his failure…

…Supported by his younger brothers, Charles and François [3], Louis accepted the offer made by the leaders of the League, and proclaimed himself Louis XIII of France…

…One of the most important symbols of recognition of Soissons’ rights to the throne was made by the former queen, Mary of Portugal. Her hatred towards Louis of Orleans, probable murderer of her only son, made the widow of Antoine I declare her support for Louis of Soissons by asking him to marry her…

…Soissons believed that such a marriage would give him support among those who loved the former queen, and also it would increase his recognition as the true monarch…

…Soon both sides started to negotiate a settlement with the Habsburgs in order to have their support to take the throne. Although the Count of Soissons seemed to be the most logical choice, since he was supported by the “Catholic League”, the Duke of Orleans still controlled most of the government. Also, he managed to put loyal troops in Rheims, in order to avoid any attempt of Soissons to get crowned there…

…The union of Soissons to the former queen, despite giving him more support from those who defended her, also closed an important door to negotiation at that age: a royal marriage. That was something that Orleans could offer. He had two daughters, Julianne and Anne Gabrielle, who would be soon reaching the age to be married, and could use them to make deals with foreign monarchs…

…The first move was made by Soissons. In exchange for the Habsburgs’ support he would return to the Netherlands their colonies in North American and give them the Charolais and Calais, while Spain would receive the French Savoy. Also, in order to prevent Louis of Orleans from having a refuge in Navarre (which could not be claimed by Soissons because he was not a descendent of Jeanne d’Albret) he recognized that all the lands of Navarre on the Northern side of the Pyrenees should have the same destiny of the Southern territories: be annexed to the kingdom of Aragon, and so be ruled by Philip IV. In exchange, the Habsburgs would send armies to help Soissons in his struggle against Orleans…

…When news about the treaty signed by Soissons was spread many commanders of the army decided to change sides again and support Orleans. After all, they were fighting for more than a decade against the Habsburgs, and didn’t want an “incompetent general” to dictate that France should be given to their enemies on a dish…

…Ironically enough, the agreement made by Orleans with the Habsburgs was almost identical to Soissons’ one. But while Soissons requested troops, Orleans was wiser, and only asked for non-intervention. Also, he compromised to give to Netherlands and Spain the territories they occupied (Calais for the Dutch and French Savoy to the Spanish), while Navarre and the Charolais would remain French. Also, France would have permission to keep the North American colonies conquered. For the official cause of the war, the succession of Orange and Nassau, it was decided that Orange would remain in Protestant hands by being given to Frederick Henry, while his cousin William would be recognized as the ruler of Nassau, with the right of forcing Catholicism in his lands…

… France was forbidden to give shelter to any Protestant noble fleeing the Holy Roman Empire. Finally, the eldest daughter of Louis, Julianne of Orleans, would be betrothed to Charles of Spain, the youngest brother of Philip IV, and a great dowry would be paid. As now the Habsburgs were busy dealing with the Ottomans and the Calvinists revolts in Netherlands [4] any agreement that involved not employing more troops and receiving money seemed more reasonable… [5]

…In May 27th 1630 Louis of Soissons was killed by hired assassins while commanding troops that were attacking the Protestant city of Montauban. His death marked the beginning of the final phase of the civil war. Soissons left his claim to his brother Charles, who tried to continue the fight, but with less success…

… Charles and his brother would finally be captured in the battle of Albiac, in August 12th 1630. Both were sent as prisoners to the Chateau de Blois, where they were killed three months later, after a court considered them guilty of the charge of regicide against Antoine II… [6]

…The former Queen Mary was sent back to Portugal with the posthumous daughter of Soissons, Louise…

…The last war of French succession was in great part responsible for the future policies of Louis XIII. While believing that the powers the nobles possessed in France would always be a threat to a king’s rule, he also discovered that the support the monarchy was giving to Protestants would also always be a cause of unrest among the Catholic majority. Louis would spend the rest of his reign trying to solve both problems…

[1] Declaration of the Parliament of Paris declaring Louis, Duke of Orleans, unfit to the role of king of France due to the regicide committed by him.

[2] They borrowed the name from the old League formed in the 16th century.

[3] IOTL Louis had two sisters. ITTL they are born as males.

[4] More about the Ottomans and the Calvinist revolts in the next chapter.

[5] Despite all the losses, the treaty is still more acceptable to the army as France doesn’t lose so many lands and Habsburgs troops are not operating in the country. Also, Savoy and Calais were de facto occupied by Habsburg troops, while the Charolais and Navarre were not.

[6] They were considered guilty of conspiracy, because by killing the king and blaming Louis of Orleans they intended to usurp his rightful throne. As you know, the truth is generally made by the victors.

 

[Gonzaga]

Northern French borders after the peace of 1630:

 

[Gonzaga]

Southern French borders after 1630:

 

[maverick]

Interesting, but no map of europe or the world in general?

 

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

French New York? Awesome. But you could have come up with a more badass name than Novelle Nancy...

Just think, the phrase "Nancy boy" might have a totally different meaning. Or not

 

[Gonzaga]

Interesting, but no map of europe or the world in general?

I'll try an European map after the end of the 30 Years War, and a world map only when I finish the TL.

