So here is the challenge using any POD after 1490 make the French King also be HRE. Is it possible?
Yeah I was thinking something like how Charles became HRE. But in this scenario Francis succeeds and Charles fails.This would surely balance the power in Europe right? or would the favor shift to France from Spain.If the electors are willing, yes.
Not sure why they would be, as the king of France might able to make the imperial position mean something.
Or simply not be able to offer sufficient bribes, depending.
Yeah I was thinking something like how Charles became HRE. But in this scenario Francis succeeds and Charles fails.This would surely balance the power in Europe right? or would the favor shift to France from Spain.
France would probably have a good claim on the Lowlands as HRE. And they might try to wrestle them away from the Habsburgs.
Claim from what? The Habsburgs have them as an inheritance, what does Francis I have to claim them?
The fact that Charles the Bold died without male issue allowed the French Crown to claim that his lands should have reverted to it. (This one reason why the Hapsburg swere left holding just a tiny bit of French Burgundy.) Needless to say, they and the Hapsburgs were constantly reaching agreements on this point after a great deal of fighting, backing out of them, and then starting it again--a good chunk of the Italian Wars was fought in Ducal Burgundy.
Now--if Francis is HRE, he not only has that old chestnut, but they'll owe him homage for bits of Burgundy, AND he can enlist their rivals to his cause by promising them chunks of Hapsburg land.
So, trust me--the family's going to move heaven and earth to keep him from being elected.
Good point/s, but that doesn't apply to the Disunited Provinces.