TLC2: For Want of a Shove

dreadnought jenkins

Holy Roman Empire
1505 Ano Domani
Somewhere near Erfurt

It was under an ever increasing cloudy sky that Martin Luther found himself walking under. He was minding his own business when a cry came up behind him.

“Stop thief!”

Worried that they were referring to him, he turned around. To his relief, it was not him they were yelling at. Instead, it was a strong, ugly man running with a sack on his back that was the apparent thief. Behind him was a gaggle of farmers bearing makeshift weapons, and all seemed prepared to use them. That did not undo the fact that the robber was outpacing them and before Luther knew it, the brute was upon him.

“Out of my way.” He growled as he shoved Luther into the ditch at the side of the road. He continued on at good speed without pause.

When Luther finally pulled himself out of the ditch, the farmers had stopped next to him, huffing and puffing.

“Damn the man.” One of the farmers muttered darkly.

It was all Luther and the farmers could do but watch the thief run off into the distance. Or at least that’s what would have happened if the lighting hadn’t hit the thief.

After a moment of stunned silence, the farmers burst out laughing and began praising God for his divine justice.

It never really occurred to Luther, as he was invited by the farmers to have something to drink with them, that if the thief had only picked a different rout, or maybe had even picked a different place to steal from, he would have been uncomfortably close to where the lighting struck.

Instead of a conviction to become a monk, he got an interesting tale to tell his friends in Erfurt.
 

dreadnought jenkins

From “Renaissance, Reformation, and Revolution”, by Thomas Button

…The Reformation, as it is known today, was not an unforeseeable event. Both John Wycliffe in the 14th century and John Huss in the 15th century were precursors to the Reformist movement that would shake Europe to its very core. The Lollards and the Hussites were their legacy. While the former met with repression, the latter became popular within both Bohemia and Moravia, but did not spread much farther…

…It was only in the 16th century, nearly two hundred years after Wycliffe began calling for reforms that the floodgates truly opened. Andreas Carlstadt and Ulrich Zwingli were the two initial instigators and they were also the most coherent. While it is true that the infamous Wolfgang Capito was also one of the first, his preaching would remain mostly incoherent and disorganized for more than a decade until the emergence of John Calvin…
 

dreadnought jenkins

Well, I'm gonna try and get back in the race. I plan to try to post alot, as I am far behind Jasen777 so I'm going to have to play a game of catch up.
 

dreadnought jenkins

Here we go again

From “Renaissance, Reformation, and Revolution”, by Thomas Button

…John Calvin was one of the most important people of Reformation, and as such no History detailing the times may be called complete without explaining who he was…

…Born on July 10, 1509 in Noyon to Gerard Chauvin and Jeanne Le Franc, he was baptized Jean Chauvin…

…he began attending the University of Paris in 1523 at the age of fourteen. He pursued Theology and Latin for a number of years before switching to Law at the urging of his father. In doing so, he moved to Orleans to pursue his new choice of study…

…in 1528, he met Fabricius, who was at that time fleeing authorities in the Holy Roman Empire. Though it is disputed if he was the one to introduce Calvin to Reformism, it is highly doubtful as by that time the writings of both Carlstadt and Zwingli had reached Orleans…

…He graduated from Orleans in 1532, and immediately became involved in the Reformist movement in the area…

…by 1533, he was helping Nicholas Cop, the university rector write Reformist speeches. This was taken not well by the authorities, and John Calvin took flight from Orleans and ended up in southern Germany some months later. It was here, in the powder keg that was southern Germany, that Calvin once again met Fabricius. Together they conspired, and Calvin gave format and order to Frabricius’ ideas while adding his own…

…the format of preaching they followed was simple. John Calvin, educated and well mannered, talked with the merchants, the knights, and even a few princes. Fabricius was also well educated, but he had become uncouth in his years of wandering, some detractors would call him mad, and he mainly concerned himself with the lower classes. What followed their actions would shock the Christian world.
 

dreadnought jenkins

I have decided to do away with attempts at Pros and tried doing a Timeline instead. So...

A Timeline of (Mostly) Western Europe

1505: Martin Luther does not decide to quit his study of Law. He will keep up his studies and stay away from theology.

1506: Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia is born. He will have such a long life that he will be known to history as Louis the old.

King Alexander of Poland dies. He is succeeded by his brother Sigismund I (himself known as ‘the old’ later in life).

1507: The continents of America are named in honour of Amerigo Vespucci.

1508: Beginning of the war of the League of Cambrai.

1509: Henry VIII ascends the throne of England on the death of his father Henry VII.

John Calvin is born in Noyon.

1510: Catherine of Aragon gives birth to a stillborn child. This will be the beginning of their rocky marriage, and a prelude to Henry VIII marital problems, which will become infamous.

1511: England joins in on the alliance against France during the War of the League of Cambrai.

