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Suppose Frederick, Count of Pfalz, or Gustavus Adolphus win a total victory. Maybe Frederick wins the support of Saxony and destroys the Emperor's army, or maybe Gustavus completely crushes the Imperial army at Lutzen. Could they actually shatter the HRE, and form their own Holy Protestant Empire (with Frederick or Gustavus, as head) in northern Germany? And what would be the consequences in Austria itself (apparently, parts of Austria were already Protestant)? Could this simply destroy the Imperial branch of the Habsburgs, and send the Catholics into a tizzy? Who would the Catholics turn to for help, in this state? Spain? France? Bavaria? Who was in a position to take up the leadership of the Catholic league, if the power of the HRE is broken?
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