Just think, the phrase "Nancy boy" might have a totally different meaning. Or not

 

[Gonzaga]

Chapter 44
A new phase in the war

From “The 30 Years War”, by Jakob Gremmelmayer

…Following the agreements made between the Emperor and Gabriel Bethlen, the Hungarian Diet assembled in October 23rd 1622 in order to elect the new king. Respecting the pact of family that granted the Imperial crown to the Netherlander line, the Habsburg candidate was not Maximilian, but the Archduke of Austria, Leopold V. With the Bohemian crown already granted for Charles – Leopold’s nephew – such a move would ensure that all the family’s branches would receive a kingdom [1]…

…However, the election was not an easy affair. From the beginning the Hungarian nobles were so divided between Catholic and Protestant supporters that even the city where the Diet should take place was an issue. The choice of Pressburg, a Habsburg stronghold, indicated that the Catholic nobles would have an advantage…

…The Protestant nobles argued that the Croatian representatives should not be in the Diet, as Croatia was a kingdom in personal union with Hungary instead of being a part of the country. Therefore, they were supposed to hold a separate election, giving the example of the Parliament of Cetin of 1527 when the Croatians elected Ferdinand of Habsburg as their king independently from the Hungarians.

The reason behind the exclusion of the Croatians was that they were the staunchest supporters of the Habsburgs, as their defences against the Ottomans were completely paid by Austrian resources. Without them, the Protestants would have more of a chance of electing Bethlen as the Hungarian king…

…Leopold was elected with a slim majority. However, the Protestants claimed the result invalid, and the conflict began again in Hungary…

…As a result of the Hungarian Religious War the Austrian troops were committed against Bethlen instead of helping Maximilian to fight the French and the Protestant rebellions in the Palatinate, Württemberg and Hesse-Kassel…

… In 1624 Bethlen married Anna Sophia of Brandenburg, the former wife of Gustav Adolph of Sweden. With this union he intended to strengthen ties with the Protestant German states and gain recognition of his claims to the throne. She would give him his only son and heir, Stephen, born in 1625… [2]

…The action that would change the character of the Hungarian War happened in April 11th 1628. Transylvanian troops, commanded by Bethlen himself, defeated a small Catholic force outside the small town of Bánhida in Royal Hungary. However, soon they received news about a huge Habsburg army gathered at the city of Györ (also known by its German name Raab). The presence of enemy troops there, combined with the approach of a small detachment from the North blocked their way, and the only safe route to go back to Eastern Hungary passed through Ottoman territory…

…The relation between Bethlen and the Ottomans was a complex one. The prince truly hated them, and many time he sought the Emperor that would make an anti-Turkish alliance with the Habsburgs if he had Imperial support to become king of Hungary. However, as the war against Leopold became harsher, he asked for Ottoman help. The Porte promised recognition of Bethlen’s claim to the throne, as long as he defeated the Habsburgs. Some money was sent to Transylvania in order to pay for Bethlen’s campaign, but not a single soldier had been mobilized to help him, nor were the troops of both claimants allowed to cross into Ottoman Hungary…

…The military commander of Buda was a supporter of Bethlen and well received the prince and his troops. When emissaries of Leopold demanded that he deliver Bethlen to the Austrian army he refused…

…The results of Leopold’s attack against Buda turned completely against the Habsburgs' wishes. Firstly, Leopold's own death in the adventure caused more disarray among his troops, as he had left no directs. His only child from Margaret of Spain would be a posthumous daughter, the princess Isabella Clara. Immediately the claims for the Hungarian throne and his Austrian territories were passed to his nephew, Charles of Bohemia, now an 18-year-old king, but lacking military skills…

…The other problem was the entrance of the Ottoman Empire in the war, something Maximilian wanted to avoid at any cost. Although France was now already in the middle of a civil war and the informal Franco-Ottoman alliance could not be formed, the Turks were a formidable opponent, and would require the employment of many troops that were being used against the rebel Protestants. Maximilian needed an ally in the East, and he soon found one…

From “The Struggle for the Baltic”, by Konrad Korzeniowski

…Since the defeats in the two previous Baltic Wars the position of the Vasas in Poland-Lithuania was in danger. The losses of huge territories to Sweden and Russia, the humiliation caused by Branderburg’s army, the transformation of Courland into a Swedish vassal, all this indicated to the nobles of the Sejm that the lack of military and diplomatic skill of the dynasty was a threat to the country. But the worst problem indicated by their enemies was the surrender of Danzig. To cede Poland’s most important port to Sweden without it being conquered during the war was an unbearable political failure. Whenever some magnate wanted to criticise the Vasas, the phrase “Remember Danzig” was pronounced…

…John III Casimir [3] only could reign because of his age. Being only nine years old when his father died, the Sejm believed that, contrary to his father, he would be easily influenced by the magnates. But it did not stop rebellions of discontent nobles along his reign…

…After Albert I made an alliance with Sweden, the greatest Polish enemy, some members of the Sejm proposed to expel John’s mother, Constance of Austria, from the country. In order to save her son’s throne she agreed to leave, but never stopped writing to John, trying to keep her influence over him…

…When John decided to marry he chose the bride indicated by his mother: her niece Christine of Bohemia, sister of King Charles II. Three years his senior, she would be the perfect instrument to be used in favour of Habsburg’s influence over the Polish king…

…Facing a future Ottoman invasion in Hungary and with the threat of the armies from Brandenburg in Silesia, [4] Charles was forced to ask for support from his Polish cousin and brother-in-law…

…The Treaty of Breslau, signed by Charles II and John III Casimir in April 14th 1629, stated that in case of victory the King of Poland-Lithuania would receive Transylvania and the Duchy of Prussia, while recognizing the Bohemian king as the legitimate monarch of Hungary…

…The possibility of a holy war against the Muslim Turks, the reconquest of Prussia and the expansion of the Commonwealth to Transylvania was enough to make the Sejm accept the treat. However, many criticized the king for going to war against the Ottomans, benefiting the Habsburgs more than Poland-Lithuania, but at the same time refusing help to the citizens of Danzig, who had been living under the “Swedish yoke” for more than a decade. But soon they would regret such a call…

