Part 5/9:
Even if Sweden had managed to hold its gains, significant challenges loomed ahead. The Swedish population was remarkably small, which fundamentally limited its capacity to govern a vast empire. Their military successes were often reliant on conscripted soldiers from neighboring regions, meaning that local loyalty would be essential for control.
A long-term Swedish Empire would require careful diplomacy with local nobility in Lithuania, Poland, and potentially Russia, which could become burdensome. Governance and maintaining order across culturally diverse territories would not be a straightforward task, and the threat of revolt among these populations could perpetually destabilize the region.