In less than 20 years, the European geopolitical equilibrium was shattered.
Europe in 1622
In the 17th century, the World was dominated by three groups of powers:
1. Christendom, Europe and its Colonies scattered all over the World, emerging as the most formidable global force the World has ever seen.
2. Islam, its most powerful representative being the Ottoman Empire, run by the Caliph of the Muslims.
3. East Asia, dominated by China, content and self-sufficient, but with its significance to the outside World gradually fading.
Unlike East Asia and the Islamic World, Christian Europe lacked a hegemon, power being instead shared between a variable number of Great Powers. Around 1620, these were: Spain, France, Germany, Sarmatia and England.
This system, based on the competition of the Great Powers, was possibly one of the cornerstones of the eventual success of Europe which, in less than two centuries, would thoroughly dominate the entire World.
The first decades of the turbulent 17th century saw many changes, some deep and some shallow. The most visible phenomenon was the strenghening and centralization of existing European States and the creation of new ones like Romania and Germany.
The National Idea was like a ghost, haunting the European Monarchs with its inherent hopes and fears. While some chose to prevent its growth, most rulers wisely chose to channel it to their own advantage and promote nationalism to further strenghten their states and themselves as rulers of those states.
Just 20 years after Mihai united the Romanian Principalities into a Romanian National State, feudal fragmentation was doomed all over Europe. It was clear that those who failed to reform and modernize their old state structures were to lose their position in that new European concert.
The masses seemed rather slow to embrace the new ideas promoted by their leaders, but where they did, as in Germany, the consequences were tremendous.
By 1622, Christian Europe consisted of about 20 States.
1. Spain
Territory: The entire Iberian Peninsula (Aragon, Castile, Leon, Navarre, Portugal), African outposts (Ceuta, Mellila), the Southern half of the Italian Peninsula (Naples), Mediterranian Islands (Baleares, Sardinia, Sicily), Altlantic Islands (Azores, Madeira, Canaries, Cape Verde); Colonies (Almost all of mainland South America and Central America, parts of mainland North America, Islands and territories in the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Pacific). Spain was by far the largest country in the World and one the greatest the World has ever seen.
Religion:
Roman Catholics, a few Pagans in some of the colonies.
Ruler:
King Philip IV (Felipe IV) of Habsburg (from 1620).
Recent History: During the rule of the former King, Philip III, Spain had lost the German War in a catastrophic manner and bankrupted the country. He lost the Spanish Netherlands and all influence in the former Holy Roman Empire.
Philip IV embarked upon an ambitious plan of reforms, with the aim to unify and centralize his realms. He unilaterally declared a total lack of interest in German matters and ditched his former ally, Austria.
Near Future: Spain will focus mainly on the Americas and will continue the Reconquista, the target being now the former Roman Africa. European affairs will become less important.
2. France
Territory: France proper, German States (Southern Netherlands, Lorraine, Burgundy, Savoy, Bishoprics, Western Swiss Cantons); Colonies (parts of North America, Islands in the Caribbean and elsewhere, outposts in India).
Religion:
Roman Catholics, a few Protestants in the Eastern parts of the country and in the occupied German States.
Ruler:
King Louis XIII of Bourbon (from 1610; of age from 1617).
Recent History: France took advantage of the German War and enlarged its territory by about 16%, incorporating the Western German States. Although the population of the new territories was thoroughly Catholic, from an ethnic point of view they were a mixture of Frenchmen, Germans and Italians. While the Italians had not posed any problems so far, some Germans had.
Rather a strange exception, France was actually less centralized than before. While they have absorbed French Navarre, the territories aquired from the Holy Roman Empire were not annexed but administered separately. The issue was that both France and Germany viewed their border as a temporary demarcation line pending the final peace treaty.
No reforms of any kind were undertaken.
Near Future: France will focus less on its colonial endeavours and more on expanding its influence in Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. Military spending will increase.