Catherine of Aragon gives birth to a son, but he soon dies. Henry VIII throws himself into waging war on France, but the war is an eventual failure.

1512: Navarre is occupied by King Ferdinand II and is eventually absorbed into Spain.

James V of Scotland is born. He will be one year old when his father dies at Flodden.

1513: King James IV of Scotland is killed when the Scots lose the battle of Flodden.

Hans of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden dies.

Christian II succeeds the throne of Denmark, Norway, and eventually Sweden.

1514: Catherine of Aragon gives birth to another son, but he too soon dies.

1515: Louis XII of France dies and is succeeded by Francis I.

Wolfgang Fabricius Capito (b.1478) travels to Basel and talks to Zwingli [1]. After a series of discussions with the Swiss reformist, he decides to travel to Rome. In Rome, he becomes quite disillusioned with the Roman Catholic Church.

1516: Charles of Ghent inherits Spain on the death of Ferdinand II and is crowned King Carlos I.

Mary I of England is born Catherine and Henry VIII.

The War of the League of Cambrai ends.

Andreas Carlstadt writes his 151 theses. His actions lead to the National Reformist Churches that will eventually prop up around Northern Europe. He continuously becomes more vocal and is challenged a number of times to debates. His biggest patron at the beginning is Frederick the Wise of Saxony.

1517: Returning from his journeys in Italy, Fabricius settles in Freiberg for the next two years, getting a correspondence with Zwingli, and through Zwingli, Erasmus. This begins Fabricius’ descent into radicalism.

1518: The Treaty of London, which called for a European defensive pact against foreign aggressors (read: Ottomans) is signed and gives Europe a very brief peace. It soon fails to prevent war between Christian states.

Andreas Carlstadt begins publishing numerous works and they spread throughout Europe. He will publish well over 200 pieces of work [2]

1519: Charles (Carlos) I of Spain becomes Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

Henry II of France is born.

During one of Andreas Carlstadt’s debates in Leipzig, Fabricius and Thomas Munzter meet and become friends.


1520: Sigismund II Augustus of Poland is born, though not the last Jagiellon, he is the last of his line.

Andreas Carlstadt begins preaching in German, and starts many changes. He gains further support from Frederick and other German princes eager to advance their own powers.

1521: A rebellion against the Spanish occupation of Navarre breaks out.

Ignatius of Loyola, commander of the fortress at Pamplona, is beheaded by a stray cannonball fired by the rebels [3].

Fabricius travels and settles down once more in Mainz.

1522: Using the rebellion in Navarre as an excuse, France declares war on the Hapsburg empire of Charles V.

1523: Gustav Vasa is elected King of Sweden and finalizes Swedish independence. He soon comes into conflict with the Pope over his expulsion of the Denmark aligned Archbishop Gustave Trolle. The resulting dispute with the Pope ends with Sweden moving down the path to a Reformist church (inspired by the works of Carlstadt).

Denmark also becomes increasingly Reformist.

Christian II of Denmark is forced to abdicate and his uncle takes the throne. Frederick I of Denmark lives most of his life in Schleswig, rarely visiting Denmark and never visiting Norway. He maintains a catholic government even as the rest of the country turns to Carlstadt’s Reformism.

After staying in Mainz for over a year, Fabricius openly criticizes the Archbishop and narrowly escapes arrest.

John Calvin begins attending the University of Paris. He studies Latin and Theology. At the urging of his father, he switches to Law a few years later. Even farther down the road, he begins attending the University of Orleans.

1524: Fabricius takes part in the German peasant uprisings [4]. The uprisings are put down with extreme prejudice by the end of the year. The resentment of the peasants will continue to grow for years to come.

Thomas Muntzer, a major instigator is killed.

1525: Fabricius is forced to flee Germany for fear of his life. He escapes into the Swiss Confederation and from there into France.

1526: Battle of the Mohacs. Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia loses the battle, but is able to escape later that night [5]. He will continue the fight against the Ottomans, and though he initially loses Buda, he soon recaptures it. He becomes increasingly reliant on his Hapsburg connection (his wife, Mary of Hungary).

1527: Fabricius continues his sporadic wanderings of France and arrives late in the year in Orleans.

Rome is sacked by Spanish and German troops. Pope Clement VII makes peace with Charles V.

1528: Fabricius meets John Calvin, and two become something akin to friends, though their age difference is enormous (Fabricius is 50 years old, Calvin only 19 going on 20). Fabricius stays in Orleans until May wherein he moves on.

Louis II continues his campaigns against the Ottomans, making only small gains.

Gustav Vasa is finally crowned King of Sweden.

1529: Due to continued minor Hungarian victories, Suleiman I marches north and lays siege to Buda. Louis II is not present at Buda when it is finally besieged.

Judging four years a safe enough gap, Fabricius returns to Germany and begins preaching in the back country surrounding Mainz.

