The House of Wettin vs the World: A TL

Prologue [ Before the Reformation ]

In November of 1485, as Ernest and Albert II, Dukes of Saxony, prepare to divide up the lands of their father. The night before, Ernest begins sleep walking, and accidentally walks into a suit of armor, impaling himself on the spear. His screams wake the entirety of the household, who rush to his aid, but he does not survive the night. Albert II is deemed the ruler of the entirety of the Wettin lands, and the division never happens.

Later on, Friedrich von Wettin of Saxony, youngest son of Albert II and Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, does not die of sickness, and lives to see the reformation. He converts to Lutheranism. After counseling with Luther, he attempts to secularize the land of the Knights and with the blessing of his relative, Sigismund I the Old of Poland, the Teutonic Knights land is transformed into the Duchy of Prussia, a fief of the Polish King. Prussia becomes a hereditary land of the House of Wettin, and will later on be cause for the Saxon electors to be named 'King of Prussia', elevating them to a royal title.
 
While it's an interesting POD, castles didn't really have suits of armour standing around the halls. And why don't Ernst's adult children inherit his titles?
 
Top