AHC: Protestant Balkans

What would it take for a significant portion of the population of the Balkans (from Slovenia down to Greece) to have at least a significant portion of the population turn Protestant (At least 10%, but aim for plurality/majority territory if possible).

If plausible, where would these Protestants most likely live? And what kind of Protestantism would be present in the population.

Edit: This is mainly out of a desire to see if adding yet another sectarian group could further screw the region.
 
What would it take for a significant portion of the population of the Balkans (from Slovenia down to Greece) to have at least a significant portion of the population turn Protestant (At least 10%, but aim for plurality/majority territory if possible).

If plausible, where would these Protestants most likely live? And what kind of Protestantism would be present in the population.

Edit: This is mainly out of a desire to see if adding yet another sectarian group could further screw the region.

There had been established German Protestant minorities, maybe they spread Lutheranism somehow ?
 
For the bland, purely theological, monarch-strengthening Type of Protestantism of Luther et al. in the 16th century I see few chances. It's been, for most of the time, an anti-Catholic movement, and only Croatia and Slovenia are Catholic, but for them to become Protestant, larger powers would have to convert, too. A separatist Croatia makes no Sense given the Ottoman threat. Lutheranism or Calvinism Don't have much to offer to the Orthodox countries. They had no Pope to rebel against, they had Bibles in their own languages.

But maybe my pet idea, a surviving and successful Hussite Radical Reformation might havemade inroads into the Balkans. It sure had the makings of a faith for the Slavic people from the beginning. Also, the Taborite emphasis on social equality had a strong appeal with poor, rebellious peasants everywhere, regardless of theology.
If the Hussites had destabilised Hungary, then a lot is possible, and the whole Balkans would look different, as Ottomans will adapt their strategies, too. Unpredictable outcome...
 

PhilippeO

Banned
More successful independent Transylvania could ended up Protestant. Habsburg victory against Ottoman need to be slowed down, and it can happen. POD : Eugene of Savoy killed in battle ?
 

Don Quijote

Banned
More successful independent Transylvania could ended up Protestant. Habsburg victory against Ottoman need to be slowed down, and it can happen. POD : Eugene of Savoy killed in battle ?

I agree about Transylvania; according to Wikipedia Romania is the only nation in the Balkans with a Protestant population worth mentioning (about 6%).
You definitely need a more successful Hussite movement.
 
There were actually very large Reformed communities across Transylvania and Royal Hungary in the early 17th Century- possibly even a majority of the population before the counter-reformation got going there. I think if there's more turmoil and Austria is weaker you could well see that sort of Reformed Church spreading through parts of the area.
 
I have been on/off working on a TL centered around this idea, or more accurately discussions between Albanian nationalists about a nationwide conversion to Protestantism to secure foreign aid...

POD 1815: Dr. Robert Pinkerton, founder of the British and Foreign Bible Society meets with members of the Albanian Diaspora in Vienna. They convince him that a translation of the Bible into Albanian is indeed possible and urge him to get in contact with Albanians living in the Ionian Islands They also manage to convince him of the importance of Arbereshe communities in Italy. Following his visit with the Albanian community in Vienna, Pinkerton visits an Arbereshe community in southern Italy and is exposed to a few of the earliest works in Albanian literature. (Italics is the POD. The Arbereshe are descendants of Albanian Christians who left their homes after they were invaded and incorporated into the Ottoman Empire. They are mostly Catholic and even today speak a Latinized version of Albanian though this is dying out.)

Pinkerton's exposure to earlier Albanian literature effects his efforts to get the Bible translated into Albanian. In 1819, he meets with Vangjel Meksi, an Albanian linguist living in Istanbul who was well liked by the Orthodox Church. Pinkerton commissions Meksi to translate the Bible into Albanian using the Latin alphabet like earlier Albanian writers (in OTL Pinkerton insisted on using the Greek Alphabet). Meksi completes his translation by 1821. Pinkerton's insistence on using Latin script causes friction with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and as a result skips the rather lengthy editing process it went through in OTL. Furthermore, no interference from the Orthodox Church results in TTL's bibles being considerably cheaper as they are not diglossic with an intent on expanding the power of the Orthodox Church through Hellenization. Printing presses in Malta and the Ionian Islands run off the initial edition of the Albanian New Testament in 1823 and BFBS salesmen begin to deliver them shortly thereafter.

