Was there ever a TL where Christian IV is more successful in Germany?
I have seen quite a few Swedewanks with a surviving and victorious Gustavus Adolphus, but nothing about a successful Denmark.
As in OTL, King Chistian intends to protect the Protestants in the HRE. As prince of the empire (he is Duke of Holstein), he is elected in 1626 as the war leader of the Lower Saxon Circle. He intends to march south towards Hesse and Thuringia and beat the imperial forces.
A obvious PoD would be a successful attack against Wallensteins forces - in OTL he misjudged the distances and decided to retreat to the city of Wolfenbüttel. Tillys forces intercepted the Danish forces at Lutter and beat them decisively, even the Danes had the stronger army. Christian IV had to sue for peace. AFAICT, the battle is far from a certain defeat for the Danish/Protestant side.
If they win their first battle and maybe even rout either Wallensteins or Tillys forces, it will be huge blow to the emperor and bring much prestige to the Danish king. Perhaps he can negotiate a deal with France for monetary support.
In this case, the war might end much earlier - it might be the Ten Years' War or have a completely different name. OTL, the king wanted to acquire the bishoprics of Bremen and Verden, but with a bigger success he also goes for the bishoprics of Halberstadt, Schwerin and Magdeburg (with a still unsacked capital city).
Additionally, the formalized position as protector of the protestant princes and permanent warlord of the Lower Saxon Circle might be possible - so he would expand his direct influence over the city of Hamburg and the principalities of Brunswick-Lunenburg and Mecklenburg. The county of Oldenburg will return to Denmark anyway.
In short, a veritable Danish-Lower German Great Power. along shores of the North Sea and the Weser and Elbe rivers. Striving for a electoral vote for Holstein seems the next logical step.
OTOH, this almost guarantees a close alliance of Sweden and Brandenburg against this rival. I also doubt that the United Provinces will be happy to see a new regional sea power emerge.
I confess, I thought about this because I think Christian IV is a really undervalued badass king. Just look at the Danish royal anthem.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kong_Christian_stod_ved_højen_mast
That is the king in the centre of picture, after battle, with one eye less than before it started.
I have seen quite a few Swedewanks with a surviving and victorious Gustavus Adolphus, but nothing about a successful Denmark.
As in OTL, King Chistian intends to protect the Protestants in the HRE. As prince of the empire (he is Duke of Holstein), he is elected in 1626 as the war leader of the Lower Saxon Circle. He intends to march south towards Hesse and Thuringia and beat the imperial forces.
A obvious PoD would be a successful attack against Wallensteins forces - in OTL he misjudged the distances and decided to retreat to the city of Wolfenbüttel. Tillys forces intercepted the Danish forces at Lutter and beat them decisively, even the Danes had the stronger army. Christian IV had to sue for peace. AFAICT, the battle is far from a certain defeat for the Danish/Protestant side.
If they win their first battle and maybe even rout either Wallensteins or Tillys forces, it will be huge blow to the emperor and bring much prestige to the Danish king. Perhaps he can negotiate a deal with France for monetary support.
In this case, the war might end much earlier - it might be the Ten Years' War or have a completely different name. OTL, the king wanted to acquire the bishoprics of Bremen and Verden, but with a bigger success he also goes for the bishoprics of Halberstadt, Schwerin and Magdeburg (with a still unsacked capital city).
Additionally, the formalized position as protector of the protestant princes and permanent warlord of the Lower Saxon Circle might be possible - so he would expand his direct influence over the city of Hamburg and the principalities of Brunswick-Lunenburg and Mecklenburg. The county of Oldenburg will return to Denmark anyway.
In short, a veritable Danish-Lower German Great Power. along shores of the North Sea and the Weser and Elbe rivers. Striving for a electoral vote for Holstein seems the next logical step.
OTOH, this almost guarantees a close alliance of Sweden and Brandenburg against this rival. I also doubt that the United Provinces will be happy to see a new regional sea power emerge.
I confess, I thought about this because I think Christian IV is a really undervalued badass king. Just look at the Danish royal anthem.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kong_Christian_stod_ved_højen_mast
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said:King Christian stood by the lofty mast
In mist and smoke;
His sword was hammering so fast,
Through Gothic helm and brain it passed;
Then sank each hostile hulk and mast,
In mist and smoke.
That is the king in the centre of picture, after battle, with one eye less than before it started.