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After the Reformation, Catholicism remained dominant in the south of the Holy Roman Empire, as well as along the Rhine. The Habsburgs had a particular interest in keeping Catholicism strong, as the emperor was a Habsburg. But what if there had been an emperor with most of his domains in the north of Germany? In OTL, Frederick III, Elector of Saxony, gave refuge to Martin Luther and Saxony became Protestant. But what if the elector had also been emperor? Would he not then have an interest in remaining a Catholic? The emperor could hardly be a Protestant, could he? Another candidate might perhaps have been the elector of Brandenburg. What effect would this have had on the Reformation?
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