toshakethedustoffhisfeetagainstPrag,anddevotehimselftoconvertingthosePrussianHeathen,who,acrossthefrontiers,werelivinginsuchsavagery,andexpressbondagetotheDevil,worshippingmerestocksandstones。InthisenterprisehewasencouragedbytheChristianpotentateswholaycontiguous;
especiallybytheDukeofPoland,towhomsuchnext—neighbors,forallreasons,wereaneye—sorrow。
Adalbertwent,accordingly,withstaffandscrip,twomonksattendinghim,intothatdangerouscountry:notinfear,he;
adevouthigh—temperedman,vergingnowonfifty,hishairgettinggray,andfacemarredwithinnumerabletroublesandprovocationsofpasttime。Hepreachedzealously,almostfiercely,——thoughchieflywithhiseyesandgestures,Ishouldthink,havingnocommandofthelanguage。AtDantzig,amongtheSwedish—GothkindofHeathen,hehadsomesuccess,oraffluenceofattendance;
notelsewherethatwehearof。InthePillauregion,forexample,wherehenextlanded,anamphibiousHeathenlouthithimheavilyacrosstheshoulderswiththeflatofhisoar;sentthepoorPreachertotheground,faceforemost,andsuddenlyendedhissalutarydiscourseforthattime。However,hepressedforward,regardlessofresults,preachingtheEvangeltoallcreatureswhowerewillingorunwilling;——andpressedatlastintotheSacredCircuit,theROMOVA,orPlaceofOak—trees,andofWoodenorStoneIdols(Bangputtis,Patkullos,andIknownotwhatdiabolicdumbBlocks),whichitwasdeathtoenter。TheHeathenPriests,aswemayconceiveit,rushedout;beckonedhim,withloudunintelligiblebullyingsandfiercegestures,tobegone;
hustled,shookhim,shovedhim,ashedidnotgo;thentooktoconfusedstriking,struckfinallyadeath—strokeontheheadofpoorAdalbert:sothat"hestretchedoutbothhisarms(’Jesus,receivemethou!’)andfellwithhisfacetotheground,andlaydeadthere,——intheformofacrucifix,"sayhisBiographers:
onlytheattendantmonksescapingtotell。
Attendantmonks,orAdalbert,hadknownnothingoftheirbeingonforbiddenground。Theiraccountsofthephenomenonaccordinglyleaveitonlyhalfexplained:HowhewassurprisedbyarmedHeathenDevil’s—servantsinhissleep;wasviolentlysetupon,andhis"beautifulbowels(pulchraviscera)
wererunthroughwithsevenspears:"butthisoftheROMOVA,orSacredBangputtisChurchofOak—trees,perhapschiefROMOVAoftheCountry,rashlyintrudedinto,withconsequentstrokes,andfallintheformofacrucifix,appearsnowtobetheintelligibleaccount。[Baillet,ViesdesSaints(Paris,1739),iii。722。Bollandus,ActaSanetorum,Aprilistom。iii(DIE23;inEditionvenetiis,
1738),pp。174—205。Voigt,GeschichtePreussens(Konigsberg,1827—1839),i。266—270。]WewilltakeitfortherealmannerofAdalbert’sexit;——nodoubtoftheessentialtransaction,orthatitwasaveryflamingoneonbothsides。
Thedategivenis23dApril,997;datefamousintheRomishCalendarsince。
HewasaCzechbybirth,sonofaHeathenBohemianmanofrank:
hisname(Adalbert,A’lbert,BRIGHT—in—Nobleness)hegot"atMagdeburg,whitherhehadgonetostudy"andseekbaptism;where,asgenerallyelsewhere,hisferventdevoutwayswereadmirabletohisfellow—creatures。A"manofgenius,"wemaywellsay:oneofHeaven’sbrightsouls,bornintothemuddydarknessofthisworld;——laidholdofbyatranscendentMessage,intheduetranscendentdegree。HeenteredPrag,asBishop,notinacarriageandsix,but"walkingbarefoot;"hiscontemptforearthlyshadowsbeingalwaysextreme。Accordingly,hisquarrelswiththeSOECULUM
wereconstantandendless;hiswanderingsupanddown,andvehementarguings,inthisworld,tolittlevisibleeffect,lastedallhisdays。Wecanperceivehewasshort—tempered,thinofskin:
aviolentlysensitiveman。Forexample,onceintheBohemiansolitudes,onasummerafternoon,inoneofhisthousand—foldpilgrimingsandwayfarings,hehadlaindowntorest,hisoneortwomonksandhe,insomestillglade,"withastoneforhispillow"(aswasalwayshiscustomeveninPrag),andhadfallensoundasleep。ABohemianshepherdchancedtopassthatway,warblingsomethingonhispipe,ashewendedtowardslookingafterhisflock。Seeingthesleepersontheirstonepillows,thethoughtlessCzechmischievouslyblewlouder,——startedAdalbertbroadawakeuponhim;who,inthefuryofthefirstmoment,shrieked:"Deafnessonthee!Mancrueltothehumansenseofhearing!"orwordstothateffect。Whichcurse,likethemostofAdalbert’s,waspunctuallyfulfilled:theamazedCzechstooddeafasapost,andwentaboutsoallhisdaysafter;nay,forlongcenturies(perhapsdowntothepresenttime,inremoteparts),noCzechblowsintohispipeinthewoodlands,withoutcertainprecautions,andpreliminaryfuglingsofadevotionalnature。
[Bollandus,ubisupra。]——Fromwhichmiracle,asindeedfrommanyotherindications,Iinferanirritablenervous—systeminpoorAdalbert;andfindthisdeathintheRomovawasprobablyafuriousmixtureofEarthandHeaven。
Atallevents,heliesthere,beautifulthoughbloody,"intheformofacrucifix;"zealousAdalbert,thehotspiritofhimnowatlastcold;——andhasclapthismarkupontheHeathencountry,protestingtothelast。Thiswasintheyear997,thinkthebest@@@@@
Antiquaries。IthappenedataplacecalledFISCHHAUSEN,nearPillau,saythey;onthat,narrowstripofcountrywhichliesbetweentheBalticaadtheFrischeHaf(immenseLake,WASH,asweshouldsay,orleakageofshallowwater,oneoftwosuch,whichtheBaltichasspiltoutofitinthatquarter),——neartheFortandHavenofPillau;wheretherehasbeenmuchstirsince;whereNapoleon,foronething,hadsometoughfighting,priortotheTreatyofTilsit,fiftyyearsago。Theplace——orifnotthisplace,thenGneseninPoland,thefinalburial—placeofAdalbert,whichisbetterknown——haseversincehadakindofsacredness;
betterorworseexpressedbymankind:intheformofcanonization,endlesspilgrimages,rumoredmiracles,andsuchlike。Forshortlyafterwards,theneighboringPotentate,BoleslausDukeofPoland,heart—struckattheevent,drewswordontheseHeathens,andhaving(ifIremember)gainedsomevictory,bargainedtohavetheBodyofAdalbertdeliveredtohimatitsweightingold。Body,allcutinpieces,andnailedtopoles,hadlongignominiouslywitheredinthewind;perhapsitwasnowonlyburiedovernightforthenonce?Beingdugup,orbeingcutdown,andputintothebalance,itweighed——lessthanwasexpected。Itwasaslightasgossamer,saidpiousrumor,Hadsuchanexcellentodortoo;——andcameforamerenothingofgold!ThiswasAdalbert’sfirstmiracleafterdeath;inlifehehaddonemanyhundredsofthem,andhasdonemillionssince,——chieflyuponparalyticnervous—systems,andtheelementofpiousrumor;——whichanyDevil’s—Advocatethenextantmayexplainifhecan!KaiserOtto,WonderoftheWorld,whohadknownSt。Adalbertinlife,andmuchhonoredhim,"madeapilgrimagetohistombatGnesenintheyear1000;"——andkneltthere,wemaybelieve,withthoughtswondrousenough,greatandsadenough。
ThereisnohopeofconvertingPreussen,then?ItwillneverleaveoffitsdireworshipofSatan,then?Saynot,Never;thatisaweakword。St。Adalberthasstampedhislifeuponit,intheformofacrucifix,inlastingprotestagainstthat。
