Now, I did my IB History IA on this subject, so I know the unlikely hood of Jogaila converting to Eastern, rather than Western, Christianity.
But still. Say some butterflies happen and Jogaila converts to Orthodoxy, rather than marrying into Poland's nobility, becoming Catholic, and forming the Poland-Lithuanian Union.
What happens then?
I think first and foremost is the obvious lack of a Polish-Lithuanian superpower in the East.
Perhaps the Russians will gain a valuable ally in the Lithuanians against the Tartars and the like? In fact, how will Lithuania act in the affairs of the warring republics and principalities in Russia now?
How will Lithuania be treated by the Crusading orders? How will the Teutons and the Livonians act towards an Orthodox giant on their borders?
But still. Say some butterflies happen and Jogaila converts to Orthodoxy, rather than marrying into Poland's nobility, becoming Catholic, and forming the Poland-Lithuanian Union.
What happens then?
I think first and foremost is the obvious lack of a Polish-Lithuanian superpower in the East.
Perhaps the Russians will gain a valuable ally in the Lithuanians against the Tartars and the like? In fact, how will Lithuania act in the affairs of the warring republics and principalities in Russia now?
How will Lithuania be treated by the Crusading orders? How will the Teutons and the Livonians act towards an Orthodox giant on their borders?