Thomas Wolsey fails to procure a divorce for Henry VIII, causing his downfall.

Henry VIII break with Rome begins.

1530: Buda is captured by the Ottomans, but it is a pyrrhic victory. Bad weather and dysentery wreaked havoc amongst the Ottoman forces, including Suleiman I. Though he doesn’t die of it, he is forced by his ill health and that of his army to retreat, leaving a token garrison in Buda. By the end of the year, Buda falls once more into the hands of Louis II.

Fabricius moves south into Württemberg and continues his preaching. Between 1530 and 1533, Fabricius travels through much of southern Germany including Bavaria and Franconia.

1531: Lisbon is hit by a huge earthquake, in which thousands perish.

The forces of Zwingli lose the battle of Kappel. Zwingli survives and escapes. The battle is a great realization for him, and later gives military matters to more experienced men. He swears vengeance against the Catholic cantons. He arrives in the more friendly Cantons and raises a new army.

Sweden finally makes a break with Rome. From then on, Sweden is independent of Rome.

1532: The second battle of Kappel results in a victory for Zwingli. He begins his campaign to bring all of the Swiss Confederation under Reformist control. This campaign will last on and off for seven years.

Suleiman starts another invasion of Hungary, which fails miserably. Again, like the siege of Buda, it is bad luck and bad weather that contribute most to his defeat, not Hungarian prowess on the field, though it is improving.

John Calvin graduates from Orleans and immediately becomes involved in the Reformist movement in the area. By the following year, he is forced to flee into Germany.

1533: Fabricius, through an act of sheer coincidence encounters John Calvin in Nuremburg. They then conspire together and Calvin quickly becomes the leader of the duo. They continue their efforts to preach their teachings. Calvin concerns himself with the upper class, while Fabricius deals with the lower. Unrest among all the classes begins to grow. Calvin appeals to the princes and the merchants with the idea of attaining more power through Calvin’s ideas. Meanwhile unrest among the peasants, always endemic, is raised to boiling point by Fabricius, who espoused anti-Nobility sentiments.

Henry VIII divorces Catherine of Aragon and marries Anne Boleyn. This is facilitated by the newly appointed Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. Both Henry and Thomas are excommunicated by the Pope. Henry responds by having Parliament pass The Statute in Restraint of Appeals, which declares the Pope’s power in England null and void by claiming that England is an empire and the English crown an imperial crown. Though Henry continues to call himself King, this forms the basis of the later Empire.

1534: The Supremacy Act, which declares Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England is passed. This is a follow up to the Statute in Restraint of Appeals.

A Visitation of the Monasteries is commenced in Britain. It is the start of the seizure of church land in England. The seizures will continue on for years, and a large amount of the profits go to the nobility, to keep them happy.

Christian III comes to power in Denmark. Profoundly intrigued by the works of Zwingli, Carlstadt, and other reformers (not Calvin), Christian begins the Reformist Church of Denmark. Like in Sweden and England, this eventually leads to confiscation of church land. This has him come into conflict with the catholic portion of the Danish Nobility, of which he eventually emerges the victor.

1535: At the age of 57 and having dealt with being on the road or on the run for most of his later life, Fabricius, who most Historians agree was not truly of his right mind anymore, enters Mainz once more in October and harangues the Archbishop in a more vicious repeat of 1523 (though he preached around Mainz in 1529, he never entered the city). He continues to preach until the guards beat him unconscious to shut him up during his arrest. His subsequent rough treatment during his captivity only worsens his condition and his health takes a serious turn for the worse. Calls for his release are echoed throughout most of Southern Germany.

Radical Anabaptists seize control of Munzter [6].

In Italy, Francesco Maria Sforza, the Duke of Milan, dies. His duchy is inherited by Charles V son, Phillip.

1536: The Archbishop of Mainz had been procrastinating on what to do with the mad preacher, finally receives word from the Holy See. Fabricius is to be burnt at the stake to be made an example of. His execution is expedited by his failing death, since the Papacy wishes to see him burnt before he dies.

During his burning, the crowd becomes agitated and soon a riot breaks out to try and save him. The guards are overrun and Fabricius is pulled from the fire, though he is already dead due to both the smoke and his ill health [7]. From this point on, the riot only turns worse and spreads throughout the city. Wolfgang Fabricius Capito achieves martyrdom and the Calvinist War has begun. Rebellions and riots break out around southern Germany and Calvin soon appears as a rallying point.

In England, Anne Boleyn is executed. Though charges at High Treason, Adultery and others were laid at her feet, it was because she could not give a male heir. Henry VIII marries Jane Seymour

In Italy, due to the Hapsburgs new inheritance France invades setting off another round of Italian Wars, which for Charles V, comes at a very inconvenient time.

