WI: Brandenburg Maurican Reforms Succeed

1608 - Johann Sigismund and the Brandenburg Landtag pass the militia act. From henceforth men are to be enlisted by provincial recruiters instead of bartered from nobles. On top of this a professional officer corps. is created giving Brandenburg a de facto standing army, although by 1610 it only numbers 5,500 men.

1610 - The War of the Julich Succession breaks out over whether it will be a Catholic of Protestant principality. The Brandenburgers, with their de facto standing army do much better than OTL and Johann Sigismund is able to convince the Landtag to continue with the Militia Act of 1608, the army is raised to 15,000 including mercenaries.

1612 - The War of Julich Succession concludes with a full victory for the Brandenburger Hohenzollern's, having defeatd Strausburg and Liege they inherited all of Julich-Cleves-Berg. The Emperor reacts harshly by declaring war on Brandenburg who is backed by France; England, the Dutch Republic and Denmark back out of the war however leaving Brandenburg to initially stand alone against the Emperor.

Nivek do you want to add to this? I'm now trying to think of a few minor allies to help out Brandenburg but i'm thinking Saxony may side with the Emperor at first giving Brandenburg the chance to duke it out over the Upper Saxon Circle I just need them to have some allies to help distract the emperor until a Bohemian revolt analogue. Maybe the Palitinate and Denmark finally deciding to back Brandenburg?
 
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