ChapterIII。
MARKGRAVESOFBRANDENBURG。
MeanwhileourfirstenigmaticsetofMarkgraves,orDeputy—
Markgraves,atBrandenburg,arelikewisefaringill。Whoeverthesevaliantsteel—graygentlemenmightbe(whichDryasdustdoesnottheleastknow,andonlymakesyoumoreuncertainthemorehepretendstotell),onethingisveryevident,theyhadnopeaceablepossessionoftheplace,norforaboveahundredyears,aconstantoneonanyterms。TheWendswerehighlydisinclinedtoconversionandobedience:onceandagain,andstillagain,theyburstup;gottemporaryholdofBrandenburg,hopingtokeepit;
anddidfrightfulheterodoxiesthere。Sothattoourdistressedimaginationthosepoor"MarkgravesofWitekinddescent,"ourfirstsetinBrandenburg,becomealtogethershadowy,intermittent,enigmatic,painfullyactualastheyoncewere。Takeoneinstance,omittingothers;whichhappilyprovestobethefinishofthatfirstshadowyline,andintroducesustoanewsetveryslightlymoresubstantial。
ENDOFTHEFIRSTSHADOWYLINE。
Intheyear1023,nearacenturyafterHenrytheFowler’sfeat,theWendsburstingupinnever—imaginedfury,getholdofBrandenburgagain,——forthethirdand,onewouldfainhope,thelasttime。Thereasonwas,wordsspokenbythethenMarkgrafofBrandenburg,DietrichorTheodoric,lastoftheWitekindMarkgraves;whohearingthataCousinofhis(MarkgraforDeputy—
Markgraflikehimself)wasaboutweddinghisdaughterto"MistevoiKingoftheWends,"saidtooearnestly:"Don’t!Willyougiveyourdaughtertoadog?"Word"dog"wasused,saysmyauthority。[SeeMichaelisChurundFurstlichenHauser,
i。257—259:Pauli,AllgemeinePreussischeStaats—
Geschichte(Halle,1760—1769),i。l—182(the"standardwork"onPrussianHistory;ineightwateryquartos,intolerabletohumannature):Kloss,VuterlandischeGemalde(Berlin,1833),i。59—108(aBookseller’scompilation,withsomecuriousExcerpts):——underwhichliemodernSagittarius,ancientAdamofBremen,DitmarusMerseburgensis,WitichindusCorbeiensis,ArnoldusLubecensis,&c。&c。toalllengthsandbreadths。]WhichthrewKingMistevoiintoaparoxysm,andraisedtheWends。TheirbutcheryoftheGermanpopulationinpoorBrandenburg,especiallyofthePriests;theirburningoftheCathedral,andofChurchandStategenerally,maybeconceived。TheHARLUNGSBERG,——inourtimeMARIENBERG,pleasantHillnearBrandenburg,withitsgardens,vines,andwhitenedcottages:——onthetopofthisHarlungshergtheWends"setuptheirgodTriglaph;"athree—headedMonsterofwhichIhaveseenprints,beyondmeasureugly。Somethinglikethreewhale’s—cubscombinedbyboiling,oratripleporpoisedead—
drunk(forthedulleyesareinexpressible,aswellastheamorphousshape):ugliestandstupidestofallfalsegods。
ThisthesevictoriousWendssetupontheHarlungsberg,Year1023;
andworshippedaftertheirsort,benightedmortals,——withjoy,foratime。TheCathedralwasinashes,Priestsallslainorfled,shadowyMarkgravesthelike;ChurchandStatelayinashes;
andTriglaph,likeaTriplePorpoiseundertheinfluenceoflaudanum,stood(Iknownotwhetheronhisheadoronhistail)
aloftontheHarlungsberg,astheSupremeofthisUniverse,forthetimebeing。
SECONDSHADOWYLINE。
WhereupontheDITMARSCH—STADEMarkgrafs(assomedesignatethem)
hadtointerfere,theseshadowyDeputiesoftheWitekindbreedhavingvanishedinthatmanner。TheDitmarschersrecoveredtheplace;andwithsomefighting,didinthemainatleastkeepTriglaphandtheWendsoutofitintimecoming。TheWendswerefiercelytroublesome,andfoughtmuch;butIthinktheyneveractuallygotholdofBrandenburgagain。Theywerebeginningtogetnotionsofconversion:wellpreachedtoandwellbeatenupon,youcannotholdoutforever。EvenMistevoiatonetimeprofessedtendenciestoChristianity;perhapspartlyforhisBride’ssake,——
thedog,wemaycallhim,inamildersense!Butherelapseddreadfully,afterthatinsult;andhissonworse。Ontheotherhand,Mistevoi’sgrandsonwassozealoushewentaboutwiththeMissionaryPreachers,andinterpretedtheirGermanintoWendish:
"Oh,mypoorWends,willyouhear,then,willyouunderstand?
ThissolidEarthisbutashadow:HeavenforeverorelseHellforever,thatisthereality!"SUCH"differencebetweenrightandwrong"noWendhadheardofbefore:quitetremendously"importantiftrue!"——Anddoubtlessitimpressedmany。ThereareheavyDitmarschstrokesfortheunimpressible。Bydegreesallgotconverted,thoughmanywerekilledfirst;and,onewayorother,theWendsarepreparingtoeffacethemselvesasadistinctpeople。
ThisSTADE—AND—DITMARSCHfamily(ofAnglishorSaxonbreed,ifthatisanadvantage)seemgenerallytohavefurnishedtheSALZWEDELOfficeaswell,ofwhichBrandenburgwasanoffshoot,donebydeputy,usuallyalsooftheirkin。TheylastedinBrandenburgrathermorethanahundredyears;——withlittleornoBook—Historythatisgoodtoread;theirHistoryinarticulaterather,andstampedbeneficentlyonthefaceofthings。Ottoisacommonnameamongthem。Oneoftheirsisters,too,Adelheid(Adelaide,NOBLENESS)hadastrangeadventurewith"LudwigtheSpringer:"romanticmythicman,famousintheGermanworld,overwhommyreadersandImustnotpauseatthistime。
InSalzwedel,inDitmarsch,orwhereverstationed,theyhadatoilsomefightinglife:soredifficultieswiththeirDITMARSCHERS
too,withtheplunderingDanishpopulations;MarkgrafafterMarkgrafgettingkilledinthebusiness。"ERSCHLAGEN,slainfightingwiththeHeathen,"saytheoldBooks,andpassontoanother。Ofallwhichthereisnowsilenceforever。Somanyyearsmenfoughtandplannedandstruggledthere,allforgottennowexceptbythegods;andsilentlygaveawaytheirlife,beforethosecountriescouldbecomefencibleandhabitable!Nay,myfriend,itisourlottoo:andifwewouldwinhonorinthisUniverse,therumorofHistoriesandMorningNewspapers,——whichhavetobecomewhollyzero,oneday,andfalldumbasstones,andwhichwerenotperhapsverywiseevenwhilespeaking,——willhelpuslittle!——
SUBSTANTIALMARKGRAVES:GLIMPSEOFTHECONTEMPORARYKAISERS。
TheDitmarsch—Stadekindred,muchslaininbattlewiththeHeathen,andotherwisebeatenupon,diedout,abouttheyear1l30
(earlierperhaps,perhapslater,forallisshadowystill);
andweresucceededintheSalzwedelpartoftheirfunctionbyakindredcalled"ofAscanienandBallenstadt;"theASCANIERorANALTMarkgraves;whoseHistory,andthatofBrandenburg,becomeshencefortharticulatetous;aHistorynotdoubtfulorshadowyanylonger;butascertainable,ifreckonedworthascertaining。
WhosucceededinDitmarsch,letusbynomeansinquire。TheEmpireitselfwasinsomedisorderatthistime,moreabstruseofaspectthanusual;andtheseNorthernMarkgrafs,alreadybecomeimportantpeople,anddeepingeneralpolitics,hadtheirownshareintheconfusionthatwasgoing。
ItwasaboutthissametimethatasecondlineofKaisershaddiedout:theFRANKISHorSALICline,whohadsucceededtotheSAXON,ofHenrytheFowler’sblood。FortheEmpiretoo,thoughelective,hadalwaysatendencytobecomehereditary,andgoinlines:
ifthelastKaiserleftasonnotunfit,whosolikelyastheson?