1537: Tens of thousands of peasants flock to Calvin’s banner, but most importantly, Calvin gains the support of a number of nobles and merchants. With these, he is able to hire mercenaries and give some modicum of training to the peasants. Most of the fighting is done by the professional soldiers, though Calvin’s forces are able on occasions to take the field by numbers alone. Even with victories, a number of nobles and merchants become nervous with the cries of the peasants. Calvin does his best to reassure them.

Charles is continuously distracted by a number of events. The growing power of Zwingli and the violence in the Swiss Confederation, the growing power of Reformism in the North, England, war with France and even a new invasion of Hungary by the Ottomans all draw away his attention. His efforts are mostly put to helping out Louis II and crushing Calvin. He would eventually succeed in one and fail in the other.

The Ottomans invade Hungary to punish Louis II for his attacks across the frontier. Suleiman succeeds in stopping the raids and has the unintended effect of forcing Charles to send Hapsburg troops to support his sister and her husband. In Vienna and in Louis II court (which is constantly moving) it is viewed as a victory since they repelled the Ottoman “conquest.”

In England, Jane Seymour dies giving birth to Edward VI, the only surviving male heir of Henry VIII to gain the throne.

The Anabaptists, who had been lying low, burst out in a fit of expansion. They ally themselves with Calvin and make moves on neighboring cities.

1538: Charles V finally makes peace with France but Calvin is on the winning side in Germany. Calvin does however have the sense to see that the forces of Charles V are being called back from their various duties in order to fight him.

A plot by a number of nobles affiliated with Calvin to defect to the Hapsburgs is discovered. Calvin, acting quickly arrests them and has most of them executed. Their property is seized. While only increasing his power, Calvin realizes that in order to win, peace must come and soon.

1539: Zwingli completes his subjugation of the Swiss Confederation. Imperial and Papal reactions have been unable to react fully due to the war in Germany against John Calvin and his following.

Calvin puts out peace feelers to Charles V. One of the offers will be all Hapsburg lands are returned, but John Calvin’s people get to keep the rest. Secret bartering occurs, but the eventuality of Calvin’s new German state becomes more and more assured.

1540: Peace of Westphalia ends the Calvinist War. The map of the Holy Roman Empire is effectively redrawn.

Anne of Cleves marries Henry VIII and is divorced within the same year.

Comments are well appreciated, little numbers will be explained later. Please tell me if it's good or not:).
 

dreadnought jenkins

[1]-In OTL, Wolfgang Capito (Fabricius) did meet and talk with Zwingli. He did not, however, go to rome. This timeline he does.

[2]-In OTl, he published less because of conflicts with Luther. In this timeline, no Luther, no conflict, so he goes on to write more.

[3]-Big change here, Ingnatius of Loyola was the key founder of the Jesuits. In OTL, he only got injured by the cannonball and it ended his career as a soldier. This made him go into religion and eventually found the Jesuits which were an important part of the Counter-Reformation. So no Jesuits in this timeline, or at least the kind of Jesuits we'd recognise.

[4]-Without Luther, these are far more minor, and are only part of the build up to the Calvinist War.

[5]-Another big change. In OTL Louis Jagiellon was killed at the Battle of Mohacs, plunging Hungary into civil war between Ferdinand I and John Zapolya, voivode of Transylvania. With none of those problems, Louis is able to present a far more united front and is thus able to do better ITTL.

[6]-Happens a year later than it did in OTL.

[7]-This only helps out Calvins cause. Fabricius was like Munzter before him, anti Noblility, and Calvin is able to rid himself of that to keep the support of Nobles while Fabricius becomes a martyr for the peasants to follow and fight for.

I know the changes haven't been great, but things are already changing and they will grow greater and greater within the next few updates except the one dealing with Eastern Europe, which will run parrallel to this. More info on the Calvinist War and the Peace of Westphallia later.
Comments still well apreciated.:D
 

dreadnought jenkins

Eastern Europe (mostly)

Yes:D, a response. Well heres another addition to the timeline and this one runs parralel...

A Timeline of (Mostly) Eastern Europe

1505: Alexander of Poland signs the Nihil Novi act. The act prevents the King acting without the consent of the Sejm (the Polish Parliament). It also severely curtails the power of powerful magnates. Serfdom is also enacted, and will continue to be enacted for just over a century.

Ivan the Great, Grand Duke of Russia, dies. He is succeeded by his son Vasili III.

1506: Alexander of Poland dies. He is succeeded by his brother Sigismund I the Old.

Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia is born. He will reign for so long that he will become known as the 'Old.'

The Crimean Khanate, an ally of Moscow, launches an invasion of Lithuanian lands. The Lithuanians, under the command of Michael Glinski defeats the Crimeans at the battle of Kletsk and pushes them back.

