From the 13th century , the two main Balkan powers Byzantium and Bulgaria fell Motion_directional victims to a process of decentralization , as local feudal lords grew Expansion stronger and more independent from the emperors in Constantinople and Tarnovo .

The long-term political consequences of the Protestant victory include Cause_to_be_included the Holy Roman Empire emphasising Expressing_publicly decentralization of power to local magnates and dynasts .

Protestant victory and liberty of religion thereby assured the political and national decentralization of the Empire for several centuries , and made it Causation vulnerable to foreign domination .