Butheneededtobefit,otherwiseitwouldnotanswer,——otherwiseitmightbeworseforhim!ThereweregreatlaborsintheEmpiretoo,aswellasontheSclavicfrontierofit:bravemenfightingagainstanarchy(actuallysetinpitchedfightagainstit,andnotalwaysstrongenough),——toilingsore,accordingtotheirfaculty,topulltheinnumerablecrookedthingsstraight。SomeagreedwellwiththePope,——asHenryII。,whofoundedBambergBishopric,andmuchelseofthelike;[Kohler,pp。102—104。See,forinstance,DescriptiondelaTabled’Aute1enorfin,donneealaCathedraledeBale,parl’EmpereurHenriII。en1019
(Porentruy,1838)。]"asoresaintforthecrown,"aswassaidofDavidI。,hisScotchcongener,byadescendant。Othersdisagreedverymuchindeed;——HenryIV。’ssceneatCanossa,withPopeHildebrandandthepiousCountess(year1077,KaiseroftheHolyRomanEmpirewaiting,threedays,inthesnow,tokissthefootofexcommunicativeHildebrand),hasimpresseditselfonallmemories!
PoorHenryralliedoutofthatabasement,anddealtastrokeortwoonHildebrand;butfellstilllowerbeforelong,hisverySongoingagainsthim;andcamealmosttoactualwantofbread,hadnottheBishopofLiegebeengoodtohim。Nay,afterdeath,helayfouryearswaitingvainlyevenforburial,——butindeedcaredlittleaboutthat。
CertainlythisSonofhis,KaiserHenryV。,doesnotshineinfilialpiety:butprobablythepoorladhimselfwashardbested。
Healsocametodie,A。D。1125,stilllittleoverforty,andwasthelastoftheFrankishKaisers。He"lefttheREICHS—INSIGNIEN
[Crown,SceptreandCoronationgear]tohisWidowandyoungFriedrichofHohenstauffen,"asister’ssonofhis,——hopingthesaidFriedrichmight,partlybythathelp,followasKaiser。
WhichFriedrichcouldnotdo;beingwheedled,boththeWidowandhe,outoftheirinsignia,underfalsepretences,andotherwiseleftinthelurch。NotFriedrich,butoneLothar,astirringmanwhohadgrownpotentintheSaxoncountries,waselectedKaiser。
Intheend,afterwaitingtillLotharwasdone,Friedrich’sracedidsucceed,andwithbrilliancy,——KaiserBarbarossabeingthatsameFriedrich’sson。Inregardtowhichdimcomplicacies,takethisExcerptfromtheimbroglioofManuscripts,beforetheygointothefire:——
"BynomeanstobeforgottenthattheWidowweherespeakof,KaiserHenryV。’sWidow,whobroughtnoheirtoHenryV。,wasourEnglishHenryBeauclerc’sdaughter,——granddaughterthereforeofWilliamConqueror,——thesamewho,having(in1127,thesecondyearofherwidowhood)marriedGodefroiCountofAnjou,producedourHenryII。andourPlantagenets;andthereby,throughhervictoriousControversieswithKingStephen(thatnoblepeerwhosebreechesstoodhimsocheap),becameverycelebratedas’theEmpressMaud,’inouroldHistory—Books。Mathildis,DowagerofKaiserHenryV。,towhomhegavehisReichs—Insigniaatdying:
sheisthe’EmpressMaud’ofEnglishBooks;andrelatesherselfinthismannertotheHohenstauffenDynasty,andintricateGermanvicissitudes。Bethankfulforanyhookwhateveronwhichtohanghalfanacreofthrumsinfixedposition,outofyourway;
thesmallestflint—spark,inaworldallblackandunrememberable,willbewelcome。"——
AndsowereturntoBrandenburgandthe"ASCANIENandBALLENSTADT"
seriesofMarkgraves。
ChapterIV。
ALBERTTHEBEAR。
ThisAscanien,happily,hasnothingtodowithBruteofTroyorthepiousAEneas’sson;itissimplythenameofamostancientCastle(etymologyunknowntome,ruinsstilldimlytraceable)onthenorthslopeoftheHartzMountains;shortwayfromAschersleben,——theCastleandTownofAscherslebenare,sotospeak,asecondeditionofAscanien。Ballenstadtisstillolder;
BallenstadtwasofageinCharlemagne’stime;andisstillarespectablelittleTowninthatuplandrangeofcountry。
Thekindred,calledGRAFSandultimatelyHERZOGS(Dukes)of"AscanienandBallenstadt,"areveryfamousinoldGermanHistory,especiallydownfromthisdate。SomereckonthattheyhadintermittentlybeenMarkgrafs,intheirregion,longbeforethis;
whichisconceivableenough:atalleventsitisveryplaintheydidnowattaintheOfficeinSALZWEDEL(straightwayshiftingittoBrandenburg);andhelditcontinuously,itandmuchelsethatlayadjacent,forcenturies,inahighlyconspicuousmanner。
InBrandenburgtheylastedforabouttwohundredyears;intheirSaxondignities,theyoungerbranchofthemdidnotdieout(andgiveplacetotheWettinsthatnoware)forfivehundred。NaytheyhavestilltheirrepresentativesontheEarth:LeopoldofAnhalt—
Dessau,celebrated"OldDessauer,"comeofthejuniorbranches,islinealheadofthekininFriedrichWilhelm’stime(whileourlittleFritzchenliesasleepinhiscradleatBerlin);andacertainPrinceofAnhalt—Zerbst,ColonelinthePrussianArmy,authenticPRINCE,butwithpursemuchshorterthanpedigree,willhaveaDaughterbyandby,whowillgotoRussia,andbecomealmosttooconspicuous,asCatharineII。,there!——
"Brandenburgnowasafterwards,"saysoneofmyoldPapers,"wasofficiallyreckonedSAXON;partofthebigDuchyofSaxony;
wherecertainfamedBILLUNGS,lineageofanold’CountBillung’
(connectedornotwithBILLINGS—gateinourcountry,Idonotknow)hadlongbornesway。OfwhichbigoldBillungsIwillsaynothingatall;——thisonly,thattheydiedout;andacertainAlbert,’CountofAscanienandBallenstadt’(say,ofANHALT,inmodernterms),whosemotherwasoneoftheirdaughters,cameinforthenorthernpartoftheirinheritance。HemadeaclutchattheSoutherntoo,butdidnotlongretainthat。Beingamanveryswiftandverysharp,atoncenimbleandstrong,inthehugescramblethattherethenwas,——UncleBillungdeadwithoutheirs,aSALIClineofemperorsgoingorgoneout,andaHOHENSTAUFFEN
notyetcomein,——hemadearichgameofitforhimself;theratherasLothar,theintermediateKaiser,washiscousin,andtherewereothergoodcardswhichheplayedwell。
"Thisishetheycall’AlberttheBear(AlbrechtderBar);’firstoftheASCANIENMarkgravesofBrandenburg;
——firstwhollydefiniteMARKGRAFOFBRANDENBURGthatthereis;
onceaveryshiningfigureintheworld,thoughnowfallendimenoughagain。Itisevidenthehadaquickeye,aswellasastronghand;andcouldpickwhatwaywasstraightestamongcrookedthings。HegottheNorthernpartofwhatisstillcalledSaxony,andkeptitinhisfamily;gottheBrandenburgCountrieswithal,gottheLausitz;wastheshiningfigureandgreatmanoftheNorthinhisday。TheMarkgrafdomofSALZWEDEL(whichsoonbecameofBRANDENBURG)heverynaturallyacquired(A。D。1142orearlier);
verynaturally,consideringwhatSaxonandotherhonorsandpossessionshehadalreadygotholdof。"——
Wecanonlysay,itwastheluckiestofeventsforBrandenburg,andthebeginningofallthebetterdestiniesithashad。
AconspicuousCountryeversinceintheworld,andwhichgrowsevermoresoinourlatetimes。
Hehadmanywars;inextricablecoilofclaimings,quarrellingsandagreeings:foughtmuch,——foughtinItaly,too,"againstthePagans"(Saracens,thatis)。CousintooneKaiser,theLotharabovenamed;thenachiefstayoftheHohenstauffen,ofthetwoHohenstauffenswhofollowed:arestless,much—managing,wide—
warringman。HestoodtruebythegreatBarbarossa,secondoftheHohenstauffen,greatestofalltheKaisers;whichwasaluckforhim,andperhapsamerit。HekeptwellwiththreeKaisersinhistime。Hadgreatquarrelswith"HenrytheLion"aboutthat"Billung"SaxonHeritage;HenrycarryingoffthebetterpartofitfromAlbert。ExceptthatsameHenry,headoftheGuelphsorWelfs,whohadnotAlbert’stalent,thoughwiderlandsthanAlbert,therewasnoGermanprincesoimportantinthattime。
HetransferredtheMarkgrafdomtoBRANDENBURG,probablyasmorecentralinhiswidelands;SALZWEDELishenceforththeledMarkgrafdomorMARCK,andsoonfallsoutofnoticeintheworld。
Salzwedeliscalledhencefortheversincethe"OldMarck(
AlteMarck,Altmarck);"theBrandenburgcountriesgettingthenameof"NewMarck。"ModernNEUMARK,modern"Middle—
Marck"(inwhichstandsBrandenburgitselfinourtime),"UCKER—
Marck"(OUTSIDEMarck,——wordUCKERisstillseeninUKRAINE,forinstance):theseareposteriorDivisions,fallenuponasBrandenburg(underAlbertchiefly)enlargeditself,andneedednewOfficialparcellingsintodepartments。
UnderAlberttheMarkgrafdomhadrisentobeanELECTORATEwithal。
TheMarkgrafofBrandenburgwasnowfurthermoretheKURFURSTofBrandenburg;officially"Arch—treasureroftheHolyRomanEmpire;
"andoneoftheSevenwhohavearight(whichbecameaboutthistimeanexclusiveoneforthoseSeven)tochoose,toKIERENtheRomishKaiser;andwhoarethereforecalledKURPrinces,KURFURSTE
orElectors,asthehighestdignityexcepttheKaiser’sown。
Inreferencetowhichabstrusematter,likelytoconcernussomewhat,willtheuninstructedEnglishreaderconsenttothefollowingExcerpt,slightlyelucidatoryofKURFURSTSandtheirfunction?
