The Habsburg keep Württemberg

[Valdemar II]

In 1519 the Swabian League drove Ulrich of Württemberg (whom was under a imperial ban) out of his duchy and sold it Charles V. Ulrich reconquered it from Charles in 1534, and it was recognised in 1536. So what if Ulrichs conquest fails, maybe Ulrich dies in a accident before 1534.

 

[Monty Burns]

Interesting question.

First, I know nothing about early reformation in Wurttemberg so I don't know whether this is of importance for Hapsburg rule. I suppose the Hapsburgs would keep Wurttemberg catholic.

Anyway, Further Austria is a lot larger ITTL. As most other rulers in south western Germany are smaller, the Hapsburgs will clearly dominate the region and likely preserve catholicism at a broader scale, maybe making the whole south of Germany catholic (Baden-Wurttemberg becoming as catholic as Bavaria).

At last, I think any increase of Hapsburg power also increases the chances of a stronger Empire and a more centralized state. Nevertheless, Wurttemberg alone will not likely achieve this.

 

[Alex Richards]

Interesting question.

First, I know nothing about early reformation in Wurttemberg so I don't know whether this is of importance for Hapsburg rule. I suppose the Hapsburgs would keep Wurttemberg catholic.

Anyway, Further Austria is a lot larger ITTL. As most other rulers in south western Germany are smaller, the Hapsburgs will clearly dominate the region and likely preserve catholicism at a broader scale, maybe making the whole south of Germany catholic (Baden-Wurttemberg becoming as catholic as Bavaria).

At last, I think any increase of Hapsburg power also increases the chances of a stronger Empire and a more centralized state. Nevertheless, Wurttemberg alone will not likely achieve this.

However, if Austria has got Wurttemburg, we could see Baden in particular and possibly Bavaria made essentially subservient to Austria. Perhaps in the Reformation Wars we see Austria attempt to bring the Rhinish Palatinate into her sphere of influence as well in order to effectively link her possetions? The Duchy of Furstenburg look like it's also a de facto part of Austria as well. Even without the Palatine, Austria makes up virtually a complete March along the Western area, along the line Netherlands (Trier, Palatine) Wurttemburg, Breisgau, Burgundy.

Perhaps we see Breisgau and Wurrtenburg from Austria combined with Burgundy and the Netherlands into a third Habsburg Kingdom