How do we get Poland to convert to Protestantism?

[zraith]

Eh, as pointed by posters of the past, geography and such screw Poland as well. Russia is CLOSE. As Germany.

People put too much emphasis on geography as the deciding factor if a nation survives, prospers or gets conquered. Yes it is a factor, but the more important one is the internal structure of the nation in question.

If geography was as important as people say it is, China would have long been conquered by someone else say like Tibet (good defensive terrain). northern Germany is not that much different than Poland geographically, its potentially flatter also and this is the area where Brandenburg the later unifier of German lands was located.

 

[Henriksson]

If geography was as important as people say it is, China would have long been conquered by someone else say like Tibet (good defensive terrain).

Except "good defensive terrain" in this sense means that it will have a small population pretty much by default, is landlocked and bound to be technologically inferior to more established civilizations, like, say, China. I think there could be better examples.

 

[pompejus]

Eh, as pointed by posters of the past, geography and such screw Poland as well. Russia is CLOSE. As Germany.

Don't forget there is no Germany yet and this is (probably) pre-thirty year war. And with Germany in chaos during the thirty year war, who knows what protestant Poland can do. It doesn't seem unreasonable to think Poland will intervene and manage to strengthen it position during it. I can see so many interesting butterflies (including things like a Polish Brandenburg or a Polish-British personal union, because why not) for a protestant Poland, that a Polish partion seems far from certain.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

Don't forget there is no Germany yet and this is (probably) pre-thirty year war. And with Germany in chaos during the thirty year war, who knows what protestant Poland can do. It doesn't seem unreasonable to think Poland will intervene and manage to strengthen it position during it. I can see so many interesting butterflies (including things like a Polish Brandenburg or a Polish-British personal union, because why not) for a protestant Poland, that a Polish partion seems far from certain.

Eh, Prussia isn't a threat anyway?

 

[Andrew Hudson]

Taking the Orwellian view about Catholicism being a form of transferred nationalism if Russia and Germany were catholic countries Poland would become a protestant country

 

[Gonzaga]

Just other idea for the discussion. Apparently Sigismund II thought about the possibility of making his nephew Sigismund of Brandenburg his heir. He was the oldest grandson of Sigismund I, and was the Lutheran Archbishop of Magdeburg.

Of course, we would need to butterfly his early death. But if Sigismund II starts his project of a Polish National Church and the succession goes to his Protestant nephew probably the Reformation in Poland is secured. Also, being a Hohezollern, Sigismund or his descendents could probably claim Prussia to the Crown if the Prussian branch still goes extinct.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

Taking the Orwellian view about Catholicism being a form of transferred nationalism if Russia and Germany were catholic countries Poland would become a protestant country

No question that in history, politics was a part of a nation's path of conversion. By example, the Kazars were a famous case.

 

[Mefisto]

I think that the failure of Trent Concil would help. I have just read that the council was suspended twice and only in years 1562-63 it was concluded. If the last convention was also interrupted it would mean no or very delayed counterreformation and stronger appeal of reformation to Polish and Lithuanian nobility that maybe would tip the scale.

 

[Jurgen Wullenwever]

Perhaps Sigismund III will be able to keep his Swedish crown if both his realms are dominated by Lutherans, and the Polish and Swedish will form something like the English-Scottish union in the 1600s and later.

Gustavus Adolphus is a progressive duke of Sudermannia, and among his many other projects, reforms the Polish-Swedish army.

 

[SavoyTruffle]

Perhaps Sigismund III will be able to keep his Swedish crown if both his realms are dominated by Lutherans, and the Polish and Swedish will form something like the English-Scottish union in the 1600s and later.

Gustavus Adolphus is a progressive duke of Sudermannia, and among his many other projects, reforms the Polish-Swedish army.

Would depend on the Polish succession - it might be possible to butterfly away the Vasas on the throne of Poland.