AHC: Russia and Sweden unite

[GauchoBadger]

So, the challenge here is to have the Kingdom of Sweden and the Tsardom of Russia or Muscovy get into a personal union, with a PoD after 1500 and before 1900.
Seeming that Russia, for a time, had amicable relations with the Protestant duchy of Holstein-Gottorp, religion wouldn't be that big an issue, i think, so long as the Tsar-Kings are religiously tolerant.
One point of divergence i suggest would be a Russo-Swedish victory in the Battle of Klushino (1610), ensuring that Poland never occupies Moscow and possibly resulting in the Russian boyars selecting a Swedish candidate to the throne. The alliance later evolves into a PU.
Any further thoughts? What would be the effects of such a new empire (or at least alliance) forming?

 

[althisfan]

So, the challenge here is to have the Kingdom of Sweden and the Tsardom of Russia or Muscovy get into a personal union, with a PoD after 1500 and before 1900.
Seeming that Russia, for a time, had amicable relations with the Protestant duchy of Holstein-Gottorp, religion wouldn't be that big an issue, i think, so long as the Tsar-Kings are religiously tolerant.
One point of divergence i suggest would be a Russo-Swedish victory in the Battle of Klushino (1610), ensuring that Poland never occupies Moscow and possibly resulting in the Russian boyars selecting a Swedish candidate to the throne. The alliance later evolves into a PU.
Any further thoughts? What would be the effects of such a new empire (or at least alliance) forming?

I don't know if that's possible, and if it ever did come into effect, the Tsars have had a hard time in OTL understanding personal union is different than annexing and tend to have Russia start interfering with their other lands. In a true personal union the two nations are completely separate except for having the same head of state (who can be the head of govt in both or just one). And then there's a dynastic union, which is more likely what you're wanting than a personal union.

 

[GauchoBadger]

And then there's a dynastic union, which is more likely what you're wanting than a personal union.

Yeah, i also thought about a dynastic union under the House of Vasa being likely.

 

[alexmilman]

So, the challenge here is to have the Kingdom of Sweden and the Tsardom of Russia or Muscovy get into a personal union, with a PoD after 1500 and before 1900.
Seeming that Russia, for a time, had amicable relations with the Protestant duchy of Holstein-Gottorp, religion wouldn't be that big an issue, i think, so long as the Tsar-Kings are religiously tolerant.

Not too difficult if Swedes are ready to compromise on monarch's religion: future Peter III of Russia was a heir of both Russian and Swedish (which he had to give up) thrones.

One point of divergence i suggest would be a Russo-Swedish victory in the Battle of Klushino (1610), ensuring that Poland never occupies Moscow and possibly resulting in the Russian boyars selecting a Swedish candidate to the throne. The alliance later evolves into a PU.
Any further thoughts? What would be the effects of such a new empire (or at least alliance) forming?

Younger brother of Gustav Adolph was one of the candidates to the Musovite throne but, even if successful and did not die young, this does not serve your purpose both due to the religious factor and because GA had a daughter. OTOH, if religious requirement is gone, I don't know what would be the preferences of succession: daughter over brother (especially when brother is a foreign monarch).

 

[Deleted member 114175]

While not strictly fitting the challenge, the easiest way to do this would be to go back further in time to the Viking Age, and have a ruler of the Rus' be the first to conquer/unite the petty kingdoms of Sweden under one king. Actually given the close connections that the Varangians in Rus' had to Sweden, it's surprising that they never tried this.

 

[althisfan]

While not strictly fitting the challenge, the easiest way to do this would be to go back further in time to the Viking Age, and have a ruler of the Rus' be the first to conquer/unite the petty kingdoms of Sweden under one king. Actually given the close connections that the Varangians in Rus' had to Sweden, it's surprising that they never tried this.

Because my ancestor beat them to it and did just what you proposed.

 

[Deleted member 114175]

Because my ancestor beat them to it and did just what you proposed.

Are you referring to Rurik?

I meant the reverse of what Rurik did -- the ruler of the newly-formed Rus' returning back to Sweden and then uniting Sweden.

Edit: If you meant the father of Stenkil, Ragnvald Ulfsson, he was the earl of Staraja Ladoga, but not the ruler of the entire Rus'.