WI:Sigismund II Augustus goes insane

So what if Sigismund II Augustus, stricken by the death of his beloved Barbora Radvilaitė (Barbara Radziwill) goes insane. How would such an event change the political landscape of the Kingdom of Poland, Grand Duchy of Lithuania and countries that surround them?
 
Depends how much insane he is and what is he doing? If something really stupid (ordering mass executions?) he is simply overthrowned. If he just spends whole days with Barbara's corpse royal power is further limited.
 
I remember reading a TL on fai.org.ru whose POD was that the death of Barbora pushes Sigismund to become Protestant...

I mean, that is pretty insane.
 
Depends how much insane he is and what is he doing? If something really stupid (ordering mass executions?) he is simply overthrowned. If he just spends whole days with Barbara's corpse royal power is further limited.

I guess he wouldn't butcher peasants because he feels like it, though if he did, butterflies would be massive. I mean it could lead to a collapse of monarchies in Poland and Lithuania for obvious reasons.

The second scenario also sounds very interesting, with both states possibly collapsing into civil strife and war as nobles would fight for power.

I remember reading a TL on fai.org.ru whose POD was that the death of Barbora pushes Sigismund to become Protestant...

I mean, that is pretty insane.

Now that's pure insanity.
 
No, at this point Poland and Lithuania still worked quite well - regency would be established until he gets better or dies and then Lithuania is inherited in female line, while new king is elected in Poland (this likely will be the same person because Poles are interested in union). If he dies quickly, that would likely mean Jadwiga and Joachim Hektor Hohenzollern or their son Sigismund. Joachim might be too protestant for Poles, but who knows, perhaps he will find that Wawel is worth a mass.
 
Top