Albert II of Prussia

Albrecht (Albert) Hohenzollern, last Grand Master of Prussian branch of Teutonic Order and first Duke of Prussia, had two short living sons with Dorothea of Denmark, his first wife. Say younger of them, Albrecht (born 1539) survives. He died as infant so his personality "Carte Blanche", say he is daddy reborn. Albrecht was quite capable and ambitious ruler, so Albrecht jr resembling him would be good thing. Albrecht's second marriage still happens and results in birth of two children-Elizabeth (b.1551) and Frederick (1553). Albrecht jr. is too young to be involved in conflict between Sigismund Augustus and rest of his family over his marriage with Barbara Radziwiłł. Good for him. When Albrecht jr. came to age Barbara is long dead and dust settled after that conflict. Duke Albrecht IOTL had ambition to get Polish throne. He wanted also to marry his cousin Anna Jagiellon, which was not that easy, because he was her first cousin, Protestant, former clergyman, and opposed Sigismund Augustus' second marriage. Albrecht jr. would have much easier road to the Polish throne. Around 1560 Albrecht asks for hand of Anna Jagiellon (Duke of Prussia is better candidate than her OTL suitors, so he should be accepted) Sigismund Augustus had no problems to let his sisters marry Protestants, but Albrecht jr. being as ambitious as father, decides to convert to Catholicism, expecting childless death of Sigismund II and seeing opportunity to replace him on the throne. Father may not be very enthusiastic about son's conversion, but is aware, that such decision would likely give him royal crown, alternatively Albrecht jr. could wait with conversion until death of father, or death of Sigismund, meanwhile raising his kids with Anna as Catholics, effect would be roughly the same. So we have marriage in 1560. In 1561 couple's only child, son named Sigismund, is born. Death of Sigismund Augustus' other nephews-John Sigismund Zapolya and Sigismund of Brandenburg, Albrecht of Prussia, son-in-law and great nephew of Sigismund the Old, is obvious candidate to win election. So election of 1573 is formality (France would likely not even bother to push for election of their candidate). IOTL first elective monarchs were foreigners, unfamiliar with Polish political lanscape (Stephen Bathory, who never even learned Polish, let Chancellor Jan Zamoyski to manage internall ploitics of PLC, with disastrous results in the future). Prussian Hohenzollerns, who, as Polish vassals, are involved in in PLC politics and familiar with political system. They have also something OTL monarchs of PLC always wanted and tried to carve up in Moldavia and Livonia-hereditary duchy under their rule.
 
To further emphasize his ties with Jagiellons, Albrecht took name Olbracht II (counting his greatuncle Jan Olbracht as Olbracht I). Being religiously indifferent former Protestant he get support of Protestant nobility of PLC. Sudden rise of power of House of Hohenzollern would not make Habsburgs happy, but Hohenzollern King of PLC is still much better than OTL Henri de Valois.
 
This sounds like an interesting alternative to the usual Hohenzollern Poland or Poland Gets Prussia ideas. Would the Hohenzollerns be able to set up a lasting dynasty a la Jagiellons/Wasa or simply by a one hit wonder a la Sobieski/Poniatowski?
 
This sounds like an interesting alternative to the usual Hohenzollern Poland or Poland Gets Prussia ideas. Would the Hohenzollerns be able to set up a lasting dynasty a la Jagiellons/Wasa or simply by a one hit wonder a la Sobieski/Poniatowski?
It should be even easier for Hohenzollerns to estabilish lasting dynasty than for Vasas, for several reasons. Prussian Hohenzollerns have Jagiellon blood like Vasas, but in addition they have also hereditary duchy and are regarded as more prestigious dynasty than parvenu Vasas. So it would be easier for Hohenzollern kings to find spouses for their children. IOTL elective monarchs of PLC had no right to choose one of his son as heir, although royal sons with Jagiellon blood were practically guaranted to win election it was not certain which one would win. So they usually married only after being elected. ITTL oldest son of Polish king is also heir to Duchy of Prussia, so that problem is solved.
 
