User blog comment:Enclavehunter/Favorite Timeline/@comment-2303-20111215142839/@comment-2303-20120106152758

I havve not forgotten it..I just think that without at leas XX age communications it is impossible. as an example - coinciding almost everything from the events described in this TL episode of the XVII age history - Russian-Polish war during the time of Troubles in Russia. Russian army was defeated. Russian Tsar Vasily IV - captured and imprisoned, Polish hetman Stanislav Zolkiewski took Moscow, Polish prince Vladislav Vasa  was proclaimed  the new Tsar. But in reality his authority extended only to the territories occupied by Polish forces - from Smolensk to Moscow. The rest of the territory of Russia is not recognized him - and it was too big to be conquered. Local authorities in the area have formed an army which in 1612 knocked the Poles from Moscow. And from 1612 to 1812 communications is not very different - horses, messengers and unpaved roads.. Also Remember the Spanish insurrection and guerrilla war ..