1507: After their defeat in the previous year and worried about Russian expansion, the Crimean Khanate switches sides and joins with the Kingdoms of Poland and the Grand Duchy Lithuania. Michael Glinski, who has ambitions for his own independent state, rebels against the Crown and attempts to surrender Vilnius to the Russians. This is the start of the Third Muscovite-Lithuanian War.

1508: Michael Glinski is defeated at Vilnius by Polish-Lithuanian forces under Sigismund the Old. His attempts to then seize Minsk and then Orsha are all defeated and he and his Russian allies are forced to retreat back into Russia. A treaty of "eternal peace" is signed between the two nations, and it returns the situation back to the status quo. This ends the Third Muscovite-Lithuanian War.

1509: The Royal Dano-Norwegian navy is founded.

1510: Pskov falls to the forces of Vasili III of Russia. The Republic of Pskov is absorbed into Russia.

1511: An anti-Ottoman rebellion occurs in Anatolia. Named the Shakulu rebellion after the its leader, who was popular name was Shakulu (meaning Slave of the Shah). After a series of initial rebel victories, a combined Ottoman force under Grand Vizier Hadim Ali Pasha brings Shakulu's army to battle. The Ottomans win the battle but both the Grand Vizier and Shakulu are killed in the battle. The rebellion effectively ends.

Albert Hohenzollern, a nephew of Sigismund the Old, is elected the 37th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights. He soon refuses to submit to the Polish Crown like his predecessor had and tensions rise between Poland and the Knights. Albert begins negotiations for Imperial support with Emperor Maximilian I in case of war Poland.

1512: Bayezid II, sultan of the Ottoman Empire abdicates as the succession battle between his two sons comes to an end. His oldest son, Ahmed, is defeated by Bayezid's younger son, Selim, who has the support of the janissaries. Selim takes the throne and becomes Selim I. Bayezid II soon dies after his abdication.

Moldavia, like Wallachia before it, becomes an Ottoman vassal. They are given the same deal as the Wallachians.

The Fourth Muscovite-Lithuanian War begins. A Russian army invades and lays siege to Smolensk. The siege eventually fails later in the year and the Russians are forced back. The Poles and Lithuanians, under Grand Hetman Konstanty Ostrogski, ravage Severia in retaliation. The Crimeans, now a Polish ally, unleash a series of brutal raids and devastate much of Southern Russia.

The Teutonic Knights, supposedly a vassal to the Jagiellon kings, rulers of Lithuania and Poland, does not declare war on Russia. Tensions continue to increase between Poland and the Knights.

1513: Due to the war with Lithuania and Poland, the appanage [1] of Volokolamsk is reabsorbed into Russia.

Another invading Russian force is repelled from Vitebsk and Polotsk.

1514: The Russians once more lay siege to Smolensk. This time around, Michael Glinski brings artillery, and the siege becomes more desperate for the defenders. The artillery eventually proves key, and the Russians capture the strategic city. Their victory soon turns to disaster when, fresh with victory, the Russians advance out to seize more land and runs into the relief force under Grand Hetman Konstanty Ostrogski. The battle of Orsha occurs.

The Polish-Lithuanian force, slightly outnumbered, gain a brilliant and crushing victory against the Russians during the battle of Orsha. All of the Russian artillery is captured and so are many of the Russian leaders. The battle is propaganda coup, and the Poles use the victory extensively to promote themselves as the shield of Catholic Europe against the "barbaric, asiatic hordes of Russia."

The Polish-Lithuanian force recaptures most of the territory lost and besieges Smolensk late in September. Despite calls to not start a siege, Konstanty decides Smolensk must be recaptured [2]. The siege lasts well into the following year.

The Ottomans under Selim I declare war on the Safavid empire for religious reasons; the Safavid Empire is Shia and the Ottomans are Sunni. Another reason is to prevent any alliance between the Safavids and the Mamelukes. The battle of Chaldiran occurs and ends in a victory for the Ottomans under Selim I against the Safavids. Selim captures Tabriz, the Safavid capital, but is unable to hold it.

1515: Due to the Polish victory at Orsha, Maximilian I ends his negotiations with the Teutonic Knights and becomes friends once more with Poland and Lithuania. Albert, the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, is forced to look elsewhere for an ally against Poland. He does not have to look far.

The Russians make an alliance with the Livonian Knights, but a second attempt at Vitebsk fails.

Later in the year, Smolensk is recaptured by the Lithuanians. Konstanty enters Vilnius as a great hero.

The Emirate of Dulkadir falls to the Ottomans, and opens up a path towards the Mamelukes in Syria and Egypt.

1516: The Lithuanians begin an abortive effort to capture Pskov, but they are soon routed.

Selim I begins his campaign to destroy the Mamelukes. He invades Syria and Palestine.

Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia assumes the throne at age 11.

1517: The Crimean Khanate, like in 1512, launches another devastating raid into Russia.

The Teutonic Knights and Russia sign an alliance.

