AHC: Poland, complete world conquest!

I don't boast the most detailed knowledge of Polish history, but I thought during the Time of Troubles Sigismund Vasa's son was elected tsar, with some Russian support, and that the ultimate reason for Russian resistance were fears the Poles were going to convert the whole country to Roman Catholicism. Seems like if Sigismund was a bit more of a religious pragmatist, you could get some kind of Polish-Lithuanian-Russian personal union going there. From the Vistula to the Pacific (of course that eastward expansion comes a tad later) might be a good start
 
Poland merges with both the holy roman empire and litva greater Belarus . As well as later defeating Moscow and absorbing large parts of Western Russia.

Ukraine joins in or unwillingly joins

So presto . World super power who could do what ever it wanted
 
Missed this thread a while ago, but here’s a suggestion born from previous discussions of alternate Jagiellon marriages...

Jadwiga of Poland and her daughter, Elizabeth Bonifacia, survive, but the birth is so hard that Jadwiga can never bear another child. The Polish-Lithuanian union passes into the hands of whoever marries Elizabeth. In this scenario, Eric of Pomerania, ruler of the Union of Kalmar. This creates a Polish-Lithuanian-Scandinavian Union where Poland is the demographic heavyweight. During the fifteenth century, this union absorbs the remaining German states in the Baltic, and its long Atlantic coast gives it a window to overseas conquest that Poland never had IOTL.

The possibility for adding Hungary to this union also exists, though it gets ungainly and entangles the union in wars against the Ottomans. In retrospect, disentangling from the Dzikie Pole until the 18th century or so would be better—avoid the demographic and financial drain of eternal warfare against the Tatars. Let Muscovy’s citizens go into slavery instead, while Poland-Lithuania-Scandinavia’s settle America.

So much for starting the empire. Developing the financial and legal institutions to finance world domination would require then creating a mercantile class. IOTL, those were in large part German burghers in Poland. Maybe that state of affairs continues—the Commonwealth might eventually look a bit like a caste system, with a Polonized aristocracy, and a German/Scandinavian burgher class. OTOH, wirhout Ruthenia, maybe the magnates in general would be weaker, and a King could emerge who could strengthen the burghers, bring them into the higher ranks of society, and bring the aristocracy to heel—possibly forming the union of capital and aristocracy that characterized Britain IOTL.
 

krieger

Banned
Missed this thread a while ago, but here’s a suggestion born from previous discussions of alternate Jagiellon marriages...

Jadwiga of Poland and her daughter, Elizabeth Bonifacia, survive, but the birth is so hard that Jadwiga can never bear another child. The Polish-Lithuanian union passes into the hands of whoever marries Elizabeth. In this scenario, Eric of Pomerania, ruler of the Union of Kalmar. This creates a Polish-Lithuanian-Scandinavian Union where Poland is the demographic heavyweight. During the fifteenth century, this union absorbs the remaining German states in the Baltic, and its long Atlantic coast gives it a window to overseas conquest that Poland never had IOTL.

The possibility for adding Hungary to this union also exists, though it gets ungainly and entangles the union in wars against the Ottomans. In retrospect, disentangling from the Dzikie Pole until the 18th century or so would be better—avoid the demographic and financial drain of eternal warfare against the Tatars. Let Muscovy’s citizens go into slavery instead, while Poland-Lithuania-Scandinavia’s settle America.

So much for starting the empire. Developing the financial and legal institutions to finance world domination would require then creating a mercantile class. IOTL, those were in large part German burghers in Poland. Maybe that state of affairs continues—the Commonwealth might eventually look a bit like a caste system, with a Polonized aristocracy, and a German/Scandinavian burgher class. OTOH, wirhout Ruthenia, maybe the magnates in general would be weaker, and a King could emerge who could strengthen the burghers, bring them into the higher ranks of society, and bring the aristocracy to heel—possibly forming the union of capital and aristocracy that characterized Britain IOTL.

Better let Jadwiga of Poland have surviving son (or sons). Jogaila could still remarry after death of Jadwiga and skew thing up by siring sons from non-dynastic marriage (like it was with Sophia of Halshany). And with surviving children of Jadwiga it doesn't need to wait that long for defeat of Teutonic Order. The Great War's aftermath could look completely different (with Jadwiga having children, Sigismund of Luxembourg wouldn't remain the king of Hungary after his imprisonment, it'd either Jagiełło himself or Ladislaus of Naples) without Hungarian threat from the south. Jagiełło (with possible Hungarian help) would have resources to destroy remaining forces of von Plauen and von Havelmann and completely eradicate TO from Prussia. In addition, while having sons with Jadwiga (which means secure succesion of his descendants) he would not try to maintain Lithuania's indepedence. It'd mean that ties between Lithuania and Poland would be much stronger ITTL and sort of unification comparable to this after union of Lublin would appaear much earlier without union of Lublin's disadvantages in the form of guaranteed free election (in fact, Poland with throne staying hereditary and Jadwiga's children could evolve to the form of absolute monarchism). Losing Ruthenia is ASB and wouldn't give much - Polish nobility made an union with Lithuania in the first place to have access to fertile Ruthenian soil. With Poland and Lithuania united and Hungary addeed in personal union (later Bohemia might join, say one of sons of Jogaila marries Eliska of Luxembourg in exchange of Jogaila's help against Hussites) Moldavia, Wallachia and Crimea will become Jagiellon vassal duchies, so Mircea I of Wallachia would be most likely deposed (probably replaced by Svitrigaila), which means that he wouldn't help Mehmet and Ottoman Empire will stay divided between Balkan part and Asian part. Balkan part would be rather easy target to prey on. In the end, we could get sort of "Jagiellon Empire " encompassing OTL Bohemia, Hungary (with conquests on Balkans added), Poland, Teutonic Prussia, Lithuania (possible with conquests eastwards). @Jan Olbracht
 
Last edited:
In actual timeline poland cities dont be affected by the great plague, maybe if more non-poland europeans has died polan conquer great placês of europeu or the entire
 
Top