Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 48. (2000)
LAVERY, Jason: Emperor Maximilian II. and the Danish-Swedish Struggle for Baltic Hegemony 1563–1576
Jason Lavery Emperor Maximilian’s actions in respect to the Scandinavian rivalry underscored the significance of consensus and initiative in Imperial politics. This study reveals two specific limits on building and maintaining consensus in issues of foreign affairs. First, the Empire’s polities could support a common approach to a problem only if they agreed on clearly defined common aims. Maximilian received consensus support for the clear goal of preventing a Swedish victory over Denmark. Second, the Empire’s constituent parts refused to support anything that resembled an offensive projection of power beyond the Empire’s borders. Thus, Maximilian received little backing for his Baltic initiatives after achieving the Peace of Stettin. These limitations stemmed from the Empire’s internal structure: that of a confederation with elements resembling a modem collective-security organization, or, as commentators have perceived it, ”a community of justice and peace.“ Abbreviations ÄA Äußere Akten BHStA Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, München D.B. Dänisches Buch DRA Rigsarkivet, Copenhagen Geh. Arch. Geheimes Archiv GSPK Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Berlin HHStA Haus-, Hof- und Staatsarchiv, Wien lna Location not available MEA Mainzer Erzkanzlerarchiv ndr No date of receipt NSW Niedersächsisches Staatsarchiv, Wolfenbüttel or Original PA Politisches Archiv RHR Prot. Reichshofratsprotokolle RK Reichskanzlei RTA Reichstagsakten TKUASD Tyske Kancellis Udenrigske Afdelning Speciei Del Säch. HStA Sächsisches Hauptstaatsarchiv, Dresden SRA Riksarkivet, Stockholm StAM Hessisches Staatsarchiv, Marburg 228
