Before the Religious-Dynastic Wars
France
The decision of Louis XII not to divorce his wife to marry Anne of Brittany was a turning point for France and the Holy Roman Empire.
Anne married into the growing Habsburg dynasty and centralized power in France began to be discredited.
The on-going war with Spain took a bad turn with the defeat of the army sent to Milan. France eventually renounced claims to Naples and Milan in the treaty of Granada.
When the Duchess of Bourbon died, although Francis I claimed the lands he held through her, Francis was unable to maintain his claim against a Duke backed by Habsburg allies.
By the time of the death of Francis II, France was again a patchwork of semi-independent lands, worse, Provence was starting to renew it's old links with Spain.
The Wars of Religion intensified the tendency away from centralization. Bourbon was split between the brothers, Louis [of Bourbon and Conde] and Antoine [of Bourbon and Navarre]. Louis was Protestant, Antoine, Catholic.
After nearly 30 years of fighting, Henry [ex-King of Navarre- lost to Spain in the intervening years] was King of Aquitaine whilst Charles XI ruled France [Charles X's brief reign was spent entirely imprisoned].
Bourbon dynasties now ruled both states.
Spain & Burgundy
After the victory against France in Italy, Spanish forces, under Cordoba, were used to carry the Reconquista into North Africa. Charles I became its first sole Habsburg monarch and completed the union of Castile with Aragon and Naples.
The Netherlands revolt against Habsburg rule was more effective than if Burgundy had been united with Spain. Maurice's new style army was very successful.
In 1580 Rudolph of Habsburg became Duke of Burgundy, his acceptance of freedom of worship made peace possible [but estranged him from his family]. Peace was signed, loosely based upon the lands of the Union of Utrecht, in 1585.
Austria & Bohemia
Bohemia and Hungary had been united under the weak rule of Ladislas in 1490.
His son, Louis II, was also weak and died in battle with the Ottomans [Mohacs] in 1526. The following 80 years were a time of war, civil war and invasions that devastated Hungary.
Not wanting to be dominated and ruled by Austria, Bohemia elected Rudolph of Habsburg as it's King. Rudolph was a believer in freedom of worship; this was opposed by his brother Matthias, a staunch Catholic.
After a short conflict Matthias was ejected but it set the stage for future conflicts in the H.R.E.
Bohemia allowed Adolph to follow his father as King in 1612.
The H.R.E.
The Renaissance had brought religious conflicts into the mix of Empire politics.
Religion was a powerful polarizer of opinion, neither side allowing for good or trustworthiness in the other. Rudolph II, Duke of Burgundy and King of Bohemia had, through his conciliation, kept peace in the Empire but he died in 1612.
Matthias was elected Emperor by the Catholic factions of the Empire whilst Adolph of Burgundy, son of Rudolph II, was elected by the Protestant factions.
Sweden & Denmark, Novgorod & Muscovy
Denmark was the only northern state to have any real interaction with the Empire, it had reached the limits of it's potential to the north and started to be drawn in to Empire politics with the acquisition of Holstein.
Sweden, Novgorod & Muscovy spent their strength in intermittent squabbles over trading rights in the north, none able to gain an advantage and barred from eastward expansion by the, still vibrant, Mongol Horde.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire was in decline yet still controlled lands within 100 miles of Vienna. It's rule stretched over European, Asian and African provinces.
Whilst European eyes saw Vienna as the bastion against Islamic advance, the Ottoman Empire can also be seen as the blockage stopping growing European strength moving into the Middle East.
The Ottoman Empire was in decline only compared to it's European neighbours, it compared much more favourably with it's eastern neighbours and had used this to it's advantage.
Poland & The Slavic States
Poland had finally abandoned it's strange "rotational" style where the states gave notional fealty to the "Capital Province" which was usually ruled by the eldest or most powerful family member. The result was small independent states that still warred with each other.
The Slavic [mostly Rus] States were in confusion as some did but most did not follow suit, leaving the Lith state to gain in strength, kept in check only by wars of succession.