"FURST(Prince)Isupposeisequivalentoriginallytoournounofnumber,First。TheoldverbKIEREN(participleERKORENstillinuse,nottomention’Val—KYR’andotherinstances)isessentiallythesamewordasourCHOOSE,beingwrittenKIESENaswellasKIEREN。Nay,saytheetymologists,itisalsowrittenKUSSEN(toKISS,——toCHOOSEwithsuchemphasis!),andisnotlikelytofallobsoleteinthatform。——TheotherSixElectoralDignitarieswhogrewtoEightbydegrees,andmaybeworthnotingoncebythereadersofthisBook;are:——
"1。ThreeEcclesiastical,MAINZ,COLN,TRIER(Mentz,Cologne,Treves),Archbishopsall,withsovereigntyandterritorymoreorlessconsiderable;——whousedtobeelectedasPopesare,theoreticallybytheirrespectiveChaptersandtheHeavenlyInspirations,butpracticallybytheintriguesandpressuresoftheneighboringPotentates,especiallyFranceandAustria。
"2。ThreeSecular,SACHSEN,PFALZ,BOHMEN(Saxony,Palatinate,Bohemia);ofwhichthelast,BOHMEN,sinceitfellfrombeingaKingdominitself,tobeingaProvinceofAustria,isnotveryvocalintheDiets。TheseSix,withBrandenburg,aretheSevenKurfurstsinoldtime;SEPTEMVIRSoftheCountry,sotospeak。
"ButnowPFALZ,intheThirty—YearsWar(underourPrinceRupert’sFather,whomtheGermanscallthe`Winter—King’),gotabrogated,puttotheban,sofarasanindignantKaisercould;andthevoteandKURofPfalzwasgiventohisCousinofBAIERN(Bavaria),——
sofarasanindignantKaisercould。However,atthePeaceofWestphalia(1648)itwasfoundincompetenttoanyKaisertoabrogatePFULZorthelikeofPfalz,aKurfurstoftheEmpire。
So,afterjargoninconceivable,itwassettled,ThatPFALZmustbereinstated,thoughwithterritoriesmuchclipped,andatthebottomofthelist,notthetopasformerly;andthatBAIERN,whocouldnotstandtobebalkedaftertwentyyears’possession,mustbemadeEIGHTHElector。TheNINTH,wesaw(Year1692),wasGentlemanErnstofHANOVER。ThereneverwasanyTenth;andtheHolyROMISCHEREICH,whichwasagrandobjectonce,buthadgoneaboutinasuperannuatedandplainlycrazystateforsomecenturiesback,wasatlastputoutofpain,byNapoleon,’6thAugust,1806,’andallowedtoceasefromthisworld。"
[Ms。penesme。]
NoneofAlbert’swarsaresocomfortabletoreflectonasthosehehadwiththeanarchicWends;whomhenowfairlybeattopowder,andeithersweptaway,orelsedampeddownintoChristianityandkeepingofthepeace。Sweptthemawayotherwise;"peoplingtheirlandsextensivelywithColonistsfromHolland,whomaninroadoftheseahadrenderedhomelessthere。"Whichsurelywasausefulexchange。NothingbetterisknowntomeofAlberttheBearthanthishisintroducinglargenumbersofDutchNetherlandersintothosecountries;menthrownoutofwork,whoalreadyknewhowtodealwithbogandsand,bymixinganddelving,andwhofirsttaughtBrandenburgwhatgreennessandcow—pasturewas。TheWends,inpresenceofsuchthings,couldnotbutconsentmoreandmoretoeffacethemselves,——eithertobecomeGerman,andgrowmilkandcheeseintheDutchmanner,ortodisappearfromtheworld。
TheWendishPrinceshadatasteforGermanwives;inwhichjusttastetheAlbertgenealogywasextremelywillingtoindulgethem。
Affinitiesproduceinheritances;bypropermarriage—contractsyoucansettleonwhatsidethemostcontingentinheritanceshallatlengthfall。DimbutprettycertainliesatimecomingwhentheWendishPrincesalsoshallhaveeffacedthemselves;andallshallbeGerman—Brandenburgish,notWendishanymore。——TheactualInhabitantsofBrandenburg,therefore,areeithercomeofDutchBog—farmers,oraresimpleLowerSAXONS("Anglo—Saxon,"ifyoulikethatbetter),PLATT—TEUTSCHofthecommontype;anunexceptionablebreedofpeople。StreaksofWendishpopulation,extrudedgraduallyintotheremoterquagmires,andmoreinaccessible,lessvaluablesedgymoorsandsea—strands,arescatteredabout;Mecklenburg,whichstillsubsistsseparatelyafterasort,isreckonedpeculiarlyWendish。InMecklenburg,Pommern,Pommerellen(LittlePomerania),arestilltobeseenphysiognomiesofaWendishorVandalictype(moreofcheekthanthereoughttobe,andlessofbrow;otherwisegoodenoughphysiognomiesoftheirkind):butthegeneralmass,temperedwithsuchadmixtures,isofthePlatt—Deutsch,SaxonorevenAnglishcharacterwearefamiliarwithhereathome。Apatientstoutpeople;meaningconsiderablethings,andveryincapableofspeakingwhatitmeans。
Albertwasafinetallfigurehimself;DERSCHONE,"AlberttheHandsome,"washisnameasoftenas"AlberttheBear。"Thatlatterepithethegot,notfromhislooksorqualities,butmerelyfromhisheraldiccognizance:aBearonhisshield。Aswasthenthemodeofnames;surnamesbeingscant,andnotyetfixedlyinexistence。Thustoohiscontemporaries,HenryTHELIONofSaxonyandWelfdom,WilliamTHELIONofScotland,werenot,eitherofthem,speciallyleoninemen:norhadthePLANTAGENETS,orGeoffreyofAnjou,anyconnectionwiththePLANTofBROOM,exceptwearingatwigofitintheircapsonoccasion。MenaregladtogetsomedesignationforagrandAlberttheyareoftenspeakingof,whichshalldistinguishhimfromthemanysmallones。Albert"theBear,DERBAR,"willdoaswellasanother。
ItwasthisonefirstthatmadeBrandenburgpeaceableandnotable。
WemightcallhimthesecondfounderofBrandenburg;he,inthemiddleoftheTwelfthCentury,completedforitwhatHenrytheFowlerhadbegunearlyintheTenth。Aftertwohundredandfiftyyearsofbarkingandworrying,theWendsarenowfinallyreducedtosilence;theiranarchywellburied,andwholesomeDutchcabbageplantedoverit:Albertdidseveralgreatthingsintheworld;
