WI:Adalbert of Prague converts the Baltic Prussians

What if Adalbert of Prague was successful in converting the Baltic Prussians and was not martyred, how would that affect the history of the Baltics?
 
If the Old Prussians were converted int he 990s, then Prussia would have entered the community of Christendom as Poland (966) and Hungary (1000) did around that time. The leading Prussian lord would probably receive a crown and become King of Prussia. Its development would probably be much like Poland and be heavily influenced by German customs and town law.

After consolidating power and establishing a real state, Prussia would probably attempt to conquer and convert the rest of the Baltic tribes, particularly the Lithuanians and Latvians. If there were ever a point there would be a northern Crusade, any military orders would likely be subservient to the Crown of Prussia. Most likely the end result would be a unified Christian kingdom of the Balts. This would probably accelerate the spread of Latin Christianity in the region by a century or two.

It is interesting to speculate the impact of that in northwestern Russia. Given the huge importance of Lithuania in establishing the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth, this has huge impact on the development of Belarus and Ukraine as well. If there is not an ongoing push by the Teutonic Knights to control the region, then that has huge impact on German history and ideas about the Drang Nach Osten.
 
If the Old Prussians were converted int he 990s, then Prussia would have entered the community of Christendom as Poland (966) and Hungary (1000) did around that time. The leading Prussian lord would probably receive a crown and become King of Prussia. Its development would probably be much like Poland and be heavily influenced by German customs and town law.

After consolidating power and establishing a real state, Prussia would probably attempt to conquer and convert the rest of the Baltic tribes, particularly the Lithuanians and Latvians. If there were ever a point there would be a northern Crusade, any military orders would likely be subservient to the Crown of Prussia. Most likely the end result would be a unified Christian kingdom of the Balts. This would probably accelerate the spread of Latin Christianity in the region by a century or two.

It is interesting to speculate the impact of that in northwestern Russia. Given the huge importance of Lithuania in establishing the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth, this has huge impact on the development of Belarus and Ukraine as well. If there is not an ongoing push by the Teutonic Knights to control the region, then that has huge impact on German history and ideas about the Drang Nach Osten.

Indeed. With Poland and the Baltic countries Roman/Latin oriented that early, it's going to make significant differences in Belarus, for instance.

Heck, if the Baltics convert that early, Novgorod might go Roman, if enough incentives were offered. It's only just converted, itself, and several of the early border areas wavered back and forth between East and West for the first generations, as the local kings sought the best deal from the two sides.
 
Additionally IMHO this Prussia will get the support of the regional and neighbouring Catholic nobles, so the nobility might be mixed, Prussian, other Baltic, and Polish, Hungarian, Scandinavian and German.
 

Redhand

Banned
They might end up joining with the Holy Roman Empire if they convert. This will allow Christianity to penetrate the Baltics even quicker and possibly weaken the social structures in Lithuania that were quite strong for Paganistic culture.

Prussians being involved early on might mean that they are more of a unique group compared to the rest of Germany as they wouldn't have to get grinded into nothing by the Teutonic Order.
 
They might end up joining with the Holy Roman Empire if they convert. This will allow Christianity to penetrate the Baltics even quicker and possibly weaken the social structures in Lithuania that were quite strong for Paganistic culture.

Prussians being involved early on might mean that they are more of a unique group compared to the rest of Germany as they wouldn't have to get grinded into nothing by the Teutonic Order.

They wouldn't be German at all, since they're Old Prussians...
 
They might end up joining with the Holy Roman Empire if they convert. This will allow Christianity to penetrate the Baltics even quicker and possibly weaken the social structures in Lithuania that were quite strong for Paganistic culture.

Prussians being involved early on might mean that they are more of a unique group compared to the rest of Germany as they wouldn't have to get grinded into nothing by the Teutonic Order.

They wouldn't have to join the Holy Roman Empire, though I've no doubt the emperor would claim suzerainty.
However just like French nobles joined the Reconquista IOTL, so did nobles from the Holy Roman Empire, Poland etc. IOTL join the Northern Crusades. The nature of the latter might change a bit with a (early) native Catholic kingdom.
 
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