Lion of the North

I have always wondered, what if Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, also known as the Lion of the North, had lived. Would there have been more protestant countries in Europe? Would Sweden have eventually became a superpower? Could they have even been a rival with Russia, perhaps?

 
Welcome to the board. In the future, you should put threads involving a specific point of departure in the Alternate History Discussion forums instead of Test Messages.
 
Well to answer your questions. No not really. I agree Gustav was a brilliant man but unfortunately unless he annexes Denmark and Norway Sweden will simply not have the resources to continue fighting Russia and Poland.
Not much difference from otl IMO on protestant German states cause Gustav only intervened to protect the already existing protestant ones.
Rival with Russia yes in Gustav and maybe his successors lifetimes but once Sweden loses one war it will lose them all following that one loss.
 
If Gustavus Adolphus continues and manages to weaken the Habsburgs too much that encirclement is no issue, then France might turn against it.
 

yourworstnightmare

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If Gustavus Adolphus continues and manages to weaken the Habsburgs too much that encirclement is no issue, then France might turn against it.
Even with a surviving Gustav II Adolf, Sweden would sooner or later face a war with Poland- Lithuania, Russia, Denmark- Norway and the North German princes. A war she can not win. So in the end even if Sweden gain more, she'd sooner or later lose.
 
I have always wondered, what if Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, also known as the Lion of the North, had lived. Would there have been more protestant countries in Europe? Would Sweden have eventually became a superpower? Could they have even been a rival with Russia, perhaps?
once more....
Gustavus was of course very successfull while alive, and he did make Sweden into a major power. I doubt if Sweden due to demographic reasons, could become even greater than they did for some period IOTL.

Russia was a sleeping giant, who, once awoken, no matter what would be able to brush the Swedes aside....also as seen IOTL.

But maybe Gustavus could have secured protestantism a larger area in Europe, had he not been killed at Lützen.....he was after all a great commander.
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yourworstnightmare

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A PoD for a surviving Swedish Great Power must be found outside Sweden. Try keeping Russia down by extending the Time of Troubles, and having the Cossacks establish their own state in the south. However this might lead to Polewank, and that's bad for Sweden. Especially if the Wasas have the Polish throne. Both Russia and Poland need to be weakened (perhaps the Ottomans could present a serious threat to Poland from the south). Denmark- Norway can't threaten Sweden without allies anymore at this point.
 
I have always wondered, what if Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, also known as the Lion of the North, had lived. Would there have been more protestant countries in Europe? Would Sweden have eventually became a superpower? Could they have even been a rival with Russia, perhaps?

Maybe instead of the everlasting fighting between Denmark and Sweden, a peacefull union could be made (similar to the Kalmar Union), with Sweden in the leading role.

It has to somehow be created voluntarily, in order to aviod rebellions. Maybe finding a common enemy (Catholic states, Russia) could help in this. Gustavus is proberly not the right man for the job, hence he was more a man of conquest than diplomacy IMHO.
 
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