but,this,forposterity,remainshismemorablefeat。Notdonequiteeasily;but,done:bigdestiniesofNationsorofPersonsarenotfoundedGRATISinthisworld。Hehadasoretoilsometimeofit,coercing,warring,managingamonghisfellow—creatures,whilehisday’sworklasted,——fiftyyearsorso,foritbeganearly。HediedinhisCastleofBallenstadt,peaceablyamongtheHartzMountainsatlast,intheyear1170,ageaboutsixty—five。
ItwasinthetimewhileThomasaBecketwasrovingabouttheworld,cominghomeexcommunicative,andfinallygettingkilledinCanterburyCathedral;——whileAbbotSamson,stillapoorlittlebrownBoy,cameoverfromNorfolk,holdingbyhismother’shand,toSt。Edmundsbury;havingseen"SANTANASswithoutspreadwings"
fearfullybusyinthisworld。
ChapterV。
CONRADOFHOHENZOLLERN;ANDKAISERBARBAROSSA。
Itwasinthosesameyearsthatastoutyoungfellow,Conradbyname,faroffinthesouthernpartsofGermany,setoutfromtheoldCastleofHohenzollern,wherehewasbutjunior,andhadsmalloutlooks,uponaverygreaterrandintheworld。
>FromHohenzollern;boundnowtowardsGelnhausen,Kaiserslautern,orwhatevertemporarylodgingthegreatKaiserBarbarossamightbeknowntohave,whowasawanderingman,hisbusinesslyingeverywhereoverhalftheworld,andneedingthemaster’seye。
Conrad’spurposeistofindBarbarossa,andseekfortuneunderhim。
Thisisaveryindisputableeventofthosesameyears。Theexactdate,thefigure,circumstancesofitwere,mostlikely,neverwrittenanywherebutonConrad’sownbrain,andarenowrubbedoutforevermore;buttheeventitselfiscertain;andofthehighestconcernmenttothisNarrative。Somewhereabouttheyear1170,likeliestafewyearsbeforethat,[Rentsch,
BrandenburgischerCeder—Hein(Baireuth,l682),pp。273—276。——SeealsoJohannUlrichPregitzern,
TeutscherRegierungs—undEhren—Spiegel,vorbildend&c。desHausesHohenzollern(Berlin,1703),pp。90—93。AlearnedandpainfulBook:byaTubingenProfessor,whoisdeeplyreadintheoldHistories,andgivesPortraitsandotherEngravingsofsomevalue。]thisConrad,ridingdownfromHohenzoliern,probablywithnogreatstockofluggageabout,him,——littledreamsofbeingconnectedwithBrandenburgontheothersideoftheworld;butIS
unconsciouslymoresothananyotherofthethensonsofAdam。
Heisthelinealancestor,twentiethindirectascent,ofthelittleBoynowsleepinginhiscradleatBerlin;lethimwaittillnineteengenerations,valiantlylikeConrad,havedonetheirpart,andgoneout,Conradwillfindheiscometothis!Aman’sdestinyisstrangealways;andneverwantsformiracles,orwillwant,thoughitsometimesmayforeyestodiscernthem。
HohenzollernliesfarsouthinSCHWABEN(Suabia),onthesunwardslopeoftheRauhe—AlpCountry;nogreatwaynorthfromConstanceanditsLake;butwellaloft,nearthespringsoftheDanube;
itsbackleaningontheBlackForest;itisperhapsdefinableasthesouthernsummitofthatsamehugeoldHercynianWood,whichisstillcalledtheSCHWARZWALD(BlackForest),thoughnowcomparativelybareoftrees。["Therearestillconsiderablespottingsofwood(pinemainly,and’black’enough);HOLZ—HANDEL
(timber—trade)stillaconsiderablebranchofbusinessthere;——andonthestreamsofthecountryarecunningcontrivancesnoticeable,forfloatingdownthearticleintotheNeckarriver,andthenceintotheRhineandtoHolland。"(Tourist’sNote。)]FancifulDryasdust,doingalittleetymology,willtellyouthenameZOLLERNisequivalenttoTOLLERYorPlaceofTolls。
WherebyHOHENZOLLERNcomestomeantheHIGHorUpperTOLLERY;——
andgivesonethenotionofantiquepedlersclimbingpainfully,outofItalyandtheSwissvalleys,thusfar;unstrappingtheirpack—horseshere,andchafferinginunknowndialectaboutTOLL。
Poorsouls;——itmaybeso,butwedonotknow,norshallitconcernus。Thisonlyisknown:Thatahumankindred,probablyofsometalentforcoercinganarchyandguidingmankind,had,centuriesago,builtitsBURGthere,anddonethatfunctioninasmallbutcreditablewayeversince;——kindredpossiblyenoughderivablefrom"Thassilo,"Charlemagne,KingDagobert,andotherKings,butcertainlyfromAdamandtheAlmightyMaker,whohadgivenitthosequalities;——andthatConrad,ajuniormemberofthesame,nowgoesforthfromitinthewaywesee。"Whyshouldayoungfellowthathascapabilities,"thoughtConrad,"stayathomeinhungryidleness,withnoestatebuthisjavelinandbuffjerkin,andnoemploymentbuthishawks,whenthereisawideopulentworldwaitingonlytobeconquered?"ThiswasConrad’sthought;anditprovedtobeaveryjustone。
Itwasnowtheflower—timeoftheRomishKaisershipofGermany;
aboutthemiddleornoonofBarbarossahimself,secondoftheHohenstauffens,andgreatestofalltheKaisersofthatoranyotherhouse。Kaiserfallenunintelligibletomostmodernreaders,andwhollyunknown,whichisapity。NoKingsofurnishedoutwithapparatusandarena,withpersonalfacultytoruleandscenetodoitin,hasappearedelsewhere。Amagnificentmagnanimousman;
holdingthereinsoftheworld,notquiteintheimaginarysense;
scourginganarchydown,andurgingnobleeffortup,reallyonagrandScale。Aterrortoevil—doersandapraisetowell—doersinthisworld,probablybeyondwhatwaseverseensince。Whomalsowesaluteacrossthecenturies,asachoiceBeneficenceofHeaven。
EncampedonthePlainofRoncaglia[whenheenteredItaly,ashetoooftenhadoccasiontodo],hisshieldwashungoutonahighmastoverhistent;"anditmeantinthoseolddays,"Ho,everyonethathassufferedwrong;hereisaKaisercometojudgeyou,asheshallanswerittoHISMaster。"Andmengatheredroundhim;
andactuallyfoundsomejustice,——iftheycoulddiscernitwhenfound。Whichtheycouldnotalwaysdo;neitherwasthejusticecapableofbeingperfectalways。Afearfullydifficultfunction,thatofFriedrichRedbeard。Butaninexorablyindispensableoneinthisworld;——thoughsometimesdispensedwith(tothehugejoyofAnarchy,whichsingsHallelujahthroughallitsNewspapers)
foraseason!
