AHC: Sigismund the II has a son.

I was wondering what would Likely happen if Sigismund Augustus had a son with Catherine of Austria in 1555. It might not be entirely realistic but if he grew up and saw the Habsburg's especially the Austrians as his enemies would an alliance with France be feasible?
 
Jagellons continuation means a lot, since it butterflies the creation of Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth as we know it. Also, the pregnancy of Catherine was in 1554, not in 1555. There are so many changes in politics that alliance with France is merely one of possibilities.
Also, it is unlikely Sigismund would be able to keep the mother of his son and heir as distant as he did OTL.
 
Sorry about the pregnancy thing, but you are right it does butterfly the polish Lithuanian commonwealth. now would the the state survive long term I do not know. It would however be interesting to see how the geopolitics of Europe would change if at all.
 
The Commonwealth might still happen depending on how the Livonian War plays out. While Žygimantas Augustas being childless played a big part in the creation of the union, especially the elective monarchy part, but other factors like the threat of Russian occupation and Polish desire to expand to Ukrainian territory might still be able to pull it off. It would be much harder to negotiate through, though.

Jagiellon survival butterflies away King Bathory, but it also butterflies away King Valois, so it's hard to say whether it will be a net good or bad thing.
 
Sigismund Augustus could use desire of Polish nobles to tighten the Union to guarantee Polish crown for his son--perhaps he could support union and anexation of Ukrainian voivodships to the Crown under condition that Jagiellons would be recognised as hereditary rulers of Poland.
 
Guys, wanna make it even more interesting? Let's say Ivan the Terrible's daughter from first marriage (either Maria (b.1552) or Eudoxia (b.1556) survives past childhood). Eudoxia is more preferable.
The Livonian war goes as OTL till roughly 1570, when there is no Interregnum and all this stuff.
The push of early 1570ies (including sack of Moscow by Crimean tatars in 1571) is strengthened compared to OTL. Depending on which kind of person our hypothetical Sigismund III is, 17-years old King may inherit very preferable situation, and enforce the peace treaty on Russians complete with dynastic marriage between himself and Eudoxia.
Flash forward 1590ies-1600ies - if Rurikids go extinct as OTL, the situation gets REALLY interesting, as children from Eudoxia are very important claimants to the throne.
Bonus points if the King does not alienate its Orthodox subjects thus removing propaganda card from Russian hands.
 
Yes that would be interesting, as for the personality of our hypothetical Sigismund the III I was thinking a highly ambitions and cunning young man who views the Habsburgs as his enemies.
 
Hm. Maybe he could become some kind of weird "Eastern Protestant" that blends Eastern Orthodox elements with Lutheran (Calvinist?) theology. Maybe that could even import it's way into Germany?
 
Hm. Maybe he could become some kind of weird "Eastern Protestant" that blends Eastern Orthodox elements with Lutheran (Calvinist?) theology. Maybe that could even import it's way into Germany?
That would be incredibly interesting and in my opinion rather hard to pull off.
 
That would be incredibly interesting and in my opinion rather hard to pull off.

I wouldn't say it would be hard. Have some minor German protestant state get crushed, and the local Theologian(s) end up skedaddling off to Poland. Poland, being fairly tolerant (and even more so if they are to accommodate another religious group [the Orthodox]) lets them do their thing. So now you have German (and thus more or less western European) religious thought mixing with Orthodox thought (and perhaps even whispers of Assyrian or Oriental Orthodox thought), and ending up as a kind of weird hybrid between them.
 
I see where you are coming from and it makes a lot of sense so you are likely right. It would be easier than I thought.
 
I wouldn't say it would be hard. Have some minor German protestant state get crushed, and the local Theologian(s) end up skedaddling off to Poland. Poland, being fairly tolerant (and even more so if they are to accommodate another religious group [the Orthodox]) lets them do their thing. So now you have German (and thus more or less western European) religious thought mixing with Orthodox thought (and perhaps even whispers of Assyrian or Oriental Orthodox thought), and ending up as a kind of weird hybrid between them.
You mean like Calvin? ;) I think he offered his help in creating Polish national church. There were some ideas in Poland during Sigismund II rule, to reform the Catholic Church in Poland and create some sort of compromise between Catholics and Protestants.
 
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Rurikid marriage is not going to happen-Ivan would rather kill his daughter than let her marry Catholic. In Poland and Lithuania that idea would not be popular too-Helena of Moscow, consort of Alexander Jagiellon is still remembered.
And if Sigismund III wants to convert to Protestantism-propably he would become Christina of Sweden in reverse. Poland was tolerant to Protestantism but not to the degree to accept Protestant king-even Sigismund's brother-in-law, John Vasa had no real chances in free elections IOTL due to his confession, and he raised his son( Sigismund III Vasa) as Catholic to enable him to get Polish Crown.
 
Rurikid marriage is not going to happen-Ivan would rather kill his daughter than let her marry Catholic. In Poland and Lithuania that idea would not be popular too-Helena of Moscow, consort of Alexander Jagiellon is still remembered.
Got carried away a bit, you are right. We are talking about a man beating up his daughter-in-law for minor violation of Domostroy dress code, and since by 1580 extinction of Rurikids is not set in stone, no such stipulation can happen. Disastrous previous marriage attempt aside.
I'm just wondering about less-in-your-face Royal actions against Orthodox (a good deal of Lithuanian magnates is still Orthodox by the point and there is no Union of Brest) and Protestant subjects, not the King dabbling in heresy himself.
 
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