Selim I completes the conquest of the Mamelukes [3]. The Ottoman Empire annexes Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and the holy cities of Mecca and Medina are now in Ottoman hands. Selim I declares himself the Caliph.

1518: The second Russian siege of Polotsk is driven back. This is the last major siege of the War.

The Teutonic Knights, feeling they now have the upper hand over Poland, demand much of the land they lost to Poland over the last century. Both Sigismund I and the Polish Sejm are infuriated. Polish forces are withdrawn from Lithuania.

1519: The Russians, in response to the Crimean raids, devastate Kreva in Lithuania.

The Polish Sejm declares war on the Teutonic Knights [4]. A Polish blockade begins and both the Poles and the Knights advance into each other countries. Poland soon gains the upper hand.

Emperor Maximilian I dies and is succeeded by his grandson Charles V.

1520: Peace feelers are sent out by both the Russian and Lithuanian sides. Peace negotiations begin despite continued fighting.

Reinforcements for the Teutonic Knights put them back on even footing with the Poles.

Selim I dies. His son, Suleiman I the Lawgiver assumes the throne and becomes Sultan. Upon assuming the throne, a Ukranian slave girl named Aleksandra Lisowska (name is disputed)(also known as Roxelana), later known as Hurrem Sultan, is given to Suleiman as a gift.

Sigismund II Augustus is born to Sigismund the Old of Poland.

1521: One last Lithuanian and Crimean raid is carried out, and ends badly.

Charles V negotiates a cease fire between Poland and the Teutonic Knights due to the Ottoman invasion of Hungary.

Suleiman I invades Hungary and captures Belgrade.

1522: Peace is declared, ending the Fourth Muscovite-Lithuanian War. The Russian Lithuanian border region is devastated. Russia makes slight gains, but they are negligible [5]. The alliance between the Russians and the Teutonic Knights ends.

Without allies, Albert travels to the Holy Roman Empire in search of new ones.

Suleiman I invades Rhodes and eventually captures it despite fierce opposition from the Knights of St. John. The survivors who surrendered are allowed to evacuate and they eventually settle in Malta.

Carlstadt begins working on the German version of the New Testament. It is a collaborative effort between himself and others. The new Bible begins getting published by August of 1523.

Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia marries Mary of Hapsburg (later known as Mary of Hungary). His older sister marries Ferdinand, brother of Charles V and the governor of Austria in his name.

1523: Albert travels about the Holy Roman Empire and becomes heavily influenced by Reformism. He eventually meets Andreas Carlstadt. He becomes convinced that the only way to proceed is to secularize the Teutonic Knights and make Prussia hereditary [6].

1524: Albert begins his trip back to Teutonic Knights in Prussia and arrives later in the year. He promotes Reformism within the order. His brother, George, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, approaches their uncle Sigismund the Old of Poland with the sheme. He eventually accepts only on the condition that the new Dukedom of Prussia be treated as a Polish fiefdom.

1525: Albert of Prussia signs the treaty of Krakow. It formally ends the Polish-Teutonic war that was really finished with the cease fire in 1521. Two days later, he commits the Prussian Homage, which declared Prussia a dukedom and Albert her hereditary duke.

Unfortunately, trouble occurs in Prussia for Albert. A good portion of the Order opposed his moves, and when Walter von Cronberg was elected the new Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights in the Knight's german possessions, a sort of rebellion civil war breaks out. The rebels seize Konisberg while Albert is just returning. Walter, with the aid of some Imperial funds, raises an army of mercenaries and moves north to ports on the Baltic [7].

1526: Walter and his own army arrives in Prussia and comes to the aid of the rebels. Albert's siege of Konisberg fails and is forced to fall back from Walters own force.

Sigimund the Old of Poland, not wishing to see the Teutonic Knights back on his doorstep, gets the Sejm to once more declare war on the Teutonic Knights. Thus begins the final Polish-Teutonic war. He marches into Prussia with the intention of helping his "dear nephew against the unrighteous rebellion that plagues his lands." Sigismund and Albert meet up, and once again move against Konisberg.

The battle of Konisberg occurs when Walter and the Teutonic Knights leave the city to confront the Polish-Prussian force under Sigismund and Walter. The Teutonic knights are defeated and forced to fall back on Konisberg, which is laid siege to. It eventually falls and the rebellion is crushed.

Sigismund is not done with Prussia though. After the rebellion, he takes no chances and forces Albert to consent to Prussia being annexed to Royal Prussia. Albert agrees only because Sigismund's proverbial foot is on his throat. Albert is still a hereditary duke, only his dukedom is not an independent state anymore, and a new clause is put in that only Albert's direct line may continue to inherit his duchy [8].

Battle of the Mohacs. Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia loses the battle, but is able to escape later that night [9]. He will continue the fight against the Ottomans, and though he initially loses Buda, he soon recaptures it. He becomes increasingly reliant on his Hapsburg connection (his wife, Mary of Hungary).

