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In reality: The Rhenish League and the Swabian League were alliances of cities in the Holy Roman Empire in the 13th and 14th century, against the encroaching power of nobles. Together they formed the South German Cities League in 1381. They were defeated in battle in 1388 . However, with Imperial Reform making the empire's structure more constitutional in nature, protected by the Eternal Peace and imperial courts , and receiving participation in law and policy making through the Kreis framework and the Reichstag , cities remained better off as part of the Empire. Meanwhile, driven by conflicts with the Habsburgs and by their own self-sufficiency, Swiss cities, counties, and ecclesiastical domains joined in the Swiss Confederation. They refused to pay taxes in 1495, won de facto independence in battle in 1499 , and gained recognition of full independence at Westphalia in 1648.

In this scenario: the South German Cities League wins the war in 1388, so the Rhenish and Swabian cities coalesce into confederations. Following a history similar to that of the real Swiss, they gain self-determination through wealth and military power, reject imperial institutions and form their own, and gain de-facto independence, outside of the administrative structures of the Empire. While the Leagues do start out with some princely and ecclesiastical members, these are gradually displaced in favour of civic government (burgher councils). This is the situation cca 1500. The Swabian and Rhenish confederations are controlled by the original League member cities, along with those which took power over from their previous princely or Church masters. The rest of the Confederation components are subordinated to the Leagues. Switzerland is organised as in real life at the time, but its expansion pattern is slightly changed.

This is the first in a series of maps I've made recently, after reading the book The Holy Roman Empire: A Thousand Years of Europe's History by Peter H Wilson. The second is Aftermath of the 8 Years War 1848 - 1856 , set after the Empire. Third is The German Papal State: A brief history in maps . The fourth is The Lands and Cities of Austrasia .

Description

In reality: The Rhenish League and the Swabian League were alliances of cities in the Holy Roman Empire in the 13th and 14th century, against the encroaching power of nobles. Together they formed the South German Cities League in 1381. They were defeated in battle in 1388 . However, with Imperial Reform making the empire's structure more constitutional in nature, protected by the Eternal Peace and imperial courts , and receiving participation in law and policy making through the Kreis framework and the Reichstag , cities remained better off as part of the Empire. Meanwhile, driven by conflicts with the Habsburgs and by their own self-sufficiency, Swiss cities, counties, and ecclesiastical domains joined in the Swiss Confederation. They refused to pay taxes in 1495, won de facto independence in battle in 1499 , and gained recognition of full independence at Westphalia in 1648.

In this scenario: the South German Cities League wins the war in 1388, so the Rhenish and Swabian cities coalesce into confederations. Following a history similar to that of the real Swiss, they gain self-determination through wealth and military power, reject imperial institutions and form their own, and gain de-facto independence, outside of the administrative structures of the Empire. While the Leagues do start out with some princely and ecclesiastical members, these are gradually displaced in favour of civic government (burgher councils). This is the situation cca 1500. The Swabian and Rhenish confederations are controlled by the original League member cities, along with those which took power over from their previous princely or Church masters. The rest of the Confederation components are subordinated to the Leagues. Switzerland is organised as in real life at the time, but its expansion pattern is slightly changed.

This is the first in a series of maps I've made recently, after reading the book The Holy Roman Empire: A Thousand Years of Europe's History by Peter H Wilson. The second is Aftermath of the 8 Years War 1848 - 1856 , set after the Empire. Third is The German Papal State: A brief history in maps . The fourth is The Lands and Cities of Austrasia .