alternatehistory.com

Recently, SRT issued a challenge to create a timeline in which Germany would unify during the 16th century. I've actually been working through a timeline that answers that question, but which I prefer to think of as an answer to another: What difference does it make what German principality emerges as the core of the united German state? And what difference does the era in which this occurs make to the constitution and values of the end-product state?

Specifically, what happens if we trade out Prussia for Saxony, and nineteenth century spikey-helmet imperialism for the world of the German humanists?

As it is, sixteenth century Saxony is a rather surreal place without fictional embellishments.

In 1517, the Elector Frederick III was the Pope's favorite candidate to become the next Holy Roman Emperor. Fifteen years later, the Christians of Ernestine (more about this in a bit) Saxony had for all intents and purposes seceded from the Church, monks and priests were getting married, congregations were singing vernacular hymns together tunelessly, children were being taught to read so they could understand the Bible in German, and matters of faith was being bandied about in the nebulous thing that we have come to call "the media" with all manner of radicalisms and lunacy apparently under consideration.

Lutheranism and its sparring partners within Protestantism transformed Europe, and influenced the development of even what we think of today as Catholic European states like France and Poland. But at first glance what's remarkable about central Europe in the sixteenth century is that there's not really a concomittant transformation in the political balance of power.

Why is this?

It has much to do with the soap opera nature of the dynastic politics of Saxony's ruling family, the Wettins.

[Sorry. This context needs to be described in a bit of detail, so multiple posts are necessary.]
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