During the battle, over a thousand nobles and leaders were killed, and many others were executed when Suleiman ordered all two thousand prisoners killed. Louis II, who had before the battle had plenty of trouble with the nobles, finds his hands more free than ever before now that plenty of his noble rivals are dead. Despite his new advantage over the nobles, the battle is still a disaster for Hungary.

1527: Louis II recoups from the battle and begins reorganizing the army and preparing to start a new campaign to regain lost territories. Suleiman had left only token garrisons in Hungary and Louis was intent on retaking them. Louis II also ends the Kutnohorian deal which had been in effect since his fathers time by declaring the whole thing had been illegal since 1512 [10].

He has the fortifications at Buda improved as much as possible.

1528: Louis II begins his new campaign and marches on and lays siege to Pecs. It soon falls and Louis moves on, trying to regain as much territory as possible.

1529: Suleiman finds that he should never have left Hungary to its own purposes and once more marches up to end the Hungarian nuisance. Bad weather plagues the campaign, a foretelling of the rest of the year. He lays siege to Buda.

Louis II is not at Buda during the siege, and is actually in Eastern Hungary and Transylvania raising new troops. Buda is in fact commanded by a number of powerful nobles.

1530: Buda is captured by the Ottomans, but it is a pyrrhic victory. Bad weather and dysentery wreaked havoc amongst the Ottoman forces, including Suleiman I. Though he doesn't die of it, he is forced by his ill health and that of his army to retreat, leaving a token garrison in Buda. The powerful nobles are carried back as ransom. Louis II never pays their ransom, and their families are never able to raise the funds. By the end of the year, Buda falls once more into the hands of Louis II.

The Knights of St. John are given Malta by Pope Clement VIII. They become the Knights of Malta.

Konstanty Ostrogski, hero of the fourth Muscovite-Lithuanian war, dies.

Ivan IV of Russia (later known as the Terrible) is born.

1531: Louis II is once again forced to deal with retaking territory he had just taken two years ago. This time, with a greater force which he'd been raising to relieve Buda, he retakes more territory.

1532: Suleiman launches another invasion to combat Louis II which fails miserably. During the entire year Louis II never gives a true battle (fearing another Mohacs). He in fact splits his army and has one sent east. It is only by luck that it does escape unnoticed. Suleiman is led on a wild chase throughout southern Hungary where the biggest battle he has against the Hungarians is a skirmish. Losses become so high that he is eventually forced to retreat. Like in Buda, it is bad weather and bad luck that forces Suleiman's hand, not Hungarian prowress on the field.

1533: Elizabeth I of England is born to Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII.

Vasili III of Russia dies. He is succeeded by his three year old son Ivan IV.

Suleiman I returns home to Istanbul from the frustrating campaign in Hungary to his favourite concubine Roxelana (also known as Aleksandra Lisowska). Saying bugger all to tradition, he frees her and marries her. She soon becomes known as Hurrem Sultan.

1534: Beginning of the Fifth Muscovite-Lithuanian war. Deciding that the situation is ripe, Sigismund the Old of Poland demands the return of lands lost during the fourth and second Muscovite-Lithuanian wars. Moscow refuses and war is declared on both sides.

Grand Hetman Jerzy Radzwill launches an invasion with 20 000 men into Severia.

1535: The Russians launch a winter counter-attack driving the Lithuanians back. Throughout the year the Russians continue to advance even as far as Vilnius before they are pushed back. They fall back to a different position and begin construction of Ivangorod.

1536: Relief for the Lithuanians comes when the Crimean Khanate launches a raid and devastates Ryazan. Meanwhile a Polish army successfully overruns Severia.

The Russians are not inactive either, defeating a Lithuanian army in Sebezh and building the new fortress of Velizh.

Louis II launches a number of minor raids across the frontier to attack Ottoman positions and wreak general destruction.

1537: A cease fire comes is agreed upon and last for five years, effectively ending the Fifth Muscovite-Lithuanian war.

In response to the Hungarian raids, Suleiman marches north once more at the head of a punitive expedition. He crushes all raiding bands that he comes across and launches raids of his own back into Hungary, raping and pillaging, in retaliation. Fearing that this a prelude to an invasion, Louis II calls up an army and Charles V sends some troops to support him. It is however a vast overreaction and once the raids are stopped, Suleiman uses this belief that he has a larger army to his advantage and pressures Louis II into stopping the raids.

The Hungarian court touts this as victory in the face of the Ottoman’s attempt at “conquest” and Suleiman returns back to Istanbul to his wife, content for the Hungarians to think what they want. This agreement to stop the raids is a prelude to the eventual peace that is signed the following year.