From “The 30 Years War”, by Jakob Gremmelmayer

…Gabriel Bethlen died in February 1629, [5] but before that he arranged for the Transylvanian Diet to accept his four-year-old son Stephen as the new Prince, and his wife as regent… [6]

…In order to help the Transylvanians and ensure the rule of his nephew, George William entered the war, invading Silesia…

…The Bohemian Protestants once more rose in rebellion, electing George William of Brandenburg as their king…

...Due to the necessity of more allies, George William convinced Charles X of Sweden to join the war. Until then the Swedish king kept a neutral position, due to the help the Habsburgs gave to his brother during the last war against Denmark. However, that conflict had made Sweden become the “traitor of Protestants” by attacking a fellow Lutheran country with support of a Catholic army. Convinced that attacking the Habsburgs now would “clear the reputation” of the Swedish monarchs to the Protestants, and with the possibility of increasing his Baltic territories, Charles accepted the invitation…

…The agreement made between Brandenburg, Sweden and the Ottomans recognized Stephen Bethlen as the legitimate king of Hungary and Prince of Transylvania, in exchange for the acceptance of Ottoman vassalage over those territories. Also, George William of Brandenburg was recognized as king of Bohemia. In case of victory, Brandenburg would annex the Royal Prussia to its territories, while Samogitia would go to Sweden…

…In October the first Swedish regiments arrived at the Prussian port of Konigsberg, beginning a new phase of the war, the Ottoman-Swedish Alliance…

[1] It’s true if you consider that the Emperor had the title of “King of the Romans”.

[2] IOTL Bethlen married Catharine of Brandenburg, who was sister-in-law of Gustav Adolph. They had no issue from their union. ITTL Catharine marries Gustav’s brother, Charles Philip.

[3] John's eldest brother (who IOTL would be the King Wladislav IV) died in 1616 ITTL.

[4] As Gabriel Bethlen married his sister, George William of Brandenburg decides to help him, attacking the Bohemian king.

[5] IOTL he died in November, but here he suffers more stress and die earlier.

[6] IOTL Bethlen managed to make his wife, who didn’t even give him a son, the new Princess of Transylvania.

 

[Thande]

I'm glad you're continuing this, and I like the fact that it's so far-ranging in its changes and butterflies, if a little confusing from keeping track of everything (but then I'm well aware of that from my own TL...)

 

[Gonzaga]

I'm glad you're continuing this

Thanks! Now I've got more free time, so I can write more often.

and I like the fact that it's so far-ranging in its changes and butterflies, if a little confusing from keeping track of everything (but then I'm well aware of that from my own TL...)

That's true. I think that pointing the parts where the narrative about the places described stopped before might help. So, here is the last chapter about Poland:

https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1576514&postcount=315

About Sweden:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1714275&postcount=327

And about Bohemia and Hungary:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=1745341&postcount=336


Also, I forgot to write a note about the Polish succession. IOTL the successor of Sigismund III was Wladislav IV. ITTL Wladislav dies as a teenager, so the throne goes to his half brother John Casimir. All add this information now.

OBS: Maybe I should post a genealogical three of the ruling houses of Europe as a way to help people keeping track of changes.

 

[Gonzaga]

As I promised, here is a genelogical tree of the ruling houses of Europe until 1635. After this year is not revealed neither the marriages nor the births.
It's not complete, I didn't include some states from the HRE because I'm still studying what to do (who marries who, this king of thing). I also didn't include Russia, because I'm planning an interesting twist there, and don't want to ruin the surprise.


AUSTRIA, HUNGARY AND BOHEMIA
A - Ferdinand II, king of Hungary and Bohemia (1578 – 1622). Married Magdalene of Bavaria (1587 – 1625) in 1605.
Issue:
A1 – Christine of Hungary (1606 – 1652). Married John III Casimir of Poland (1609 – 1671) in 1625.
Issue:
See Poland A2

A2 – Elisabeth (1609 – 1665). Married Albert of Bavaria(1584 – 1646) in 1634.
Issue:
See Bavaria A4

A3 – Charles II, King of Bohemia and Hungary, Archduke of Austria (1610 – 1635). Married Isabella of Spain(1609 – 1635) in 1625.
Issue:
No surviving issue.

B – Margaret of Austria (1584 -1611). Married Philip III of Spain (1578 – 1621) in 1599.
Issue:
See Spain A

C – Leopold V, Archduke of Austria, King of Hungary (1586 – 1648). Married Margaret of Spain (1606 – 1650) in 1622.
Issue:
C1 - Isabella Clara (1628 – 1654).

D – Constance of Austria (1588 – 1631). Married Sigismund III Vasa of Poland (1566 – 1617) in 1605.
Issue:
See Poland A

E – Maria Magdalena (1589 – 1631). Married Francesco Gonzaga of Mantua(1586 -1638) in 1609.
Issue:
See Mantua A1

BAVARIA
A – William V, Duke of Bavaria (1548 – 1626). Married Renata of Lorraine (1544 – 1602) in 1568.
Issue:
A1 - Maximilian I (1573 – 1632). Married Elizabeth of Lorraine (1574-1633) in 1595 (no issue).

A2 – Maria Anna of Bavaria (1574 – 1616). Married Philip William, Prince of Orange (1554 – 1618) in 1595.
Issue:
See Orange-Nassau A

A3 – Ferdinand (1577 – 1650). Archbishop and Prince-Elector of Cologne.

A4 – Albert (1584 – 1646). 1st marriage Laura D’Este of Ferrara (1597 – 1643). in 1612. 2nd marriage: Elisabeth of Hungary (1609 – 1665) in 1634.
Issue 1st marriage:
A4.1 – Johann Karl (1621 – 1662).

A4.2 – Maximilian Heinrich (1623 – 1665). Archbishop and Prince-Elector of Cologne.

