Based upon your own beliefs on how a successful medieval realm should function, how would you go about reforming the Holy Roman Empire, starting with a PoD post 1000 C.E.
Implement the Reforms of Worms (1495), especially the common penny (Gemeiner Pfennig). That's a first step. The eternal peace (Ewiger Landfriede) needs to be extended from banning feuds to banning all kinds of internal conflict in the Empire in general, save for interventionary actions by the Emperor. The Army (the Army of the Empire, not the Emperor's Army; the Reichsheer) needs to be reformed into a standing force loyal to the Empire and Emperor contributed to by the states. The Imperial Government (which replaced the Diet but also took power from the Emperor) needs to survive; perhaps in an ATL the Emperor has more say in it, leading to a compromise allowing for its continuance. These changes should set the Empire on a path much, much different than OTL and should give it the tools to implement later, more binding reforms, in the centuries to come.
Frankly half of these suggestions work against the other, dividing the HRE into kingdoms would only empower local kings more, something, again, working against the point of reforming the kingdom, you are actually regressing it back to the time where every election had a different dynasty like in the late 13th century.Something that’s been on my mind given my desire to do a Charles V SI one day.
Consolidate the Netherlands and Austria, build up relationships with the Bavarians and Bohemians while letting the North fall under Lutheran sway. Finally move forward and utterly crush the darned Protestants. Use the peace terms to restructure the empire as follows:
Emperor elected by all nobles above the rank of count and all archbishops. Diet meeting in Frankfurt or Augsburg, which will be an Imperial City and capital of the HRE.
Circles dissolved. Instead the HRE will be divided into the following kingdoms and (capitals): dynasties
Kingdom of the Netherlands (Brussels or Antwerp): Habsburg
Kingdom of Northern Germany (Berlin or Brunswick): Wettin or Hohenzollern
Kingdom of Southern Germany (Munich): Wittlesbach
Kingdom of Austria (Vienna): Habsburg
Kingdom of Italy (rump Italian territories of HRE) (Turin): d’Medici
Kingdom of Bohemia (roughly same as OTL) (Prague): Habsburg or Jagiellon
Make deal with Pope giving up right to approve ecclesiastical appointments in exchange for suppression of most minor prince-bishoprics. Use their lands and cities to entice secular lords into ceding other territories and consolidating domains, hopefully restoring some semblance of order to territorial holdings.
Forbid internal HRE wars and establish a clear line of federal to kingdom to local supremacy in law.
Get to work reconquering wayward ex-HRE lands, like France...![]()
Are you trying to drive ATL's historians all hopelessly insane??I wouldn't. I would reform all other states to become more like the Holy Roman Empire.![]()
Are you trying to drive ATL's historians all hopelessly insane??
Frankly half of these suggestions work against the other, dividing the HRE into kingdoms would only empower local kings more, something, again, working against the point of reforming the kingdom, you are actually regressing it back to the time where every election had a different dynasty like in the late 13th century.