1538: Peace is finally brought to Hungary with the treaty of Brasso. The treaty ends the sporadic warfare that has ravaged Hungary since the fall of Belgrade in 1521 and recognizes Louis II as King of Hungary keeps most of his kingdom intact. The Danube in the south becomes exclusively Ottoman with their control recognized on both sides of the river. This grants the Ottomans control of the southernmost edge of Hungary. The treaty therefore recognizes Ottoman gains and Hungarian independence.

1539: After seventeen years of marriage together, Mary of Hungary finally gives birth to a healthy son, named Ladislaus after his paternal grandfather. Louis II declares many festivities. Queen Mary is soon pregnant again and there are hopes that even though they started late, the royal couple will be able to make a whole brood of children.

1540: A second son is born to the Hungarian couple, but the baby soon becomes sick and dies. Both the King and Queen are devastated.

Explanations for those numbers coming up soon.
 

dreadnought jenkins

explanations

Well here are the explanations.

[1]-A sort of autonomous Duchy within a nation.

[2]-In OTL, Smolensk was never recaptured because the Poles and Lithuanians decided to not besiege the city. In OTL, they never got the city back the city and Russia came out ahead in the war despite the loss at Orsha. ITTL the war is much more of a tie.

[3]-War between muslim states is tricky but easier in the case when the Ottomans fought the Shia Safavids as the Sunni Ottomans considered them heretics. In the case of the mamelukes who controlled the holy cities and were the proclaimed Caliphs, it was much trickier. The Ottomans went on the argument that those who help heretics (the Shia Safavids) are also heretics.

[4]-By this time, the Polish King could not declare war without the Polish Sejm’s consent. However, the Polish King is still powerful and not subject to the restrictions that later OTL Polish Kings were subject to.

[5]-Unlike in OTL where the gained much more including Smolensk.

[6]-In OTL, though Luther convinced him of it, he discussed it with his family before hand. ITTL Andreas fills Luther’s role as Albert probably needed little convincing. So even though there is no Luther in this timeline, the initial result is the same.

[7]-There was an attempt at this in OTL but it failed to get off the ground. ITTL, without Lutheranism to effectively penetrate the Teutonic Knights, there are more disaffected Knights that remain true to the order.
Also in this timeline, the German Peasant war only lasts one year and is far more minor. In OTL, the Peasant’s War devastated the Teutonic Knights german holdings and many of their holdings were taken over by the princes in the wake of the rebellion. ITTL, with the peasant rebellions lasting only a year in 1524, there possessions are more intact and there is a surplus of mercenaries lying about that were used to suppress the revolts.
This all means that the new Grand Master had a real chance at taking back Prussia for the Order.

[8]-Royal Prussia was an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Poland under the Polish crown. Ducal Prussia in this timeline ceases to exist, being incorporated into an area directly ruled by the Polish King. This all means that the Prussia that eventually united with Brandenburg to form the Kingdom of Prussia of OTL is killed in its cradle.

[9]-Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia was killed fleeing the battle in OTL when he fell fully armored from his horse and drowned in a bog. Hungary fell into civil war which the Ottomans took advantage of. ITTL, they are able to present a united front and fair much better.

[10]-The original Kutnohorian deal was originally supposed to have lasted only 31 years but the Nobility forced Ladislaus to keep the deal going in perpetuity. This proved a great hindrance to Louis II.

Now that I've fleshed out eastern europe and gotten rid of Prussia, I can advance the timeline into the future. So please, give me a response and tell me what you think.:D
 

rcduggan

I think it is excellent. Very well-written and a good read. You should definitely continue it.

BTW, do you have a link to the Timeline Contest.
 

dreadnought jenkins

A very rough map of Europe in 1540.

Updates about the Calvinist war and the peace of westphallia will hopefully be up by tomorrow.

Europe 1550 for want of a shove copy with names.png
 

Nicomacheus

Dreadnought,

Very interesting developments, particularly in Hungary and Poland-Lithuania. Maybe the Poles can keep the Muscovites down and the Magyars can keep the Hapsburgs out. Even with the later, the HRE's politics will be very interesting.

I find it slightly perplexing that Charles V allowed Calvin's Confederation indepenence, since it looks like it's surrounded by his domains, but then again it is the HRE. I look forward to more!
 

dreadnought jenkins

Nicomacheus said:
Dreadnought,

Very interesting developments, particularly in Hungary and Poland-Lithuania. Maybe the Poles can keep the Muscovites down and the Magyars can keep the Hapsburgs out. Even with the later, the HRE's politics will be very interesting.

I find it slightly perplexing that Charles V allowed Calvin's Confederation indepenence, since it looks like it's surrounded by his domains, but then again it is the HRE. I look forward to more!
Click to expand...

The Hapsburgs have been kept out of Eastern Europe for now...;)
The reasonings behind Charles decision for peace will be spoken upon in the next update.
 
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