Issue 2nd marriage:
A4.3 – Matilde Elisabeth (1635 – 1667).

A5 – Magdalene of Bavaria (1587 – 1625). Married Ferdinand II, king of Hungaryand Bohemia(1578 – 1622) in 1605.
Issue:
See Austria, Hungary and Bohemia A

BRANDENBURG-PRUSSIA
A - John Sigismund (1572 – 1619). Married Anna of Prussia (1576 – 1625) in 1594.

Issue:
A1 – George William (1595 – 1640). Married Elisabeth Charlotte of Palatinate-Simmern (1597 – 1659) in 1616.
Issue:
A1.1 - Louise Charlotte (1618 – 1646).

A1.2 - Frederick William (1620 – 1669).

A1.3 - Hedwig Sophie (1623 – 1670).

A2 – Anna Sophia (1598 – 1659). Married Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden (1594 – 1622) in 1616. No issue.

A3 – Maria Eleonora (1599 – 1655). Married Frederick Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1591 – 1633) in 1617.No issue


A4 – Catherine (1602 – 1644). Married Charles Philip of Sweden (1601 – 1638) in 1622.
Issue:
See Sweden A4

B - Anne Catherine (1575 – 1612). Married Christian IV of Denmark (1577 – 1648) in 1597.
Issue:
See Denmark A

C – John George (1577 – 1624). Duke of Jägerndorf. Married Eva Christine of Württemberg (1590–1657) in 1610. No surviving issue.

D – Barbara Sophie (1584–1636). Married John Frederick of Württemberg (1582 – 1628) in 1609.


E – Christian Willhelm (1587 – 1665).Administrator of Magdeburg.

COURLAND
A – Wilhelm Kettler, Duke of Courland (1574 – 1640). 1st marriage: Sophie of Prussia (1582 – 1610) in 1609. 2nd marriage: Catherine of Sweden (1584 – 1638) in 1614.

Issue 1st marriage:
A1 - Jacob Kettler (1610 – 1682).

Issue 2nd marriage:
A2 – Anna (1615 – 1679).

DENMARK
A - Christian IV (1577 – 1648). Married Anne Catherine of Brandenburg (1575 – 1612) in 1597.
Issue:
A1 - Christian V (1603 – 1656). Married Sophie Margaret of Mecklenburg-Gustrow (1613 – 1676) in 1628. No issue.

A2 – Frederick III (1609 – 1666).

A3 - Ulrick (1611 – 1664).

ENGLAND, SCOTLAND AND IRELAND
A – James I and VI (1566 – 1621). Married Anne of Denmark (1574 – 1619) in 1589.
Issue:
A1 - Henry IX (1594 – 1658). 1st marriage: Maria Elizabeth of Sweden (1596 – 1618) in 1614. No issue. 2nd marriage: Henriette of Orange-Nassau (1606 – 1660) in 1623.
Issue:
A1.1 – James (1624 – 1672).

A1.2 – Anne (1627 – 1643). Never married.

A1.3 – Henrietta (1632 – 1655).

A2 - Elisabeth (1596 – 1662). Married Frederick V, Elector Palatine (1596 – 1626) in 1613.
Issue:
See Palatinate-Simmern A2

A3 – Charles, Duke of York (1600 – 1665). Married in 1625 Anna Eleonore of Palatinate (1602 – 1655).
Issue:
A3.1 – Louise (1626 - 1647).

A3.2 – Charles (1629 – 1647). Never married.

A3.3 – James (1631 – 1660).

FERRARA
A - Cesare D’Este (1561 -1628). Married Maria de Médici (1575 – 1605), in 1592.
Issue:
A1 - Giulia (1593 -1645). Married Louis of France (1595 – 1631) in 1614.
Issue:
See France A2

A2 - Alfonso III D’Este (1595 – 1644). Married Margherita Gonzaga of Mantua (1594 – 1635) in 1614.
Issue:
A2.1 – Lucrezia (1615 – 1634). Married Otavio of Portugal (1611 – 1652) in 1630.
Issue:
See Portugal A3

A2.2 – Cesare (1617 – 1648).

A2.3 - Anna Maria (1619 – 1635). Never married.

A2.4 – Ercole (1623 – 1644).

A2.5 – Margherita (1625 – 1660).

A3 - Laura D’Este (1597 – 1643). Married Albert of Bavaria(1584 – 1646). in 1612.
Issue :
See Bavaria A1.1

A4 - Catherine D’Este (1600 – 1633). Nun.

A5 – Luigi D’Este (1602 – 1646).Cardinal

A6 – Ippolito D’Este (1604 – 1637). Knight of Malta.

A7 – Angela D’Este (1606 – 1659). Married Maximilian of Netherlands (1597 – 1653) in 1626.
Issue:
See Netherlands A2.

FRANCE
A - Henry IV (1553 – 1616). Married Gabrielle d’Estreés (1571 – 1598) in 1593
Issue:
A1 – Antoine I (1593 – 1627). Married Maria of Portugal (1603 – 1670) in 1618.
Issue:
A1.1 – Antoine II (1626 – 1627).

A2 – Louis, Duke of Orleans (1595 – 1652). Married Giulia D’Este of Ferrara (1593 -1645) in 1614.
Issue:
A2.1 - Julianne (1615 – 1646). Married Charles of Spain (1607 – 1632) in 1632
Issue:
See Spain A4

A2.2 – Anne Gabrielle (1617 – 1632). Never married.

A2.3 – Louis (1622 – 1676).

A2.4 – Henriette (1624 – 1662).

