The Winter King

Out of curiosity, in most articles on the 30 Years War, it says that Frederick V of the Palatinate was not the original candidate for the Czechs as king of Bohemia. Who were the other candidates? What were their reasons for refusing? And could it have altered the course of the 30 Years War if one of them had taken the throne instead?
 
The Bohemian estate sent offers of kingship to different protestant princes, but it is not really important who gets elected in the short run, the religion is the important part. Maybe the election of Johann Georg of Saxony, but he refused in otl.
 
They seem to have shopped it around to a bunch of candidates. In addition to the Electors of the Palatinate and Saxony, they also made at least tentative hints in the direction of the Prince of Transylvania and even the (Catholic) Duke of Savoy seems to have believed he was a candidate.
 
I had no idea they considered the duke of Savoy. But the way you phrase it suggests that in-his-own-mind sort of way he considered himself a candidate.

The elector of Saxony strikes me as someone who could be even more awkward on the throne than Frederick of the Palatinate. He seems to have been very pro-Habsburg (his wiki article says that it was because he didn't like how Brandenburg and the Palatinate were expanding their territory or their prestige). Although, if Frederick could ally with him swiftly enough that he doesn't seize Lausitz and Schlesien because he's been "bribed" by the emperor, that might help.

Also, wasn't a prince of Anhalt-something considered for the position as king too? Or am I confused?
 
Also, wasn't a prince of Anhalt-something considered for the position as king too? Or am I confused?

Christian of Anhalt was the chief advisor of Frederick V, and the one who pushed Frederick's candidacy. [I forget which division of Anhalt he ruled, but he was definitely numbered Christian I].
 
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