What happens if the Emperor becomes protestant?

[Nigel Hayes-Davis]

Playing as France, I am the Holy Roman Emperor, what happens when I become protestant?

[Yaldabaoth]

You stop being emperor.

[Nigel Hayes-Davis]

Originally posted by Yaldabaoth:

You stop being emperor.

Does that mean I need to stop being emperor for a while and then lead protestant league into thr victory?

[tonypa]

Originally posted by Theresabot Strong&Stable:

Playing as France, I am the Holy Roman Emperor, what happens when I become protestant?

Depends. Did Religious League war start and end?

Without Religious League war ending for the win for Protestant side or signing Peace of Westphalia, only Catholics can be emperor. If you change religion as emperor before these events you will be instantly replaced by some other country since every elector gets "unsuitable for emperor" penalty about you.

[Nigel Hayes-Davis]

Originally posted by tonypa:

Originally posted by Theresabot Strong&Stable:

Playing as France, I am the Holy Roman Emperor, what happens when I become protestant?

Depends. Did Religious League war start and end?

Without Religious League war ending for the win for Protestant side or signing Peace of Westphalia, only Catholics can be emperor. If you change religion as emperor before these events you will be instantly replaced by some other country since every elector gets "unsuitable for emperor" penalty about you.

Thank you, it's only 1456. I will be careful about my imperial authority before becoming protestant so the next emperor won't be able to waste it.

[alkians]

There is a way to prevent it, although it is hard. If you pass the 5th reform that makes same country always inherit HRE, you'll remain emperor even if you convert to Protestant.

[Nigel Hayes-Davis]

Originally posted by alkians:

There is a way to prevent it, although it is hard. If you pass the 5th reform that makes same country always inherit HRE, you'll remain emperor even if you convert to Protestant.

That does not look quite easy, assuming that protestantism will break out in 1520, I need to take about 200 hundred provinces or kill a bunch of rulers which will make me lose prestige and legitimacy.

[Valar Morghulis]

Just switch to protestant as soon as possible and start the league war before catholics get big.

As france you shouldnt have a problem. Ally poland and bohemia and get them in before they can join catholics. Although bohemia gets protestant very often

[tonypa]

Originally posted by Valar Morghulis:

Just switch to protestant as soon as possible and start the league war before catholics get big.

As france you shouldnt have a problem. Ally poland and bohemia and get them in before they can join catholics. Although bohemia gets protestant very often

There is quite a lot of time between Protestants appearing and Leagues forming. For example whole Reformed movement starts between those dates. If you, as France, convert to protestant, you will not be emperor anymore. Once Leagues form, France is never chosen as League leader (since it is not part of HRE), Bohemia or Branderburg or Pomerania or Sweden or England can take leader spot. If you are not leader, it really does not matter which religion you got, as catholic France you can join Protestant side too.

Not sure about "allying Poland and Bohemia", they rarely have friendly relations, specially when Bohemia tends to go into Protestant and Poland Catholic side. If your ally is not in same side with you in the League, they do not have to join your League war either.

[Valar Morghulis]

Well that should haven been an and/or for Bohemia and Poland. Also I always thought the strongest nation gets into the leader position, because I always was the leader no matter what european nation I played. Obviously never played France, because I find them too boring.

[tonypa]

I don't think Religious League leader is simply strongest nation. Or in many games it would be just Ottos or Russia or PLC or Castile. Or just France. For Catholics it is Emperor, usually Austria but I have seen Poland being Emperor and leader of Catholic League too. For Protestants, it is usually strongest protestant elector but if they all really weak or missing it could go to country outside of HRE too, like Sweden or England.

I have not seen France as Protestant League leader, probably because AI France never converts. They might join protestant league but still remain catholic.

[Nigel Hayes-Davis]

Originally posted by tonypa:

I don't think Religious League leader is simply strongest nation. Or in many games it would be just Ottos or Russia or PLC or Castile. Or just France. For Catholics it is Emperor, usually Austria but I have seen Poland being Emperor and leader of Catholic League too. For Protestants, it is usually strongest protestant elector but if they all really weak or missing it could go to country outside of HRE too, like Sweden or England.

I have not seen France as Protestant League leader, probably because AI France never converts. They might join protestant league but still remain catholic.

I do not think it really matters, I can still join protestant league and do whatever I can for victory, do i need to be leader?

[tonypa]

Only protestant leader can start religious war. If you are simply member of the league, the protestant leader could decide never start the war at all, and give catholics a win by default.

[Nigel Hayes-Davis]

Originally posted by tonypa:

Only protestant leader can start religious war. If you are simply member of the league, the protestant leader could decide never start the war at all, and give catholics a win by default.

Oh, I get it. Then I will become protestant in 1550.

[Valar Morghulis]

The catholic league is rarely weaker than the protestant, which is the reason why they often dont declare a suicidal war. But with France on their side and a weak emperor they may start it anyway.