3. Holy Roman Empire
Territory:
De jure, all its former territory;
de facto, most of Austria, a few Bishoprics enclaved into Austria and a part of Salzburg.
Religion:
Roman Catholics,
Protestants.
Ruler:
None. No Holy Roman Emperor could be elected because of lack of quorum.
Recent History: The German War all but destroyed the Holy Roman Empire. The newly proclaimed German Empire annexed most of it, the Netherlands, the Swiss Cantons and the Italian States are de facto independent and only Austria still maintains the legal fiction of the Holy Roman Empire.
Near Future: The Holy Roman Empire is going to be officially dismantled.
4. Austria
Territory: Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Carniola, Tirol, enclaved Bishoprics, Westernmost Croatia, Westernmost Hungary, (
de facto) Salzburg. Almost a third of its territory is occupied by Germany which claims all of it.
Religion:
Roman Catholics, numerous Protestants.
Ruler:
King Ferdinand II of Habsburg (from 1612).
Recent History: A former Great Power, in two disastruous wars Austria lost three quarters of its territory (most of Royal Hungary and Croatia, Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia, a third of Austria proper) and is now trying to avert incorporation into the German Empire. The country is bankrupt and depopulated. Its remaining territory was belatedly unified into a centralized Kingdom.
Near Future: Bleak, as war will soon resume.
5. Switzerland
Territory: Most of it is under German occupation; all of it is claimed by Germany.
Religion:
Roman Catholics,
Protestants.
Ruler:
Federal Council.
Recent History: While de facto independent from the Holy Roman Empire, it was invaded by the German Empire which quickly occupied all the Protestant Cantons with the support of the local population. The Catholic Cantons just managed to avoid total occupation.
Near Future: Saved only by the Prague Armistice, rump Switzerland has really no hope of defending against a renewed German aggression. Only diplomacy can now save the Helvetic Republic.
6. Netherlands
Territory: Some of it is under German occupation; all of it is claimed by Germany; Colonies in the Carribean, outposts in India and the East Indies.
Religion:
Protestants, a few Muslims in the East Indies.
Ruler:
States General.
Recent History: While de facto independent from the Holy Roman Empire, it was invaded by the German Empire which managed to occupy the central part of the Netherlands all the way to the Zuiderzee, cutting the country in two.
Near Future: Even with the help of the English, defence against either Germany or France would likely be impossible in the long run. Playing Germany and France against each other would be the best chance of the Netherlands. Meanwhile, the focus remains on the colonial endeavours.
7. Germany
Territory: Most of the former territory of the Holy Roman Empire. Claims all the German parts of the Holy Roman Empire, i.e. the rest of Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands, possibly some regions occupied by France, although nothing clear was ever declared about that issue.
Religion:
Protestants, a significant minority of Catholics.
Ruler:
Emperor Augustus Siegfried I of Wettin (from 1612).
Recent History: Born just before the German War, it became a Great Power in just a few years and managed to frighten all its neighbours.
Near Future: Plans to finish the occupation and annexation of the remaining German States: Austria, Netherlands and Switzerland. Modernization is taking place at an accelerated rate. The German War will reignite.
8. Italian States
Territory: Informal confederation of the former Italian States of the Holy Roman Empire. Savoy is under French occupation and the rest of them are under French influence.
Religion:
Roman Catholics.
Ruler:
None. (independent States with different rulers)
Recent History: Virtually independent for a long time, the fall of the Holy Roman Empire meant almost nothing to them.
Near Future: They seem resigned to fall in France's sphere of influence.
9. Venice
Territory: Venice proper, Adriatic and Ionic Islands, Crete, Adriatic Port Cities.
Religion:
Roman Catholics.
Ruler:
Elected Doge.
Recent History: Nothing interesting.
Near Future: Venice will join a new Anti-Ottoman Alliance and fight in the subsequent war.
10. Rome
Territory: Papal States.
