Your challenge should you choose to accept it is to make a Polish lead union of Poland-Hungary-Lithuania. No POD limits.
Technically, Władysław III was king of Poland, king of Hungary and supreme prince of Lithuania, although Lithuania was ruled by his brother, Casimir (later also king of Poland, Casimir IV). Perhaps successful battle of Varna (with Władysław actually listening to John Hunyadi) or no battle of Varna at all (Władysław doesn't listen to pope's legate Cesarini and doesn't break the truce with the Ottomans) might be a good start. Poland and Hungary are united against the Ottoman Empire, while Lithuania is ruled by the cadet branch of Jagiellon family, with the main branch keeping the title of the supreme prince of Lithuania. Eventually, Polish-Hungarian or Lithuanian branch of Jagiellon ends and the surviving branch becomes ruler of 3 states.
Interesting. How big of a player would this powerful state be in European politics? PResumably it would be more western focused. Could other powers (Sweden, Austria, Russia, and Bohemia come to mind) recognize it as powerful state that needs to be split before its too late and try to break it apart?
Russia's a whole different beast. You can't really destroy it by invasion from all sides like you can Poland...Well, they didn't realise that with Russia now did they?
Russia's a whole different beast. You can't really destroy it by invasion from all sides like you can Poland...
Interesting. How big of a player would this powerful state be in European politics? PResumably it would be more western focused. Could other powers (Sweden, Austria, Russia, and Bohemia come to mind) recognize it as powerful state that needs to be split before its too late and try to break it apart?
Originally by slydessertfox
Other powers might try to destroy PLHC (Polish-Lithuanian-Hungarian Commonewalth) but it wouldn't be so easy. A long and hot border with the Ottoman Empire would require a large, permanent army, which might also stregthen king's political power. Not to mention the fact that the very existence of PLHC might butterfly rising of some powers - like Austria, e.g.
IMHO the greatest threat to PLHC would be internal - we're talking about country with many nations (Poles, Lithuanians, Ruthenians, Germans, Hungarians, Slovakians, Jews, possibly also Romanians, if PLHC takes Transylvania) and many religions (at least Catholic, Orthodox and Jewish, possibly more, if Protestantism is not butterflied away); also interests of Poland might be in conflict with interests of Hungary, or Poles might not be willing to pay bigger taxes for army defending Hungary, or Hungarians wouldn't want their army to leave their country to defend Lithuania from Moscovia, or Lithuanians wouldn't be willing to fight for Polish Pomerania or Silesia, etc. The very size of the country and relative weakness of the king might also be a problem.
Of course none of those problem is unsolveable. E.g. victorious Władysław III might return with his army to Poland and stregthen his position there; and if not him, then perhaps his successor(s); Jagiellonian policy of religious tolerance might be successful, especially if there is no Counter-Reformation (it worked well enough IOTL); a joint invasion against PLHC by its neighbours might awaken a sense of solidarity, when Polish army saves Buda from the Ottoman siege, Lithuanians die in defence of Warsaw or Cracow from Austrian and/or Bohemians, a Hungarian force stops Tatar or Russian march on Vilnius...; the parliament is created with members from all countries, without some of dumber ideas (like liberum veto) but with some kind of guarantee protecting one country's interests from, being sacrificed by the others...
National dissent at this time is non-existent, however, feudal limitations on military could be a problem. But manageable problem.
Originally posted by kalamona
National dissent yes, but regional dissent might raise its head much earlier. Different regions might have different interests and it might be hard to convince local lords that their region is not the most important thing in the world and yes, they need to pay bigger taxes to raise an army defending a land over 1000 km away.