In keeping with my attempt to inject some Eastern European history into this place, I'd like to discuss Maximilian Emperor Maximilian's efforts to expand Hapsburg control to the shores of the Baltic.
When Maximilian decided to pursue a more aggressive Baltic policy is unclear, although he had probably decided to do so by the Diet of speyer in 1570, which put the fate of Livonia on the agenda. On November 3, the Emperor initiated discussion of counting Russian aggression against Livonia, "a significant province of the Empire." [1]
The Diet responded with a debate on what to do, ultimately approving delegations to the Tsar, Sigismund August (the King of Poland) and Duke Magnus of Livonia but demanding the Empire pay for it himself. The Estates then rejected the proposal by Count palatine George John of Veldenz for an Imperial navy. [2]
Unfortunately , in the interim, the Swedes and Danes made peace, which weakened the Emperor's leverage over the the territory's fate, and the Swedish king refused to give up Livonia while the Russians and Duke Magnus were still at war iwth him.
Then in 1572 King sigismund II died, offering Maximilian another opportunity. The Polish nobility chose Henry of Valois to be their king instead of Maximilian's son Ernest, but in 1574 Henry of Valois fled back to France to reclaim his throne there. [3] So, the Poles needed to choose a new king. In 1575, the election was split between Maximilian (favored by the high nobility), and the lower gentry, who favored the Transylvanian prince Stefan Batory.
Stefan had a great deal of support, in part because Protestants were worried that Maximilian would usher in the Counter-Reformation.
Suppose that instead of Stefan Batory, Maximilian, or one of his sons (he also proposed his son Ernest) gained the throne of Poland-Lithuania? (His son was also proposed as a candidate, and Maximilian died a year later).
[1] I don't know if he means the empire in the sense that the Holy Roman Empire was theoretically universal, or more in the sense of the Holy Roman Empire as it was viewed by most people in the 16th century. I suspect the latter.
[2] Given the cost, the estates decided no. Susano is probably hitting his head against a desk at this point.
[3] Another POD would of course be a Valois Poland, but butterflies would be everywhere. Starting with the continuing Valois France that would be required.
When Maximilian decided to pursue a more aggressive Baltic policy is unclear, although he had probably decided to do so by the Diet of speyer in 1570, which put the fate of Livonia on the agenda. On November 3, the Emperor initiated discussion of counting Russian aggression against Livonia, "a significant province of the Empire." [1]
The Diet responded with a debate on what to do, ultimately approving delegations to the Tsar, Sigismund August (the King of Poland) and Duke Magnus of Livonia but demanding the Empire pay for it himself. The Estates then rejected the proposal by Count palatine George John of Veldenz for an Imperial navy. [2]
Unfortunately , in the interim, the Swedes and Danes made peace, which weakened the Emperor's leverage over the the territory's fate, and the Swedish king refused to give up Livonia while the Russians and Duke Magnus were still at war iwth him.
Then in 1572 King sigismund II died, offering Maximilian another opportunity. The Polish nobility chose Henry of Valois to be their king instead of Maximilian's son Ernest, but in 1574 Henry of Valois fled back to France to reclaim his throne there. [3] So, the Poles needed to choose a new king. In 1575, the election was split between Maximilian (favored by the high nobility), and the lower gentry, who favored the Transylvanian prince Stefan Batory.
Stefan had a great deal of support, in part because Protestants were worried that Maximilian would usher in the Counter-Reformation.
Suppose that instead of Stefan Batory, Maximilian, or one of his sons (he also proposed his son Ernest) gained the throne of Poland-Lithuania? (His son was also proposed as a candidate, and Maximilian died a year later).
[1] I don't know if he means the empire in the sense that the Holy Roman Empire was theoretically universal, or more in the sense of the Holy Roman Empire as it was viewed by most people in the 16th century. I suspect the latter.
[2] Given the cost, the estates decided no. Susano is probably hitting his head against a desk at this point.
[3] Another POD would of course be a Valois Poland, but butterflies would be everywhere. Starting with the continuing Valois France that would be required.