KaiserFriedrichhadimmensedifficultieswithhisPopes,withhisMilanese,andthelike;——besiegedMilansixtimesover,amongotheranarchies;——hadindeedaheavy—ladenhardtimeofit,histaskbeinggreatandthegreatest。HemadeGebhardus,theanarchicGovernorofMilan,"liechainedunderhistable,likeadog,forthreedays。"Forthemanwasinearnest,inthatearnesttime:——
andletussay,theyarebutpaltrysham—menwhoarenotso,inanytime;paltry,andfarworsethanpaltry,howeverhightheirplumesmaybe。Ofwhomthesickworld(Anarchy,bothvocalandsilent,havingnowswolnratherhigh)iseverywheregettingweary。——Gebhardus,theanarchicGovernor,laythreedaysundertheKaiser’stable;asitwouldbewellifeveryanarchicGovernor,ofthesofttypeandofthehard,weremadetodoonoccasion;askinghimself,interribleearnest,"AmIadog,then;alas,amnotIadog?"Thosewereseriousoldtimes。
Ontheotherhand,KaiserFriedrichhadhisTourneys,hisgleamsofbrightjoyancesnowandthen;onegreatgatheringofallthechivalriesatMainz,whichlastedforthreeweekslong,thegrandestTourneyeverseeninthisworld。Gelnhausen,intheWetterau(ruinstillworthseeing,onitsIslandintheKinzigriver),isunderstoodtohavebeenoneofhisHouses;
Kaiserslautern(Kaiser’sLIMPID,fromitsclearspring—water)inthePfalz(whatwecallPALATINATE),another。HewentontheCrusadeinhisseventiethyear;[1189,A。D。;Saladinhaving,totheuniversalsorrow,takenJerusalem。]thinkingtohimself,"Letusendwithoneclearactofpiety:"——hecuthiswaythroughthedangerousGreekattorneyisms,throughthehungrymountainpasses,furiousTurkfanaticisms,likeagrayoldhero:"Woeisme,mysonhasperished,then?"saidheonce,tearswettingthebeardnowwhiteenough;"Mysonisslain!——ButChriststilllives;
letuson,mymen!"Andgainedgreatvictories,andevenfoundhisson;butneverreturnedhome;——died,someunknownsuddendeath,"intheriverCydnus,"saythemost。[Kohler(p。188),andtheAuthoritiescitedbyhim。Bunau’sDeutscheKaiser—undReichs—Historie(Leipzig,1728—1743),i。,istheexpressBookofBarbarossa:anelaborate,instructiveVolume。]
NayGermanTraditionthinksheisnotyetdead;butonlysleeping,tillthebadworldreachitsworst,whenhewillreappear。HesitswithintheHillnearSalzburgyonder,——saysGermanTradition,itsfancykindledbythestrangenoisesinthatHill(limestoneHill)
fromhiddenwaters,andbythegrandrockylookoftheplace:——
Apeasantonce,stumblingintotheinterior,sawtheKaiserinhisstonecavern;Kaisersatatamarbletable,leaningonhiselbow;
winking,onlyhalfasleep;beardhadgrownthroughthetable,andstreamedoutonthefloor;helookedatthepeasantonemoment;
askedhimsomethingaboutthetimeitwas;thendroppedhiseyelidsagain:Notyettime,butwillbesoon![Riesebeck’sTravels(EnglishTranslation,London,1787),i。140,Busching,Volks—Sagen,&c。(Leipzig,1820),i。333,&c。&x。]Heiswinkingasiftoawake。Toawake,andsethisshieldaloftbytheRoncalicFieldsagain,with:
Ho,everyonethatissufferingwrong;——orthathasstrayedguideless,devil—ward,anddonewrong,whichisfarfataler!
CONRADHASBECOMEBURGGRAFOFNURNBERG(A。D。1170)。
ThiswastheKaisertowhomConradaddressedhimself;andhediditwithsuccess;whichmaybetakenasakindoftestimonialtotheworthoftheyoungman。Detailswehaveabsolutelynone:
butthereisnodoubtthatConradrecommendedhimselftoKaiserRedbeard,noranythattheKaiserwasajudgeofmen。Veryearnesttodiscernmen’sworthandcapabilities;havingunspeakableneedofworth,insteadofunworth,inthoseunderhim!WemayconcludehehadfoundcapabilitiesinConrad;foundthattheyoungfellowdideffectiveservicesastheoccasionrose,andknewhowtowork,inaswift,resolute,judiciousandexactmanner。Promotionwasnotlikelyonotherterms;stillless,highpromotion。
Onethingfartherisknown,significantforhissuccesses:Conradfoundfavorwith"theHeiressoftheVohburgFamily,"desirableyoungheiress,andgothertowife。TheVohburgFamily,nowmuchforgotteneverywhere,andneverheardofinEnglandbefore,hadlongbeenofsupremeimportance,ofimmensepossessions,andopulentinterritories,andweneednotadd,inhonorsandoffices,inthoseFranconianNurnbergregions;andwasnowgonetothisonegirl。Iknownotthatshehadmuchinheritanceafterall;
thevastVohburgpropertieslapsingalltotheKaiser,whenthemaleheirswereout。Butshehadpretensions,tacitclaims;
inparticular,theVohburgshadlongbeenhabitualorineffecthereditaryBurggrafsofNurnberg;andifConradhadthetalentforthatoffice;henow,inpreferencetoothers,mighthaveachanceforit。Sureenough,hegotit;tookrootinit,heandhis;and,inthecourseofcenturies,branchedupfromit,highandwide,overtheadjoiningcountries;waxingtowardsstillhigherdestinies。ThatistheepitomeofConrad’shistory;historynowbecomeverygreat,butthennobiggerthanitsneighbors,andverymeagrelyrecorded;ofwhichthereflectivereaderistomakewhathecan。
ThereisnothingclearlyknownofConradmorethanthesethreefacts:ThathewasacadetofHohenzollern(whosefather’sname,andsomeforefathers’namesaredefinitelyknowninthefamilyarchives,butdonotconcernus);thathemarriedtheHeiressoftheVohburgs,whosehistoryisonrecordinlikemanner;andthathewasappointedBurggrafofNurnberg,yearnotpreciselyknown,——
butbefore1170,aswouldseem。"InaREICHSTAG(DietoftheEmpire)heldatRegensburginorabout1170,"heformallycomplains,heandcertainothers,allstanchKaiser’sfriends(forinfactitwaswiththeKaiser’sknowledge,orathisinstigation),ofHenrytheLion’shighproceduresandmalpractices;ofHenry’sLeaguewiththePope,LeaguewiththeKingofDenmark,andsoforth;thesaidHenryhavingindeedfallenintoopposition,toadangerousdegree;——andsignshimselfBURGGRAFOFNURNBERG,saytheoldChronicles。[Rentsch,p。276
(whocitesAventinus,Trittheim,&c。)。]
TheoldDocumentitselfhaslongsinceperished,Iconclude:buttheChroniclesmaybeacceptedasreportersofsoconspicuousathing;whichwasthebeginningoflongstrifeinGermany,andprovedtheruinofHenrytheLion,supremeWelfgrownover—big,——
andcostourEnglishHenryII。,whosedaughterhehadmarried,aworldoftroubleandexpense,wemayremarkwithal。ConradthereforeisalreadyBurggrafofNurnberg,andamanofmark,in1170:andhismarriage,stillmorehisfirstsallyfromthepaternalCastletoseekhisfortune,mustallbedatedearlier。
MoreisnotknownofConrad:exceptindeedthathedidnotperishinBarbarossa’sgrandfinalCrusade。Fortheantiquarieshaveagainfoundhimsignedtosomecontract,orotherwiseinsignificantdocument,A。D。1200。WhichisproofpositivethathedidnotdieintheCrusade;andproofprobablethathewasnotofit,——few,hardlyany,ofthosestalwart150,000championsoftheCrosshavingevergothomeagain。Conrad,bythistime,mighthavesonscometoage;fitterforarmsandfatiguesthanhe:andindeedatNurnberg,inDeutschlandgenerally,asOfficialPrinceoftheEmpire,andmanofweightandjudgment,Conrad’sservicesmightbestillmoreuseful,andtheKaiser’sinterestsmightrequirehimrathertostayathomeinthatjuncture。BurggrafofNurnberghecontinuedtobe;heandhisdescendants,firstinaselective,thenatlengthinadirectlyhereditaryway,centuryaftercentury;andsolongasthatofficelastedinNurnberg(whichitdidtheremuchlongerthaninotherImperialFree—Cities),aCOMESDEZOLREofConrad’sproducingwasalwaysthemanthenceforth。
Theiracts,inthatstationandcapacity,asBurggravesandPrincesoftheEmpire,wereonceconspicuousenoughinGermanHistory;andindeedareonlysodimnow,becausetheHistoryitselfis,andwasalways,dimtousonthissideofthesea。
Theydidstrenuousworkintheirday;andoccasionallytoweredup(thoughlittledrivenbythepoorwishof"towering,"or"shining"
withoutneed)intothehighplacesofPublicHistory。Theyrestnowfromtheirlabors,Conradandhissuccessors,inlongseries,intheoldMonasteryofHeilsbronn(betweenNurnbergandAnspach),withTombstomanyofthem,whichwereverylegibleforslightBiographicpurposesinmypoorfriendRentsch’stime,ahundredandfiftyyearsago;andmayperhapsstillhavesomequasi—use,as"sepulchralbrasses,"toanotherclassofpersons。OneortwoofthoseoldburiedFigures,morepeculiarlyimportantforourlittleFriendnowsleepinginhiscradleyonder,wemustendeavor,astheNarrativeproceeds,toresuscitatealittleandrendervisibleformoments。
OFTHEHOHENZOLLERNBURGGRAVESGENERALLY。
AstotheOffice,itwasmoreimportantthanperhapsthereaderimagines。WealreadysawConradfirstBurggraf,amongthemagnatesofthecountry,denouncingHenrytheLion。EveryBurggrafofNurnbergis,invirtueofhisofice,"PrinceoftheEmpire:"ifamanhappenedtohavetalentofhisown,andsolidresourcesofhisown(whicharealwaysonthegrowinghandwiththisfamily),hereisabasisfromwhichhemaygofarenough。BurggrafofNurnberg:
thatmeansagainGRAF(judge,defender,manager,G’REEVE)oftheKaiser’sBURGorCastle,——inawordKaiser’sRepresentativeandALTEREGO,——intheoldImperialFree—TownofNurnberg;withmuchadjacentverycomplexterritory,also,toadministerfortheKaiser。AflourishingextensiveCity,thisoldNurnberg,withvaluableadjacentterritory,civicandimperial,intricatelyintermixed;fullofcommercialindustries,opulences,notwithoutdemocratictendencies。Nayitisalmost,insomesenses,theLONDONANDMIDDLESEXoftheGermanythatthenwas,ifwewillconsiderit!
