I read some Polish history some time ago. As far as I remember there was at least once a distinct possibility that Poland-Lithuania could have ended up with a Habsurg king (late 16th century as far as I remember). It is interesting to speculate about what would have been the consequences. Would it have meant that Poland would have survived as a country? Would it eventually have become part of an Austrian empire? What would have been the consequences for the rise of Russia as a great power? I would assume it would have made it more difficult for Russia to expand into Ukraine? How would it influence the balance of powers? I assume Prussia and France would ally with Russia against the Habsburgs, but what about Britain? Britain has a history of allying with the German state that were an enemy of France, and France chose the weaker of the two main German states in order to weaken Germany in general. Britain therefore ended up allying with the strongest German state, which here would mean the Habsburgs. What about the Ottoman Empire? It seems like the Habsburgs would be their most dangerous opponent, while Russia would not have posed such a danger as in our time line. I assume therefore that they would ally with Russia, Prussia and France. Any thoughts?