With Anna married, her youngest sister Catherine is on one hand less tempting (less chances for her potential husband to get Polish crown), OTOH Sigismund wanted opder Anna to marry first, so suitors for younger Catherine's hand faced serious problems. Options are:
-John Vasa still takes a risk, gets Catherine's hand, thus gains brother's wrath and loses his money.
-John Frederick of Pomerania is other option, he was considered IOTL.
-John George of Brandenburg is widowed earlier (say his second wife dies in childbirth in 1561, someone has more luck in ATL, someone would have less as counterbalance).
Sigismund Augustus needs allies during war with Moscow, would let his sister marry Elector's son and would allow Brandenburg line to inherit Ducal Prussia in case of Franconian line's extinction. In return would get loan from Elector.
 
With Anna married, her youngest sister Catherine is on one hand less tempting (less chances for her potential husband to get Polish crown), OTOH Sigismund wanted opder Anna to marry first, so suitors for younger Catherine's hand faced serious problems. Options are:
-John Vasa still takes a risk, gets Catherine's hand, thus gains brother's wrath and loses his money.
-John Frederick of Pomerania is other option, he was considered IOTL.
-John George of Brandenburg is widowed earlier (say his second wife dies in childbirth in 1561, someone has more luck in ATL, someone would have less as counterbalance).
Sigismund Augustus needs allies during war with Moscow, would let his sister marry Elector's son and would allow Brandenburg line to inherit Ducal Prussia in case of Franconian line's extinction. In return would get loan from Elector.

I'm not sure, wouldn't it be seen as putting too many eggs in a Hohenzollern basket (them getting THREE of Sigismund's sisters)?

I like the Pomeranian option, for diversity. Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg also made a play for Anna's hand didn't he?

Not to mention, to see where Johan III marries instead of his OTL wife will be interesting
 
Magnus, brother of Danish King, OTL suitor of Anna Jagiellon, also would be possible for Catherine if he was smarter and less greedy.
 
For Johan Vasa I'll propose domestic match. Perhaps ITTL Per Brahe had additional daughter born in early 1550s? Johan's domestic match would not enrage Erik like his OTL Jagiellon marriage. Perhaps without Johan's "treason" Erik would not became as mad as IOTL.
 
As Duke of Finland, Johan would still like to make alliance with Poland. Considering the fact, that at the time of his wedding with Catherine Sigismund Augustus' two nephews-Sigismund of Brandenburg and John Sigismund Zapolya, were still alive, one more additional nephew would not make such marriage impossible, so let them marry.

Johann Albrecht is already married-with Albrecht Hohenzollern's daughter, and Johann Friedrich could still marry sister of Polish King-King Olbracht II has younger half-sister...
 
I've decided, that Albrecht jr. would marry Catherine instead of Anna. She was younger so Albrecht would insist to marry her, knowing, that his chances to have offspring are higher with Catherine. Sigismund Augustus ultimately agreed to marry younger sister before older IOTL, convinced by Johan Vasa, Albrecht could convince him too. Anna would remain unmarried. Albrecht and Catherine would marry in 1561 and would have 3 children:
-Zygmunt (Sigismund), born 1563.
-Dorota (Dorothea), born 1565.
-Anna, born 1567.

Dorota could marry Archduke Ferdinand of Tirol as his second wife, would be of similar age to his OTL second wife (and is one of few marriagable Catholic candidate, who is not his niece ;) ) For Anna I'd like Pomeranian match-she'll be the one marrying Johann Friedrich, and if under her influence Johann converted to Catholicism and we have Catholic Griffites as result, that would be good thing in long run-IOTL PLC had only one Catholic neighbour-Habsburg Monarchy, so Polish Kings heavy intermarried with Habsburgs (Poland had 8 Habsburg Queens, more than any other country I think). So with another Catholic House in neighbourhood there would be alternative to Habsburg marriages in every generation).

Johan Vasa would still marry sister of Polish King-he'll marry Elizabeth of Prussia (born 1551), half sister of King Albrecht/Olbracht Hohenzollern in early 1570s. Friedrich Hohenzollern (born 1553 instead of OTL Albrecht Friedrich, unlike his OTL analogue is not mentally ill) would be adopted by his cousin Georg Friedrich and made heir of margravites of Bayreuth and Ansbach.
 
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