WI: Gustavus Adolphus didn't die in the 30 Years War?

What would happen to Sweden and Europe, if Gustavus Adolphus survived the 30 Years War? Would he have conquered the HRE as he hoped? Or almost conquer it? Would Sweden be stronger or weaker? In the short and long run. Would he have another child who is more fit to rule? Would the 2nd Northern War and the Great Northern War still happen?
 
What would happen to Sweden and Europe, if Gustavus Adolphus survived the 30 Years War? Would he have conquered the HRE as he hoped? Or almost conquer it? Would Sweden be stronger or weaker? In the short and long run. Would he have another child who is more fit to rule? Would the 2nd Northern War and the Great Northern War still happen?
At most they would have created a permanent protestant union. Framce was not willing to support a very strong power in central Europe. Besides Sweden didn't have the muscle to impose itself over central europe and the Swedish army had many commanders as capable if not better than Gustavus but that's another topic of discussion
 
The 30 year war would end 10-15 years earlier with Sweden taking more or less the same land as they did OTL in Germany. Gustav would then set his eyes on Denmark and we get Brömsebro/Roskilde type of peeace earlier

Great nordic war would still happen in one or two genenrations after Gustav when Russia wants connection to the Baltic
 
Gustav II Adolf had plans to declare himself a protector or even Emperor of the protestants - and in that attack Denmark and take Scania, Halland and Blekinge (and possible Norwegian provinces such as Halland, Jämtland, Härjedalen, Särna and Idre).
 
At most they would have created a permanent protestant union. Framce was not willing to support a very strong power in central Europe. Besides Sweden didn't have the muscle to impose itself over central europe and the Swedish army had many commanders as capable if not better than Gustavus but that's another topic of discussion

You do keep Gustavus's power of reputation, regional presence, personal gravitas, respect of the Swedish nobility, ect. that his lesser generals could not provide, increasing the ability of the Protestant cause to recruit, organize politically/financially/logistically, retain morale, increase Sweden's period of involvement, ect. You also delay Christina's rise to the throne and grow up further under his wing, delaying the political crisis she caused and further enforcing Swedish Absolutism.
 
Wait so would the Protestant Union be seperate from the HRE? Or would it be an alliance led in Sweden kinda like during the 30 years war, and if its seperate from the HRE would it be decentralized which I believe is most likely or centralized?
 
Wait so would the Protestant Union be seperate from the HRE? Or would it be an alliance led in Sweden kinda like during the 30 years war, and if its seperate from the HRE would it be decentralized which I believe is most likely or centralized?
Probably not,the protestant union was an alliance to protect the interests of the protestant princes,they would not become vassals of Sweden all of the sudden they would just be more tied at least temporarily.
 
Probably not,the protestant union was an alliance to protect the interests of the protestant princes,they would not become vassals of Sweden all of the sudden they would just be more tied at least temporarily.
Yeah obviously, I didn't mean they become vassals
 
Wait so would the Protestant Union be seperate from the HRE? Or would it be an alliance led in Sweden kinda like during the 30 years war, and if its seperate from the HRE would it be decentralized which I believe is most likely or centralized?

Gustavus would want to make it a separate entity, ideally part of a Greater Sweden, but I doubt he'd be able to pull it off. The far bigger factor is the exact military situation at the time he and the Hapsburgs finally came to the negotiating table; with greater unity in the Protestant front and a stronger military position that is likely to derive from Gustavus surviving though the end result is likely to favor the Union more, with the religious and political "German privileges" of the secular Princes further strengthened against Imperial authority (and, likely, a vast weakening of the ecclesiastical domains. At the very least, a greater number of former Bishiporics would be secularized as Gustavus's land grants are likely to be honored)
 
Top