A3 - Catherine Henriette (1597 – 1627). Married Cosimo de Medici of Tuscany (1591 – 1648) in 1615.
Issue:
See Tuscany A2

B – Catherine of Navarre (1559 – 1604). Married Henry de Condé (1552 – 1590) in 1586.
Issue:
B1 – Jeanne de Condé (1587 – 1632). Married Frederick Henry of Orange-Nassau (1584 – 1647) in 1605.
Issue:
See Orange-Nassau H

JULICH-CLEVES-BERG
A - Duke John William (1562 – 1609). Married Catherine de Mayenne (1585 – 1618) in 1599.
Issue:
A1 – John Frederick (1600 – 1625). No issue.

A2 - Mary Catherine (1604 – 1661). Married William of Orange-Nassau (1597 – 1642) in 1620.
Issue:
See Orange-Nassau A1.

LORRAINE
A - Charles Emmanuel (1581 – 1625). Married Reneé of Guise (1585 – 1629) in 1602.
Issue:
A1 – Charles (1610 – 1630). No issue.

B - Catherine de Mayenne (1585 – 1618). Married John William, Duke of Julich-Cleves-Berg(1562 – 1609) in 1599.
Issue:
See Julich-Cleves-Berg

MANTUA
A - Vincenzo I Gonzaga (1562 -1612). Married Eleonora de Médici (1566 – 1612) in 1584.
Issue:
A1 - Francesco (1586 -1638). Married Maria Magdalena of Austria (1589 – 1631) in 1609.
Issue:
A1.1 – Margherita (1610 – 1658). Married in 1630 Eduardo of Portugal (1610 – 1672).
Issue:
See Portugal A2

A1.2 - Anna Maria (1612 – 1640). Married Louis Charles Gonzaga-Nevers (1612 – 1662) in 1631.

A1.3 – Vincenzo (1615 – 1638).

A2 - Ferdinando (1587 – 1652)

A3 - Vincenzo (1589 – 1650). Cardinal.

A4 – Margherita (1594 – 1635). Married Alfonso III D’Este of Ferrara (1595 – 1644) in 1615.
Issue:
See Ferrara A2

A5 - Eleonora (1598 – 1655). A nun.

NETHERLANDS
A - Albert of Austria (1559 – 1620). Married Catarina Micaela of Spain (1567 – 1599) in 1593.
Issue:
A1 - Mary (1596 – 1657). MarriedPhilip IV of Spain (1601 – 1662) in 1619.
Issue:
See Spain A1

A2 - Maximilian (1597 – 1653). 1st marriage: Mary of Spain (1605 – 1625) in 1621. 2nd marriage: Angela D’Este of Ferrara (1606 – 1659) in 1626
Issue 1st marriage:
A2.1 – Albert (1622 – 1650)

A2.2 – Catherine (1624 – 1642).

A2.3 - Mary (1625 – 1645).

Issue 2nd marriage:
A2.4 – Ferdinand (1630 – 1692).

A2.5 – Maria Angela (1635 – 1671).

ORANGE-NASSAU
A – Philip William, Prince of Orange (1554 – 1618). Married Maria Anna of Bavaria (1574 – 1616) in 1595.
Issue:
A1 – William, Duke of Nassau (1597 – 1642). Married Marie Catherine of Julich-Cleves-Berg (1600 – 1661) in 1620.
Issue:
A1.1 – Philip (1625 – 1657).

A1.2 – Henry (1628 – 1653). Cardinal.

A1.3 - Maria Anna (1632 -1681).


B – Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange (1584 – 1647).Married Jeanne de Condé (1587 – 1632) in 1605.
Issue:
B1 - Henriette (1606 – 1660). Married in 1623 Henry IX of England and I of Scotland (1594 – 1658).
Issue:
See England, Scotland and Ireland A1

B2 - Louise (1609 – 1627). Married Eduardo II of Portugal (1610 – 1672) in 1625.
Issue:
See Portugal A2

B3 - Maurice (1611 – 1640). Married Elisabeth of Palatinate-Simmern(1617 – 1647) in 1637. No issue.

B4 - Catherine (1615 – 1645). Married Frederick Henryof Palatinate-Simmern(1614 – 1642) in 1634.

POLAND
A - Sigismund III Vasa (1566 – 1617). 1st marriage:Anna of Austria (1573 – 1598) in 1592. 2nd marriage: Constance of Austria (1588 – 1631) in 1605
Issue 1st marriage:
A1 – Vladislaus (1595 – 1617). No issue.

Issue 2nd marriage:
A2 - John III Casimir (1609 – 1671). Married Christine of Hungary (1606 – 1652) in 1625.
Issue:
A2.1 - John Sigismund (1627 – 1679).

A2.2 - Anna Christine (1630 – 1685).

A3 - Ana Constance (1613 – 1651). Married Charles II of Hungary and Bohemia (1610 -1642) in 1629. No surviving issue.

A4 - John Albert (1615 – 1660). Married Victoria of Portugal (1615 – 1664) in 1632.

POMERANIA
A – Bogislaw XIV (1580 – 1637).Married Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg (1580 – 1652) in 1625. Had no issue.

B – Anna of Pomerania (1590 – 1626). Married Ernst von Croy (1583 – 1642) in 1619.
Issue:
B1 – Ernst Bogislaw von Croy (1620 – 1684).

B2 – Diane Claire von Croy (1622 – 1681).

B3 – Anna Ernestine von Croy (1626 – 1672).

PORTUGAL
A - Rainúncio I (1569 – 1623). 1st marriage: Margarida of Savoy (1586 – 1607), in 1602. 2nd marriage: Eleonora de Medici of Tuscany (1590 – 1641), in 1609.
Issue 1st marriage:
A1 - Maria of Portugal (1603 – 1670). 1st marriage: Antoine I of France (1593 – 1627) in 1618. 2nd marriage: Louis de Soissons(1604 – 1630) in 1628
Issue 1st marriage:
See France A1

Issue 2nd marriage:
A1.1 – Louise of Soissons (1630 – 1681).

