Only Spain will be a problem, because the Pope does not really have the power to remove Maximillan. And if Spain attacks it is very likely that France will support a protestant Austria.And we also know that Spain is already fighting a war against England.
AHC: Lutheran Austrian Hapsburgs
- Thread starter Barbarossa Rotbart
- Start date
You say that as if it would be a minor inconvenience, rather than a fundamental break in the Austrian Habsburg's established international relations.
Actually it's the opposite in many of the lands, Upper Austria was a Protestant majority area, whilst Vienna itself was 80% Protestant.
Can't imagine it improving things with any of their rivals, either. So losing their main ally abroad, any papal support (replaced by papal hostility - not as meaningful as in some periods but certainly not to the good), and . . . are any of the electors going to want a Protestant Habsburg more than a Catholic one?
Given that at this point they spent their time hoping for one, yes. Brandenburg and Saxony at this time generally remained loyal under Catholic Hapsburgs--they're going to defend a Protestant Habsburg to the death. The Elector-Palatinate's more questionable, but he's likely to stay onboard. And at this time, the number of Catholic secular Princes is very, very low. (And ironically, most of them are actually LESS loyal to the Emperor than the Protestants.)
The Prince-Bishops on the other hand, might prove more problematic, but even then, you might be surprised at the number who'd sign up. While there's going to be problems, the biggest ones are going to be from outside the Empire, not in it.
It would be interesting to see what kind of things those external problem forces do to attempt to undermine the Habsburgs within the empire. A wedge between them and their Spanish cousins cannot be good.
Perhaps not. It will certainly not lead into a string of incestuos marriages.
Honestly, given the attempts by certain prince-bishops to become protestants and secularize their positions, I don't think this will be a big issue.
As I noted, some are undoubtedly going to switch sides. But not everyone is motivated by a desire for power. Some of these people genuinely believe that Catholicism is right and Lutheranism is wrong. And they do not consider that negotiable.
According to my sources it all depends who wins the Cologne Bishopric War in 1583. If the protestants win otfer Bishoprics will also become/stay protestant (Paderborn, Münster, Würzburg, Straßburg).
If Maximillian becomes protestant the counterreformation will not be successful in Austria, Steiermark and Kärnten.
Thus only Bavaria and some smaller states will be affected and the majority of Germany will stay protestant.
If Maximillian becomes protestant the counterreformation will not be successful in Austria, Steiermark and Kärnten.
Thus only Bavaria and some smaller states will be affected and the majority of Germany will stay protestant.
Sure; but my point is that you had people in the Bisophorics who thought that Protestantism is right in OTL.