On these forums the idea of an earlier unified Iberia has already been the subject of some discussion - with the POD being Portugal's Miguel da Paz, who died infancy, instead surviving and becoming King of Portugal, Castile and Aragon. Thus the Habsburgs never end up ruling Spain.
I'd be particularly interested to know what the effects are on the rest of Europe and how it might affect how the Reformation takes place.
Germany: If TTL's Charles V (or equivalent) still inherits the Franche-Compte, Burgundian Netherlands and Austria, as well as becoming Emperor, would he be able to consolidate control in the Empire somehow, even including Flanders and the Netherlands in some kind of proto-Germany? Not a nation-state, but some centralization that he might intend to last? Or are the interests of his realms still too disparate, and the idea of centralization not even on the radar?
Italian Wars: The Aragon/Naples side of this Iberian union presumably commits it to tussling with the French for some kind of Italian supremacy. What sides do other powers take if they get involved - the Austrians, the English, the Turks, and the Pope? Which of the two countries - France or Spain - would now be seen by others as the more powerful country, and therefore either to side with in order to win, or oppose to preserve some sort of balance?
Reformation: If the majority of TTL's Charles V's lands were to rebel against the Catholic Church, is it at all conceivable that he either himself goes Lutheran (which I guess means removing the 'Holy Roman' from 'Empire'), or that some kind of change in the Catholic Church itself takes place?
England: If Henry VIII still marries Catherine of Aragon, the way the Italian wars proceed affects when, or maybe even whether, England breaks from Rome. Henry wanted the annulment of his marriage at exactly the time that the Pope was the prisoner of his then wife's nephew, which must have coloured the Pope's lack of a response to say the least.
I'd be particularly interested to know what the effects are on the rest of Europe and how it might affect how the Reformation takes place.
Germany: If TTL's Charles V (or equivalent) still inherits the Franche-Compte, Burgundian Netherlands and Austria, as well as becoming Emperor, would he be able to consolidate control in the Empire somehow, even including Flanders and the Netherlands in some kind of proto-Germany? Not a nation-state, but some centralization that he might intend to last? Or are the interests of his realms still too disparate, and the idea of centralization not even on the radar?
Italian Wars: The Aragon/Naples side of this Iberian union presumably commits it to tussling with the French for some kind of Italian supremacy. What sides do other powers take if they get involved - the Austrians, the English, the Turks, and the Pope? Which of the two countries - France or Spain - would now be seen by others as the more powerful country, and therefore either to side with in order to win, or oppose to preserve some sort of balance?
Reformation: If the majority of TTL's Charles V's lands were to rebel against the Catholic Church, is it at all conceivable that he either himself goes Lutheran (which I guess means removing the 'Holy Roman' from 'Empire'), or that some kind of change in the Catholic Church itself takes place?
England: If Henry VIII still marries Catherine of Aragon, the way the Italian wars proceed affects when, or maybe even whether, England breaks from Rome. Henry wanted the annulment of his marriage at exactly the time that the Pope was the prisoner of his then wife's nephew, which must have coloured the Pope's lack of a response to say the least.
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