Issue 2nd marriage:
A2 - Eduardo (1610 – 1672). 1st marriage: Louise of Orange-Nassau (1609 – 1628) in 1625. 2nd marriage: Margherita Gonzaga of Mantua(1610 – 1658) in 1630.
Issue 1st marriage:
A2.1 – Rainúncio (1627 – 1677).


Issue 2nd marriage:
A2.2 – Eleonora (1631 – 1678).


A2.3 – Eduardo, Duke of Beja (1633 – 1681).

A3 - Otavio (1611 – 1652). Duke of Parma (1630 – 1652). Married Lucrezia D’Este of Ferrara(1615 – 1644) in 1631.
Issue:
A3.1 – Alessandro (1632 – 1686).

A3.2 – Eleonora (1636 – 1661).

A3.3 - Francesco (1638 – 1662). Never married.

A3.4 – Cristina (1641 – 1694).

A4 - Alexandre (1613 – 1681). Cardinal.

A5 - Victoria (1615 – 1664). Married John Albert of Poland (1615 – 1660) in 1632.


B – Odoardo Farnese (1573 – 1624). Cardinal and Archbishop of Lisbon

C – Margherita Farnese (1567 – 1643). Abbess of the Monastery of Saint Alexander of Parma. Regent of Parma (1602 – 1630)

SPAIN
A - Philip III (1578 – 1621). Married Margaret of Austria (1584 – 1611) in 1599.
Issue:
A1 – Philip IV (1601 – 1655). Married Mary of Netherlands (1596 – 1657) in 1619.
Issue:
A1.1 – Catherine (1621 – 1649). Married Albert of Netherlands.No issue.

A1.2 - Charles (1625 - 1654).

A1.3 – Ferdinand (1626 – 1649). Never married.

A1.4 – Isabella (1629 – 1652).

A2 - Mary (1605 – 1638). Married Maximilian of Netherlands (1597 – 1653). in 1621.
Issue:
See Netherlands A2

A3 - Margaret (1606 – 1650). Married Leopold V of Austria (1586 – 1648)in 1622.
Issue:
See Austria C

A4 - Charles (1607 – 1642). Married Julianne of France(1617 – 1646) in 1632.
Issue:
A4.1 – Margaret (1634 – 1657).

A4.2 – Charles (1639 – 1661).

A5 – Isabella (1609 – 1653). Married Charles of Hungary (1610 – 1635) in 1625. No surviving issue.

SWEDEN
A - Charles IX (1550 – 1611). 1st marriage: Anna Marie of Palatinate-Simmern (1561-1589) in 1579. 2nd marriage: Christina of Holstein-Gottorp (1573 – 1625) in 1592.
Issue 1st marriage:
A1 - Catherine (1584 – 1638). Married William Kettler, Duke of Courland (1574 – 1640) in 1614.
Issue:
See Courland A

Issue 2nd marriage:
A2 - Gustav Adolph (1594 – 1622). MarriedAnna Sophia of Brandenburg (1598 – 1659) in 1616. No issue.

A3 - Maria Elizabeth (1596 – 1618). Married Henry of England (1594 – 1658) in 1615. No issue.

A4 - Charles Philip (1601 – 1641). Married Catharine of Brandenburg (1602 – 1644) in 1622.
Issue:
A4.1 - Charles Adolph (1624 – 1642). No issue.

TUSCANY
A - Ferdinando I de Medici (1549 – 1609). Married Christine of Lorraine in 1586.
Issue:
A1 - Eleonora (1590 – 1630). Married Rainuncio I of Portugal (1569 – 1623) in 1609.
Issue:
See Portugal A.

A2 - Cosimo II de Médici (1591 – 1648). Married Catherine Henriette of France (1597 – 1643) in 1615.
Issue:
A2.1 – Maria Cristina (1616 – 1630). Never married.

A2.2 – Ferdinando (1618 – 1669).

A2.3 – Giancarlo (1619 -1638). Never married.

A2.4 – Margherita (1622 – 1645).

A2.5 – Caterina (1623 – 1648).

A3 - Carlo (1597 – 1668). Cardinal.

A4 - Claudia (1602 – 1650). Married Federico Ubaldo Della Rovere (1605 – 1623) in 1622.
Issue:
See Urbino A1
URBINO
A - Francesco Maria Della Rovere (1549 – 1631). Married Lívia Della Rovere (1585 – 1641) in 1598.
Issue:
A1 - Federico Ubaldo Della Rovere (1605 – 1623). Married Claudia de Medici (1602 – 1650) in 1622.
Issue:
A1.1 - Vittoria della Rovere (1623 – 1687).

 

[Gonzaga]

Chapter 45
An Empire in flames

From “In the Name of God: religious conflicts in the Holy Roman Empire (1524 – 1689)”, by Paul Zülke

…Besides Bohemia, the first state to feel the horrors of the religious war were the Palatinate and Nassau. After the election of the Elector Palatine, Frederick V, as king of Bohemia, Maximilian III reacted by declaring him from his lands and titles, which were given to the other Wittelsbach ruler, William V of Bavaria. The new elector invaded the Palatinate in May 1620 with Netherlander and Austrian support…

…The Netherlander troops also were employed in Nassau-Dillenburg, in order to ensure the rule of the Catholic William of Orange. However, with the French invasion, those armies were needed in Flanders, and just a small force remained there to fight the Protestant rebels…

…Acting in the name of Henry Frederick of Orange-Nassau, his fellow Calvinist relative Count Louis II of Nassau-Weilburg invaded the lands that were claimed by William of Orange-Nassau. But during the attack he was killed by a pike, while his only male son, John of Nassau-Weilburg, was shot. [1] With their deaths the Walram branch of the House of Nassau went extinct, and so all the remaining dynastic lands would be inherited by William or Frederick Henry…