This causes even more friction with the Patriarchate and also puts Vangjel Meksi in a bit of hot water with the organization Filiki Etairea of which he is a part. Estranged from FE, Meksi becomes one of the BFBS' salesmen in Albania and begins to drift towards Protestantism himself as he is now thoroughly disenchanted with the Orthodox Church. Meksi's New Testament proves to be quite popular among Albanians of all faiths as it is one of the first books to be translated and printed in Albanian since the 17th century. Many Albanian Beys purchase a copy, as does Mustafa Pasha Bushatli the Pashalik of Scutari(though this is seen mostly as a curio and an attempt to engage in a cultural fad). In addition to selling well, Meksi's bible also serves to popularize an Albanian alphabet and which several Albanian poets decide to adopt. Though concerning to the Ottomans, Meksi's activities go unhindered during the Greek War of Independence due to pressing needs there.

Following the Greek War of Independence, the Ottoman Empire begins to centralize and as a part of that, assert it's control over Albania. This causes many Albanian notables to entertain notions of engaging in a war of independence of their own. Unfortunately for the Albanians, their efforts during the period of 1828-1831 fall flat, the Ottomans end up killing many of the Albanian beys who purchased Meksi's Bibles and immediately declare all Albanian literature illegal. Meksi narrowly escapes with his life, but he's able to relay the plight of Albanians to members of the BFBS who use the Albanian case to raise awareness about their activities and drive up donations.

A combination of Ottoman persecution and British support does wonders for nascent Albanian Protestantism. Over the course of the 1830s and the 1840s it grows and becomes intimately associated with the cause of Albanian autonomy. Protestant missionaries to Albania position it as a more authentic "Albanian" Christianity, seizing upon Romans 15:19 which alludes to the Apostle Paul proselytizing in "Illyricum", and manage to convince many Albanians to convert to it from foreign imposed religions such as Islam (Turks), Eastern Orthodoxy (Greeks), or Catholicism (Italians/Austrians). More likely, a larger number of Albanians convert due to perceived advantages and ties to Britain as well as feeling betrayed by their Ottoman Allies. Albanian Protestantism also becomes quite popular among Albanian diaspora communities partly due to British efforts.

In 1846, British pressure to create a Protestant Millet for the Albanians coupled with the exile of reformists from the Armenian church results in the Ottomans forming a Protestant Millet. Unfortunately, this move backfires as many Albanians see this as an opportunity to attain increased autonomy and convert to Protestantism, an act which only further increases tensions in Albania. Furthermore, the politics of the Protestant Millet becomes increasingly national due to clashes between Armenians and Albanians resulting in even more tension within the group. This period of tension persists until the Crimean War in which Britain manages to use her increasing power in the Ottoman Empire to force the creation of an autonomous principality consisting of the four Albanian Vilayets of Kosovo, Scutari, Monastir, and Janina. Though theoretically under the Sultan, the Albanian principality is able to crown their own prince and establish a number of institutions based off the Westminster system.

Albanian successes prompt other Balkan communities to follow their example in the 19th century significantly altering the course of
 
About Transylvania: historically, the vast majority of the Protestants was formed by the Hungarian and German minorities, while the ethnic Romanians were usually Orthodox, with a minority of Greek or Roman Catholics and were staunchly opposed to Protestant conversion for various reasons. So a larger procentage of Protestants can only be obtained by increasing the ratio of the ethnic minorities in the area.
 
About Transylvania: historically, the vast majority of the Protestants was formed by the Hungarian and German minorities, while the ethnic Romanians were usually Orthodox, with a minority of Greek or Roman Catholics and were staunchly opposed to Protestant conversion for various reasons. So a larger procentage of Protestants can only be obtained by increasing the ratio of the ethnic minorities in the area.
Very true.
But there are hypotheses that the predominantly Vlachian (=Romanian) Budai Nagy Antal revolt in 1437 was influenced by Hussite ideas. Have the Hussites stay united in Bohemia and Moravia and succeed in 1434, too, and have the Budai Nagy Antal revolt go more successfully, too, and the identity of Transvilanian Romanians might embark on a new journey.
(In this timeline, of course, it´s the German- and Hungarian-speaking parts of the population who, for political and socioeconomic reasons, will remain staunchly Catholic, as the former did in Hussite Bohemia.)
 
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