Thisisaplacetogiveamanchances,andtrywhatstuffisinhim。Theofficeinvolvesatalentforgoverning,aswellasforjudging;talentforfightingalso,incasesofextremity,andwhatisstillbetter,atalentforavoidingtofight。Nonebutamanofcompetentsuperiorpartscandothatfunction;Isuppose,noimbecilecouldhaveexistedmanymonthsinit,intheoldearnesttimes。ConradandhissucceedingHohenzollernsprovedverycapabletodoit,aswouldseem;andgrewandspreadinit,waxingbiggerandbigger,fromtheirfirstplantingtherebyKaiserBarbarossa,asuccessfuljudgeofmen。Andeversincethattime,from"abouttheyear1170,"downtotheyear1815,——whensomuchwaschanged,owingtoanother(temporary)"Kaiser"ofnewtype,Napoleonhisname,——theHohenzollernshavehadafootinginFrankedand;
anddonesovereigntyinandroundNurnberg,withanenlargingTerritoryinthatregion。Territoryatlastoflargecompass;
which,underthenamesMARGRAFDOMOFANSPACH,andofBAIREUTH,oringeneralMARGRAFDOMOFCULMBACH,whichincludesboth,hasbecomefamiliarinHistory。
FortheHousewentonsteadilyincreasing,asitwere,fromthefirstday;theHohenzollernsbeingalwaysofagrowing,gainingnature;——asmenarethatliveconformablytothelawsofthisUniverse,andoftheirplacetherein;which,aswillappearfromgoodstudyoftheiroldrecords,thoughidlerumor,groundedonnostudy,sometimessaysthecontrary,theseHohenzollernseminentlywere。Athrifty,steadfast,diligent,clear—sighted,stout—heartedlineofmen;ofloyalnaturewithal,andeventobecalledjustandpious,sometimestoanotabledegree。Mennotgiventofighting,whereitcouldbeavoided;yetwithagoodswiftstrokeinthem,whereitcouldnot:princelypeopleaftertheirsort,withahigh,notanostentatiousturnofmind。They,formostpart,gouponsolidprudence;ifpossible,areanxioustoreachthegoalwithouttreadingonanyone;arepeaceable,asIoftensay,andbynomeansquarrelsome,inaspectanddemeanor;
yetthereisgenerallyintheHohenzollernsaveryfierceflashofanger,capableofblazingoutincasesofurgency:thislatteralsoisoneofthemostconstantfeaturesIhavenotedinthelongseriesofthem。ThattheygrewinFrankenland,yearafteryear,andcenturyaftercentury,whileitwastheirfortunetolast,aliveandactivethere,isnomiracle,onsuchterms。
TheiroldbigCastleofPlassenburg(nowaPenitentiary,withtreadmillandtheotherfurnishings)stillstandsonitsHeight,nearCulmbach,lookingdownoverthepleasantmeetingoftheRedandWhiteMaynRiversandoftheirfruitfulvalleys;awakeningmanythoughtsinthetraveller。AnspachSchloss,andstillmoreBaireuthSchloss(Mansion,oneday,ofourlittleWilhelminaofBerlin,Fritzkin’ssister,nowprattlingthereinsooldaway;
wherenotabilitieshavebeen,oneandanother;whichJeanPaul,too,sawdailyinhiswalks,whilealiveandlookingskyward):
these,andmanyothercastlesandthings,belongingnowwhollytoBavaria,willcontinuememorableforHohenzollernhistory。
TheFamilydiditsdueshare,sometimesanexcessiveone,inreligiousbeneficencesandfoundations;whichwasnotquiteleftoffinrecenttimes,thoughmuchalteringitsfigure。ErlangenUniversity,forexample,wasofWilhelmina’sdoing。ErlangenUniversity;——andalsoanOpera—HouseofexcessivesizeinBaireuth。SuchwaspoorWilhelmina’ssadfigureof"religion。"
Intheolddays,theirlargestbequestthatIrecollectwastotheTEUTSCHERITTER,OrderofTeutonicKnights,verycelebratedinthosedays。JuniorbranchesfromHohenzollern,asfromotherfamilies,soughtacareerinthatchivalrousdevoutBrotherhoodnowandthen;onepiousBurggrafhadthreesonsatonceinit;
he,averybequeathingHerrotherwise,settledoneofhismansions,Virnsperg,withrentsandincomings,ontheOrder。
WhichaccordinglyhadthenceforthaCOMTHUREI(Commandery)inthatcountry;ComthureiofVirnspergthenameofit:thedateofdonationisA。D。1294;andtwooftheoldHerr’sthreeRITTER
sons,wecanremark,weresuccessivelyCOMTHURS(Commanders,steward—prefects)ofVirnsperg,thefirsttwoithad。[Rentsch,p。288。]
Thiswasin1294;thepalmyperiod,orculminationtimeoftheTEUTSCHESRITTERTHUM。Concerningwhich,onwideraccounts,wemustnowsayaword。
ChapterVI。
THETEUTSCHRITTERSORTEUTONICORDER。
Barbarossa’sArmyofCrusadersdidnotcomehomeagain,anymorethanBarbarossa。TheywerestrongerthanTurkorSaracen,butnotthanHungerandDisease;Leadersdidnotknowthen,asourlittleFriendatBerlincametoknow,that"anArmy,likeaserpent,goesuponitsbelly。"Afterfinefightingandconsiderablevictories,theendofthisCrusadewas,ittookto"besiegingAcre,"andinrealitylayperishingasofmurrainonthebeachatAcre,withoutshelter,withoutmedicine,withoutfood。NotevenRichardCoeur—
de—Lion,andhisbestprowessandhelp,couldavertsuchissuefromit。
Richard’sCrusadefellinwiththefag—endofBarbarossa’s;anditwasRichardchieflythatmanagedtotakeAcre;——atleastsoRichardflatteredhimself,whenhepulledpoorLeopoldofAustria’sstandardfromthetowers,andtraileditthroughthegutters:"Yourstandard?YOUhavetakenAcre?"WhichturnedoutillforRichardafterwards。AndDukeLeopoldhasabadnameamongusinconsequence;muchworsethanhedeserves。Leopoldhadstuffinhimtoo。Hedied,forexample,inthismanner:fallingwithhishorse,Ithinkinsomesiegeorother,hehadgothisleghurt;
whichhinderedhiminfighting。Legcouldnotbecured:"Cutitoff,then!"saidLeopold。Thisalsotheleechcouldnotdo;
durstnot,andwouldnot;sothatLeopoldwascomequitetoahalt。Leopoldorderedouttwosquires;puthisthighuponablockthesharpedgeofanaxeattherightpointacrosshisthigh:
"Squirefirst,holdyouthataxe;steady!Squiresecond,smiteyouonitwithforge—hammer,withallyourstrength,heavyenough!"
Squiresecondstruck,heavyenough,andthelegflewoff;
butLeopoldtookinflammation,diedinadayortwo,astheleechhadpredicted。Thatisafacttobefoundincurrentauthors(quiteexactornotquite),thatsurgicaloperation:[Mentzel,GeschichtederDeutschen(StuttgardandTubingen,1837),p。309。]suchamancannothavehisflagtrailedthroughtheguttersbyanyCoeur—de—Lion。——ButwereturntothebeachatAcre,andthepoorCrusaders,dyingasofmurrainthere。
Itistheyear1190,Acrenotyettaken,northesequarrelsgottoaheight。
"TheveryTemplars,Hospitallers,neglectus,"murmuredthedyingGermans;"theyhaveperhapsenoughtodo,andmorethanenough,withtheirowncountrymen,whosespeechisintelligibletothem?