…The Edict of Antwerp, signed by Maximilian III in July 12th 1622 stated that the principle of cuius regio eius religio could only be used within the Empire for Catholics and Lutherans and not Calvinists or any other religion. It also declared that Calvinist rulers should convert to one of the two allowed faiths or would lose their lands and titles…

…The first ruler to be punished by the new law was the Calvinist Maurice of Hesse-Kassel. He was stripped of his position, and his lands were granted to the Lutheran Louis V of Hesse-Darmstadt…

…Opportunistically, Maximilian tried to warn the rulers of the imperial states that the war was against the illegal Calvinists, and not again the already protected Lutherans. The name of the Catholic League was changed to Loyal League as a proof of that, but such acts were not enough to convince all the princes…

…Although such policy managed to keep the neutrality of some rulers, the majority did not accept the terms of the Emperor, forming the Evangelical Union. Among them were Brunswick, Württemberg, Anhalt, Neuburg, Ansbach, Bayreuth and Zweibrucken…

… Württemberg was one of the states that contributed more in aiding the Protestants of Nassau and the Palatinate. The duke Johann Frederick himself defeated a small Loyalist force assembled near to the Imperial town of Speyer. As a punishment, troops from Lorraine, Franche Comté and Sundgau invaded Mömpelgard, ruled by Johann’s brother, Louis Frederick, and burned the city to the ground…

…With the French menace on the western borders there was little the Habsburgs could do against the Protestants. The war within the Holy Roman Empire was becoming a stalemate, with no decisive victories. However, the Protestants interpreted it as a sign that the Habsburgs were not as strong as they seemed to be, and inspired other rulers to join the Evangelical Union. Among them were the Dukes of Mecklenburg, the brothers Adolf Frederick I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Johann Albrecht II of Mecklenburg-Güstrow…

…When the Catholic William of Nassau was declared by the Emperor as new Duke of Julich-Cleves-Berg, the Lutheran counties of Ravensberg and Minden, which belonged to his recently acquired territory, asked protection from the Evangelical Union against his “Popish” overlord. In order to protect the local Protestants, the Union sent an army commanded by Christian the Younger of Brunswick, Administrator of the Prince-Bishopric of Verden [2], who was declared the new count of Ravensberg and Minden…

…In October 22nd 1626 the battle of Warendorf took place near to the Ems River, where Adolf and Johann of Mecklenburg defeated the Imperial army commanded by Maximilian von Liechtenstein, who died some days later from wounds inflicted during the conflict. The victory gave a great morale boost to the Protestant cause, and opened way to a possible Union’s invasion against the Northern Netherlands. Habsburg’s troops that were being employed in Flanders needed be sent to Groningen in order to avoid it…

…The succession war in France ended the stalemate in the Empire's west. With the French out of the conflict, Maximilian could concentrate his efforts against the rebellious Protestants. However, his first “revenge” action did not have the effect he waited, being responsible for a greater challenge against his authority in Netherlands proper: the Hollander Republic…

From “Noble Houses of Dutchland”, by Johann Nagel

The House of Nassau

…After the Twenty-Five Years War, the only branch of the House of Nassau still alive was the one of the Princes of Orange, represented by the two male sons of William the Silent: Philip William and Frederick Henry…

…The death of Philip and the issues about the succession of Nassau and Orange with the divergent claims of Frederick Henry and William (Philip’s son) were one of the reasons for the 30 Years' war in the Holy Roman Empire…

…In 1620 William married Mary Catherine, sister of John Frederick, Duke of Julich-Cleves-Berg. She would give him three children: Philip, Henry and Maria Anna…

…With the death of the childless John Frederick in 1625 William was declared the new duke due to his marriage, receiving the territories of Julich, Cleves, Berg, Mark, Ravensberg and Minden…

…The Treaty of Dijon, signed in September 1630, officially ended the French participation in the war and the issue of the succession. William was recognized as the legitimate ruler of all territories of Nassau, while Henry Frederick received only the principality of Orange…

…However, the greatest acquisition of territory made by William happened only two months after the signature of the treaty. The 20-year-old Charles, Duke of Lorraine, died without issue. According to his father's will, the succession should go to the descendents of Charles aunt, Catherine de Mayenne, who was the mother of William’s wife, Mary Catherine. The Emperor then granted the Duchy of Lorraine to his old ally, making William of Nassau one of the greatest landowners of the Empire…

[1] IOTL Louis had three male sons who inherited his lands and ensured the dynasty’s future. ITTL he has only one.

[2] IOTL the administrator of Verden was Frederick, son of Christian IV of Denmark. ITTL, due to the previous war against Denmark, Christian of Brunswick is elected to the position.

 

[Gonzaga]

The HRE in 1630:

Yellow: Habsburg lands (the different tonalities represent the branchs of Netherlands and Austria)

Light green: Bavarian Wittelsbachs

Orange: the lands of the House of Nassau

Brown: Brunswick

Red: Electoral Saxony

White: Brandenburg

 

[Gonzaga]

Chapter 46
The Hollander Republic

From “The Land of the Free: Rise and Fall of the Hollander Republic”, by Vincent van Gogh

…The war began to shake the fragile religious equilibrium in Holland. Since the signing of the Treaty of Antwerp in 1593, the governance of the cities and towns in that province was conceded to Protestants, albeit those carefully chosen personally by the Emperor. However, the Counter-Reformation, through the reestablishment of the clergy and the actions of the Jesuits, also led to an increasing number of Catholics in the Northern Netherlands…

