WI: Frederick the Wise elected HRE in 1519

[Jan Olbracht]

During 1519 Imperial election Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony, was proposed as compromise candidate and even Pope expressed support for his candidature, although Charles Habsburg eventually won election, as it became custom, that close relative of previous Emperor is elected.
Say that there is no Habsburg candidate (perhaps all are underaged) so election of 1519 looks quite different-for example Francis of France may not even bother to start in election-IOTL he tried to prevent Habsburg encirclement of France, so he wanted to win HRE election to prevent Charles from winning. ITTL he may stay out of election (and save all the money he wasted for bribes).
Frederick was quite popular, was elector himself and Fugger family had mines in his native Saxony (so they're likely to support him financially) so in such circumstances his victory seems likely.
Assuming he is elected, how would his rule as HRE looks like, especially his altittude towards Luther and Reformation? IOTL he was known as protector of Martin Luther, now, when he is Emperor, politically he has less to gain from supporting Luther's teaching.

 

[GauchoBadger]

Assuming he is elected, how would his rule as HRE looks like, especially his altittude towards Luther and Reformation? IOTL he was known as protector of Martin Luther, now, when he is Emperor, politically he has less to gain from supporting Luther's teaching.

He could get the protection of a German prince opposed to Saxony, but i'm not sure there are any substantially large duchies in the HRE at this moment who are willing to shelter him. Assuming Luther does not acquire the protection of a sympathetic prince with large territories, could he end up being less abrasive, and perhaps even supportive, towards the 1524 Peasants' Uprising? He wouldn't have as much aristocratic support to lose, after all.

 

[isabella]

During 1519 Imperial election Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony, was proposed as compromise candidate and even Pope expressed support for his candidature, although Charles Habsburg eventually won election, as it became custom, that close relative of previous Emperor is elected.
Say that there is no Habsburg candidate (perhaps all are underaged) so election of 1519 looks quite different-for example Francis of France may not even bother to start in election-IOTL he tried to prevent Habsburg encirclement of France, so he wanted to win HRE election to prevent Charles from winning. ITTL he may stay out of election (and save all the money he wasted for bribes).
Frederick was quite popular, was elector himself and Fugger family had mines in his native Saxony (so they're likely to support him financially) so in such circumstances his victory seems likely.
Assuming he is elected, how would his rule as HRE looks like, especially his altittude towards Luther and Reformation? IOTL he was known as protector of Martin Luther, now, when he is Emperor, politically he has less to gain from supporting Luther's teaching.

Pretty unlikely to stay without Habsburg candidates of the right age in that timeframe/election. You will need an earlier death of Maximilian for that objective and an earlier death of Maximilian and succession of Karl in Austria will likely have consequences also in Spain

 

[Jan Olbracht]

Pretty unlikely to stay without Habsburg candidates of the right age in that timeframe/election. You will need an earlier death of Maximilian for that objective and an earlier death of Maximilian and succession of Karl in Austria will likely have consequences also in Spain

OK. I'd add some background for you:
1) Ferdinand Habsburg and Catherine Habsburg switch genders (Philip the Handsome has daughter born in 1503 and posthumous son born in 1507).
2) Charles Habsburg, like his father before him, gets ill in Spain and dies before Maximilian, younger brother succeedes him.
But-that younger brother is just 12 years old when Maximilian dies, too young for Imperial throne.

 

[Monter]

But-that younger brother is just 12 years old when Maximilian dies, too young for Imperial throne.

Just a minor correction, there is no law dictating a minor can't be elected, in fact the very first election under the Golden Bull elected a minor (Wenzel of Luxemburg).

 

[Jan Olbracht]

Just a minor correction, there is no law dictating a minor can't be elected, in fact the very first election under the Golden Bull elected a minor (Wenzel of Luxemburg).

Still, chances of 12 years old Spanish boy to win election are not that big.

 

[Jürgen]

I could still see Frederick the Wise decide to help Luther if he was elected. Frederick would pretty clearly just be a placeholder emperor until the next election, so if he wish to keep the imperial crown in his family’s hands, he need to do some radical.

 

[alexmilman]

During 1519 Imperial election Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony, was proposed as compromise candidate and even Pope expressed support for his candidature, although Charles Habsburg eventually won election, as it became custom, that close relative of previous Emperor is elected.
Say that there is no Habsburg candidate (perhaps all are underaged) so election of 1519 looks quite different-for example Francis of France may not even bother to start in election-IOTL he tried to prevent Habsburg encirclement of France, so he wanted to win HRE election to prevent Charles from winning. ITTL he may stay out of election (and save all the money he wasted for bribes).
Frederick was quite popular, was elector himself and Fugger family had mines in his native Saxony (so they're likely to support him financially) so in such circumstances his victory seems likely.
Assuming he is elected, how would his rule as HRE looks like, especially his altittude towards Luther and Reformation? IOTL he was known as protector of Martin Luther, now, when he is Emperor, politically he has less to gain from supporting Luther's teaching.

Look beyond the HRE borders: without the imperial resources Charles Hapsburg is in a much worse position in the Italian Wars. Not only doesn't he have more or less unconditional access to the pool of the landsknechts but they may be used by the opposite side if Frederick decides that his Hapsburg vassals are too powerful and sides with France or just opens hiring possibilities for the French on the HRE territory.

 

[Jan Olbracht]

I could still see Frederick the Wise decide to help Luther if he was elected. Frederick would pretty clearly just be a placeholder emperor until the next election, so if he wish to keep the imperial crown in his family’s hands, he need to do some radical.

If he wants to keep Imperial crown in his family he needs 4 electoral votes. By supporting Luther he gets guarantion that 3 votes of ecclesiastical electors and vote from Bohemia would go to Catholic counter-candidate.

 

[Jan Olbracht]

Look beyond the HRE borders: without the imperial resources Charles Hapsburg is in a much worse position in the Italian Wars. Not only doesn't he have more or less unconditional access to the pool of the landsknechts but they may be used by the opposite side if Frederick decides that his Hapsburg vassals are too powerful and sides with France or just opens hiring possibilities for the French on the HRE territory.

Thus there is no Pavia and Francis keeps Milan.

 

[alexmilman]

Thus there is no Pavia and Francis keeps Milan.

Not only Pavia, the landsknechts had been very important before and after it. So it is an issue of (a) him being able to pay and (b) not infringing too much upon the HRE interests.