Strategic Axis with Austria

The Austro-Lithuanian Pact of 1570 had ended in 1576 when the obscure Rudolf came into power in Austria. King Mikolaj II Krzysztof, also called 'the Little Orphan', was a well versed man and a pious Catholic whom had visited Jerusalem. When he had married Elizabeth of Steiermark he had met Rudolf whom had brought his favorite crowd of astrologists infuriating the Pious Crown-prince. From that day he could not stand the man. However, with the ascending of Ferdinand II, a distant relative of Elizabeth of Steiermark, the elderly Mikolaj II again found a man of his values. Ferdinand also wanted a strong monarchy and to strengthen Catholicism in Europe. He immediately signed an alliance and bought the consent of Poland. During the Thirty Years War Lithuanian Hussars would fight side by side with Imperial troops giving Lithuania endless amounts of glory.