The Situation in Europe in 1611
France
The decision of Louis XII not to divorce his wife to marry Anne of Brittany was a turning point for France and the Holy Roman Empire.
Anne married into the growing Habsburg dynasty and centralized power in France began to be discredited.
The on-going war with Spain took a bad turn with the defeat of the army sent to Milan. France eventually renounced claims to Naples and Milan in the treaty of Granada.
When the Duchess of Bourbon died, although Francis I claimed the lands he held through her, Francis was unable to maintain his claim against a Duke backed by Habsburg allies.
By the time of the death of Francis II, France was again a patchwork of semi-independent lands, worse, Provence was starting to renew it's old links with Spain.
The Wars of Religion intensified the tendency away from centralization. Bourbon was split between the brothers, Louis [of Bourbon and Conde] and Antoine [of Bourbon and Navarre]. Louis was Protestant, Antoine, Catholic.
After nearly 30 years of fighting, Henry [ex-King of Navarre- lost to Spain in the intervening years] was King of Aquitaine whilst Charles XI ruled France [Charles X's brief reign was spent entirely imprisoned].
Bourbon dynasties now ruled both states.
Spain & Burgundy
After the victory against France in Italy, Spanish forces, under Cordoba, were used to carry the Reconquista into North Africa. Charles I became its first sole Habsburg monarch and completed the union of Castile with Aragon and Naples.
The Netherlands revolt against Habsburg rule was more effective than if Burgundy had been united with Spain. Maurice's new style army was very successful.
In 1580 Rudolph of Habsburg became Duke of Burgundy, his acceptance of freedom of worship made peace possible [but estranged him from his family]. Peace was signed, loosely based upon the lands of the Union of Utrecht, in 1585.
Austria & Bohemia
Bohemia and Hungary had been united under the weak rule of Ladislas in 1490.
His son, Louis II, was also weak and died in battle with the Ottomans [Mohacs] in 1526. The following 80 years were a time of war, civil war and invasions that devastated Hungary.
Not wanting to be dominated and ruled by Austria, Bohemia elected Rudolph of Habsburg as it's King. Rudolph was a believer in freedom of worship; this was opposed by his brother Matthias, a staunch Catholic.
After a short conflict Matthias was ejected but it set the stage for future conflicts in the H.R.E.
Bohemia allowed Adolph to follow his father as King in 1612.
The H.R.E.
The Renaissance had brought religious conflicts into the mix of Empire politics.
Religion was a powerful polarizer of opinion, neither side allowing for good or trustworthiness in the other. Rudolph II, Duke of Burgundy and King of Bohemia had, through his conciliation, kept peace in the Empire but he died in 1612.
Matthias was elected Emperor by the Catholic factions of the Empire whilst Adolph of Burgundy, son of Rudolph II, was elected by the Protestant factions.
Sweden & Denmark, Novgorod & Muscovy
Denmark was the only northern state to have any real interaction with the Empire, it had reached the limits of it's potential to the north and started to be drawn in to Empire politics with the acquisition of Holstein.
Sweden, Novgorod & Muscovy spent their strength in intermittent squabbles over trading rights in the north, none able to gain an advantage and barred from eastward expansion by the, still vibrant, Mongol Horde.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire was in decline yet still controlled lands within 100 miles of Vienna. It's rule stretched over European, Asian and African provinces.
Whilst European eyes saw Vienna as the bastion against Islamic advance, the Ottoman Empire can also be seen as the blockage stopping growing European strength moving into the Middle East.
The Ottoman Empire was in decline only compared to it's European neighbours, it compared much more favourably with it's eastern neighbours and had used this to it's advantage.
Poland & The Slavic States
Poland had finally abandoned it's strange "rotational" style where the states gave notional fealty to the "Capital Province" which was usually ruled by the eldest or most powerful family member. The result was small independent states that still warred with each other.
The Slavic [mostly Rus] States were in confusion as some did but most did not follow suit, leaving the Lith state to gain in strength, kept in check only by wars of succession.
The Situation in Europe in 1611