Religion:
Roman Catholics.
Ruler:
Pope Paul V (elected).
Recent History: Nothing interesting.
Near Future: The Papacy will play a role in the developing
Concert of Europe and the future
Great Power Council.
11. Slovakia
Territory: Slovakia proper, the Perekop Isthmus.
Religion:
Freedom of Religion, Protestants, Roman Catholics.
Ruler:
Polish Prince (Voivode).
Recent History: Liberated from Habsburg rule by Mihai, Slovakia is now a de facto independent country under nominal Ottoman suzerainty and moderate Sarmatian influence.
Near Future: Will enter the Anti-Ottoman War alongside its allies in order to achieve full independence.
12. Sarmatia
Territory: Unitary State composed of former Poland, Lithuania, Prussia, Livonia, Estonia, Zaporogian Host, the Black Sea Steppe, Russian annexed lands etc. Finland is an autonomous territory.
Religion:
Roman Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, Muslims, Jews.
Ruler:
King Sigismund III Vasa (from 1587).
Recent History: Allied with Romania, the Commonwealth embarked upon major reforms greatly strenghtening the State. It won wars and annexed territory from the Crimean Khanate, Sweden and Russia.
Near Future: Will continue the modernization and centralization of the country and wage more wars with almost all of its neighbours.
13. Russia
Territory: European Russia up to the Arctic Ocean and the Caspian Sea, parts of Siberia.
Religion:
Ortodox, some Muslims, Jews and Pagans.
Ruler:
Various Pretenders.
Recent History: Time of Troubles. Low to high intensity Civil War with foreign intervention (Sarmatia). No reforms whatsoever. Many territories lost, access to the Baltic Sea and the Azov Sea included.
Near Future: The Civil War will end, the internal situation eventually stabilizing. Some prospects of further expansion in Siberia and towards the Caucasus.
14. Sweden
Territory: Sweden proper only.
Religion:
Protestants.
Ruler:
King Gustavus II Adolphus (from 1610).
Recent History: Beaten by Poland-Lithuania, Sweden avoided invasion but lost Estonia and Finland. The intervention in the German War was equally ill-fated.
Near Future: Getting closer to Denmark.
15. Denmark
Territory: Denmark proper, Schleswig, Scania, Norway, Gotland, Danish Estonia, Bornholm, Feroe, Iceland, Greenland; Colonies.
Religion:
Protestants.
Ruler:
King Christian IV (from 1588)
Recent History: Lost control over Holstein and other German fiefs during the German War. The Danish and Norwegian Crowns and all their associated territories were unified into a single country called
Scandinavia.
Near Future: Plans to incorporate Sweden in order to make Scandinavia
whole again.
16. England
Territory: England proper, Wales, Ireland, Personal Union with Scotland; Colonies in North America, the Caribbean, the Pacific, Africa, Asia.
Religion:
Protestants, Catholics.
Ruler:
King James VI (of Scotland from 1567)
and I (of England from 1603).
Recent History: Recently got all British Isles under one King. Helped the Netherlands to defend against the German invasion.
Near Future: A Kingdom of
Britannia is planned. More focus on colonial affairs and less on continental matters.
17. Romania
Territory: From the Tissa to the Black Sea, from the Southern Bug and the Dniester to the Danube.
Religion:
Romanian Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants, a few Muslims.
Ruler:
Great Voivode and Lord Mihai I (of Romania from 1601)
Recent History: Achieved unification and de facto independence. Won wars against the Habsburgs and the Tatars and enlarged the Country's territory. Modernized and strenghtened the State, the Church and the Army.
Near Future: It will attack the Ottoman Empire.
Besides those Christian Countries, the South-Eastern part of Europe was still occupied by a foreign Muslim Power, the
Ottoman Empire.
In the Northern Caucasus and on the Southern shore of the Mediterranian Sea there were some smaller Muslim States, most of them vassals of the Ottoman Empire.