…The Edict of Antwerp brought unrest among the Calvinists, but failed to cause major revolts, as it was aimed against the rulers of Calvinist states, not the subjects, and even if Holland was mainly Protestant it belonged to the Emperor himself. However, concerns about the future of the Reformed Church only increased, as the Calvinists were seen by the Catholics as a possible source of support for the rebel Protestants and the French…

…For decades, more radical Calvinists wanting to flee persecution in Netherlands made their way to England or to other Protestant states within the HRE. One of them was East Frisia, a place known for its tolerance since Menno Simons, the founder of the Mennonites, went there in the early 16th century…

…By 1629 East Frisia was ruled by the Count Rudolf Christian [1], who in order to keep his state converted to Lutheranism. But even that was not sufficient to avoid the tragedy that would follow…

…With Bremen controlled by Brunswick, East Frisia became a strategic point to prevent an invasion of the Northern Netherlands by the Protestant forces. Maximilian decided to garrison the county, sending a defense force there. However, his plans were not entirely accepted by Rudolf…

…The count was charged of being a secret Calvinist, and so Maximilian ordered that he should be stripped of his position. East Frisia would be incorporated as a part of the Netherlands, and the new duke would be one of the Emperor’s most loyal commanders, Gundakar von Liechtenstein…

…Gundakar's actions were probably motivated as revenge for his brother’s death three years earlier. However, the harsh treatment imposed on the Protestants, and the execution of Count Rudolf, who was always considered a peaceful ruler and a tolerant man by the Calvinists, spread revolts in Holland…

…Led by Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft [2], the Calvinist rebels occupied the Town Hall in the first hours of the morning in May 12th 1629. Before midday, Hoof had already written the Second Act of Abjuration, and declared the reestablishment of the United Provinces of Netherlands (the name Hollander Republic would only be created later, when the rebels realized that they could not bring the old provinces back to their side)…

…With many troops sent to the east, in order to fight the Swedes and the Ottomans, and others still garrisoned in France, as the peace was not still signed, the Calvinist Hollanders could take control of the cities quite fast. The fact that many of the soldiers there were local Protestants also contributed. From the fall of Amsterdam to the surrender of Hague, in June 20th, less than 40 days were necessary to defeat the few Catholic garrisons across Holland…

…However, soon the “Republicans” realized that harder than conquering the government would be keeping it. The main part of Maximilian’s army could be fighting far away, but the Emperor would never let those “insolents” open a new front right in his home territory. They needed foreign support. But more than allies like the Swedish or the Ottomans armies forcing the Habsburgs to divert troops to other places, they needed forces garrisoned in Holland to defend the new Republic. And with the defeat of France, only one power could provide such aid: England…

…Despite the failure of Gravelines five years before, Parliament agreed with Henry IX's request. A new army was formed to be sent to Holland, under the command of Charles, Duke of York. [3] The King was made Lord Protector of Holland, and such a position would be hereditary, as long as the Dutch could still elect their Statholder, who would rule the territory in the name of the king…

…With the threat of an English invasion into the core of the Netherlands, but also dealing with the impossibility of withdrawing forces from the Bohemian and the Hungarian campaigns, Maximilian needed to request help from his relative Philip IV of Spain…

…In Antwerp in March 1631 arrived the first Spanish Tercios to be employed in the Netherlands since 1593. They would not leave the country again for more than ten years…

…The “People’s Army” was a creation of despair. With the reinforcements from England becoming fewer and due to the fear cause by the second conquest of Utrecht by the Spanish, Constantijn Huygens [4] had no option but convince Hooft to accept his proposal…

…With the “Appeal to the Citizens of Holland”, signed in September 22nd 1637, Hooft declared that all Hollander male citizens who could march and carry a gun should receive military training and become soldiers of the Republic…

…The fall of Amsterdam at the night of August 17th 1641 meant the official end of the Hollander Republic. But the state had fallen much earlier than that. The death of Huygens during the siege of The Hague one year earlier had eliminated the most talented commander of the People’s Army, and all that followed from that was, in the words of Rembrandt, “the last struggle of a ferocious wounded beast before its unavoidable death”…

…With the victory, Catholicism was imposed again over all the Netherlands, and the Protestants who had not yet fled were forced to convert or leave the country for good. The majority of them made their way to England, where the community of exiled Dutch Protestants was already important…

From “In the Name of Freedom: A History of Revolutionary Ideology in Dutchland”, by Friedrich Engels

…To understand the Hollander Republic in the light of modern thinking is a common mistake among historians. The freedom their founders defended was hardly the same we understand now, as it was more linked to the liberty of their religion then the right to practice any religion or even no faith at all, as the persecution of Catholics proved…

…The war destroyed the economy of Holland and the regions affected by the struggle. The greatest example is Utrecht. Conquered and retaken four times during the 11 years of war, the city was so damaged that it never recovered the size and importance it had had before, remaining a small town until the mid-20th Century…

…Despite the fact that the Republic was not a Libertarian state in the classical sense, it gave later revolutionaries the basis for their beliefs, even if misunderstood by them. It was the source for an entire mythology of “Dutch freedom fighters” defending their liberties against the tyranny of a monarch, with a “pantheon” of heroes and their epic battles for “a just government’. There they also found the idea that every citizen was a soldier, and the army was nothing but “the nation in arms”. Even their symbols reflected it, as the golden and red flag of the Hollander Republic (created from the colours of the County of Holland’s coat of arms) is the clear inspiration to the revolutionary flag, contrary to the explanations given by Menning a hundred years later…


[1] IOTL he had died in 1628.

[2] Who IOTL was a poet.

[3] The OTL king Charles I.

[4] Who also was a poet IOTL. Here he is the general commander of the Hollander army.

 

[Gonzaga]

Here the arms of the Counts of Holland:

 

[Gonzaga]

The Hollander Military flag.