# You are transported to 1600s Europe - whose side will you fight for? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 30, 2009, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251 "2009-08-30T12:26:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251/1 "2009-08-30T12:26:51Z")
Say that, by some miracle, you are transported back in time to say 1620. It is the middle of the bloody Thirty Years’ War as well as the Eighty Years’ War (the war for Dutch independence against Spain.) You are sent back with one armored personnel carrier with, hypothetically, an unlimited amount of fuel, fifty .308-caliber G3 rifles and fifty Browning Hi-Power pistols, and a bag containing enough antibiotics to cure ten thousand men. Let’s say that the way this time travel works is, you’re hovering right above Europe, several miles in the air, and you can choose which country you are sent to. You just say the name, and you, your APC, and all your supplies bounce safely down to that country in a big protective bubble. Let’s say you’ll land right in the courtyard of the monarchy of that country, where you will immediately be able to speak with the leader. Which country will you help, with this superior technology? You can only pick one, and once you’re in their service, you CAN NOT switch sides to anyone else. Personally I would pick the Dutch Republic. I would love to see them kick Spain’s ass with an APC and modern battle rifles. Their [cuirassiers](http://warandgame.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/impcuir.jpg) were already superb - imagine what they would have been able to do with modern rifles. The .308 rounds would go through the enemy’s armor like a hot icepick through butter. Maurice of Nassau is a hero of mine and I would be honored to help him gain independence from the tentacles of the Spanish. (The House of Orange was also very friendly towards Jews, so I would not have to be subjected to the Inquisition, an added bonus.) Who would you fight for? Would you join with your ancestral homeland? All the major nations of Europe were involved in these conflicts to some degree or other. Would you be loyal to your heritage? Or would you base your support on ideological reasons? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251/2 "2009-08-30T12:41:23Z")
Can I land and blow away the monarch right after landing? I then take over ruling that country. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251/3 "2009-08-30T12:44:44Z")
I think you would just be captured by his guards and then tortured to death. After what happened to the assassin of William the Silent, the last thing I would want to do would be to try to assassinate a monarch. You would be far better off as a general in his service. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251/4 "2009-08-30T14:02:42Z")
I maintain a parking orbit until 1649 and then throw my lot in with Cromwell. And argue hard for leaving Ireland the hell alone. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251/5 "2009-08-30T14:06:18Z")
Well, it all depends, doesn’t it ? Which side is offering me the most money, booze and whores ? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251/6 "2009-08-30T14:09:31Z")
Have you read [1632](http://www.amazon.com/1632-Assiti-Shards-Eric-Flint/dp/0671319728/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251641168&sr=8-1) and its sequels, by Eric Flint? His answer is to support Gustavus Adophus, King of Sweden. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251/7 "2009-08-30T14:28:24Z")
The Dutch, without a doubt. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251/8 "2009-08-30T16:18:42Z")
Can I go take over the North American colonies? ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251/9 "2009-08-31T14:12:02Z")
Can I join up with the Jewish merchant base at Jamaica? ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251/10 "2009-08-31T14:28:36Z")
Can I go set up a colony in the western United States and prepare the Native Americans? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251/11 "2009-08-31T14:51:34Z")
Dutch. If not them, then land in Ireland and set myself up as High King. Then kick out the English well in advance of Cromwell. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251/12 "2009-08-31T15:31:21Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I think you would just be captured by his guards and then tortured to death. After what happened to the assassin of William the Silent, the last thing I would want to do would be to try to assassinate a monarch. The difference is that that the assassin of William the Silent wasn’t in a large, terrifying suit of armour that can outrun a horse. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251/13 "2009-08-31T15:47:38Z")
Spain, cuz the wimmin are hotter. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251/14 "2009-08-31T15:53:05Z")
It would be great fun sailing around sinking the Spanish Armada for England in a modern destroyer. Especially since they’re mostly going to die anyway, so I wouldn’t feel guilty about it. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251/15 "2009-08-31T16:47:49Z")
The side of the Americans of course. I should have reinforcements coming in 150ish years. I think I can hold out till then… ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-are-transported-to-1600s-europe-whose-side-will-you-fight-for/508251/16 "2009-08-31T17:45:58Z")
I’ll be wearing the plaid of me ancestors, and possibly introducing them to bourbon. But if I don’t get unlimited ammo to go with the battlewagon, it’ll be a short party.