As the title states, how can Sweden stay in the Kalmar Union, and what are the repercussions of this? Would the union centralize as in OTL with a unified Scandinavia, or will it dissolve later on?
I'm a pessimist when it comes to the K. Union. The whole thing was very much Danish centered, essentially a feudal kingdom run from Copenhagen. As time goes on and the Swedish nobility gets more aware of their possibilities it gets harder to really keep the Union together. Sweden were basically an equal or slightly more powerful country than Denmark, yet were treated as the junior partner. If the danish kings generally (or Christian II specifically) had been better at diplomacy they might have kept it going for a little longer. Avoid the Stockholm bloodbath, have Christian II secure better alliances with the Swedish nobility and avoid a national/cultural awakening, possibly involving better integration between Swedes, Danes and Norwiegans.
At best you might see somehting like the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at its peak in the renaissance. At worst you'd see something more like Austria-Hungary at it's low point at the dawn of the 20th century.
Hegemony over the Baltic will be a surviving Kalmar Union's main priority. In this fighting the Russian states will be a serious challenge, especially if someone succesfully pulls a Peter the Great move and modernize early. In any case the Union will probably run into the same problems as Sweden did, low population and too many potentional powerful enemies. The Jutland border with Germany means Prussia is right next door, the Finnish border with Russia opens up for a larger rival, and the English will be contesting any naval gains the Union should try to make.
It's a tough, tough, tough one. The Kalmar Union was a personal union of Independent kingdoms under a Monarch. There were no other common institutions, and no common causes.
Would it help if there were more favorable terms toward Norway and Scandinavia? IIRC Denmark was a lot more powerful than Sweden before they revolted, but I'm not sure if that is true. If the Danes can either keep the Union in check via force or peace, would it develop into a United Scandinavia? What would the effect be on an expanding Russia?
Thank you. I'll be sure to check those out!See also the following for ideas.
WI: Surviving Kalmar Union
ThatOneGuy
December 27th, 2014 12:25 PM
by Biden&Ceaser'12 Go to last post
4 441 Alternate History Discussion: Before 1900
Kalmar Union survived until today
Eivind
May 18th, 2014 04:28 PM
by slydessertfox Go to last post
8 1,275 Alternate History Discussion: Before 1900
Kalmar Union/Scandinavia?
Stormcrow
April 1st, 2014 02:10 PM
by Jurgen Wullenwever Go to last post
1 637 Alternate History Discussion: Before 1900
AHC WI: Save the Kalmar Union
Ameroboto
March 17th, 2014 08:57 AM
by von Adler Go to last post
5 787 Alternate History Discussion: Before 1900
Kalmar Union survive to today
Historyman 14
December 10th, 2013 06:28 PM
by Mr.brightside Go to last post
6 931 Alternate History Discussion: Before 1900
Kalmar
Trackah
On the Rescue of the Kalmar Union (Inquiries) (Multi-page thread 1 2 3)
Moonstruck
Plausibility Check: Surviving Kalmar Union (Multi-page thread 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10)
MarshalBraginsky
AHC make the kalmar union survive
Constantinos
WI The Kalmar Union Succeeds? (Multi-page thread 1 2)
Nosferatu
Kalmar Union
Hannibal.Caesar
Kalmar Union (Multi-page thread 1 2 3)
EvolvedSaurian
kalmar union doesn't fall.
radical_neutural