alternatehistory.com

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.
Top