Forus,itwouldappear,thereisnohelp!"Notaltogethernone。
Acompanyofpioussouls——compassionateLubeckship—captainsdiligentlyforwardingit,andoneWalpotvonBassenheim,acitizenofBremen,takingthelead——formedthemselvesintoaunionforsuccorofthesickanddying;"setupcanvastents,"medicinalassuagements,fromtheLubeckship—stores;anddidwhatutmostwasinthem,silentlyinthenameofMercyandHeaven。"ThisWalpotasnotbybirthanobleman,"saysoneoftheoldChroniclers,"buthisdeedswerenoble。"Thispiouslittleunionprovedunconsciouslythebeginningofagreatthing。Findingitsworkprosperhere,andgainfavor,thelittleuniontookvowsonitself,strictchivalryforms,anddecidedtobecomepermanent。
"KnightsHospitallersofourdearLadyofMountZion,"thatorsomethingequivalentwastheirfirsttitle,underWalpottheirfirstGrand—Master;whichsoongrewtobe"GermanOrderofSt。
Mary"(TEUTSCHERITTERoftheMARIE—ORDEN),orforshortnessTEUTSCHESRITTERTHUM;underwhichnameitplayedagreatpartintheworldforabovethreecenturiestocome,andeclipsedinimportanceboththeTemplarsandHospitallersofSt。John。
ThiswastheeraofChivalryOrders,andGELUBDE;timeforBodiesofMenunitingthemselvesbyaSacredVow,"GELUBDE"——whichwordandthinghavepassedovertousinasingularlydwindledcondition:"CLUB"wenowcallit;andthevow,ifsacred,doesnotaimveryhigh!TemplarsandHospitallerswerealreadyfamousbodies;thelatternowalmostacenturyold。Walpot’snewGELUBDEwasofsimilarintent,onlyGermaninkind,——theprotection,defenceandsolacementofPilgrims,withwhateverthatmightinvolve。
HEADOFTEUTSCHORDERMOVESTOVENICE。
TheTeutschRittersearnedcharacterinPalestine,andbegantogetbequestsandrecognition;butdidnotlongcontinuethere,liketheirtworivalOrders。ItwasnotinPalestine,whethertheOrdersmightbeawareofitornot,thattheirworkcouldnowlie。
PiousPilgrimscertainlytherestillareingreatnumbers;
totheseyoushalldothesacredrites:butthese,underaSaladinboundbyhisword,needlittleprotectionbythesword。AndasforCrusadinginthearmedfashion,thathasfallenvisiblyintothedecline。AfterBarbarossa,Coeur—de—LionandPhilippeAugustehavetrieditwithsuchfailure,whatwisemanwillbeinhastetotryitagain?ZealousPopescontinuetostirupCrusades;buttheSecularPowersarenotinearnestasformerly;SecularPowers,whentheydogo,"takeConstantinople,""conquerSicily,"nevertakeorconqueranythinginPalestine。TheTeutschOrderhelpsvaliantlyinPalestine,orwouldhelp;butwhatistheuseofhelping?TheTeutschOrderhasalreadypossessionsinEurope,bypiousbequestandotherwise;allitsmaininterestsliethere;
infine,afterlessthanthirtyyears,HermannvonderSalza,anewsagaciousTEUTSCHMEISTERorHOCHMEISTER(sotheycalltheheadoftheOrder),fourthintheseries,afar—seeing,negotiatingman,findsthatVenicewillbeafitterplaceoflodgingforhimthanAcre:andaccordinglyduringhislongMastership(A。D。1210—1239),heismostlytobefoundthere,andnotatAcreorJerusalem。
HeisverygreatwiththebusyKaiser,FriedrichII。,Barbarossa’sgrandson;whohastheusualquarrelswiththePope,andisgladofsuchanegotiator,statesmanaswellasarmedmonk。TheusualquarrelsthisgreatKaiserhad,allalong,andsomeunusual。
NormansoustedfromSicily,whousedtobesoPapal:aKaiserNOT
goneontheCrusade,ashehadvowed;Kaiseratlastsuspectedoffreethinkingeven:——inwhichmattersHermannmuchservestheKaiser。SometimesheisappointedarbiterbetweenthePopeandKaiser;——doesnotgiveitintheKaiser’sfavor,butagainsthim,wherehethinkstheKaiseriswrong。HeisreckonedthefirstgreatHochmeister,thisHermannvonderSalza,aThuringerbybirth,whoisfourthintheseriesofMasters:perhapsthegreatesttobefoundthereatall,thoughmanywereconsiderable。
Itisevidentthatnomanofhistimewasbusierinimportantpublicaffairs,orwithbetteracceptance,thanHermann。
HisOrder,bothPopeandEmperorsofavoringtheMasterofit,wasinavigorousstateofgrowthallthiswhile;HermannwellprovingthathecouldhelpitbetteratVenicethanatAcre。
ButiftheCrusadesareended,——asindeeditturnedout,onlyoneotherworthspeakingof,St。Louis’s,havinginearnestcometoeffect,orrathertomiserablenon—effect,andthatnotyetforfiftyyears;——iftheCrusadesareended,andtheTeutschOrderincreasesalwaysinpossessions,andfindslessandlesswork,whatprobablywillbecomeoftheTeutschOrder?Growfat,becomeluxurious,incredulous,dissolute,insolent;andneedtobeburntoutoftheway?ThatwasthecourseoftheTemplars,andtheirsadend。Theybeganpoorestofthepoor,"twoKnightstooneHorse,"
astheirSealbore;andtheyatlasttookFIREonveryoppositeaccounts。"TocarouselikeaTemplar:"thathadbecomeaproverbamongmen;thatwasthewaytoproducecombustion,"spontaneous"
orother!WhereastheirfellowHospitallersofSt。John,chancinguponnewwork(Anti—Turkgarrison—duty,sowemaycallit,successivelyinCyprus,Rhodes,Malta,foraseriesofages),anddoingitwell,managedtoescapethelike。AsdidtheTeutschOrderinastillmoreconspicuousmanner。
TEUTSCHORDERITSELFGOESTOPREUSSEN。
EversinceSt。AdalbertfellmassacredinPrussia,stampinghimselfasaCrucifixonthatHeathensoil,therehavebeenattemptsatconversiongoingonbytheChristianneighbors,DukesofPolandandothers:intermittentfitsoffightingandpreachingforthelasttwohundredyears,withextremelysmallresult。
BodyofSt。Adalbertwasgotatlightweight,andthepoormancanonized;thereisevenaTitularBishopofPrussia;
andpilgrimageswandertotheShrineofAdalbertinPoland,remindingyouofPrussiainatragicmanner;butwhatavailsit?
Missionaries,whentheysetfootinthecountry,arekilledorflungoutagain。TheBishopofPrussiaistitularmerely;livesinLiefland(LIVONIA)properlyBishopofRIGA,amongtheBrementrading—settlersandconvertedLieflandersthere,whichistheonlysafeplace,——ifeventhatweresafewithoutaidofarmedmen,suchashehasthereevennow。HekeepshisSCHWERTBRUDER
(BrothersoftheSword),asmallOrderofKnights,recentlygotupbyhim,forexpressbehoofofLieflanditself;andthese,fightingtheirbest,aresometimestroublesometotheBishop,anddonotmuchprosperuponHeathendom,orgainpopularityandresourcesintheChristianworld。NohopeintheSCHWERTBRUDERforPrussia;——
andinmassacredMissionarieswhathope?ThePrussianpopulationcontinuesHeathen,untamabletoGospelandLaw;andaftertwocenturiesofeffort,littleornorealprogresshasbeenmade。
Butnow,inthesecircumstances,intheyear1226,theTitularBishopofPrussia,havingwellconsideredthematterandarrangeditwiththePolishAuthorities,opensacommunicationwithHermannvonderSalza,atVenice,onthesubject;"CrusadingisoverintheEast,illustriousHochmeister;nodutyforaTeutschOrderthereatpresent:whatistheuseofcrusadingfaroffintheEast,whenHeathenismandtheKingdomofSatanhangsonourownborders,closeathand,intheNorth?LettheTeutschOrdercometoPreussen;headaCrusadethere。Thelandisfruitful;flowsreallywithmilkandhoney,nottospeakofamber,andwasoncecalledtheTERRESTRIALPARADISE"——byIforgetwhom。[Voigt,(ifhehadanIndex!)knows。]Infact,itisclear,thelandshouldbelongtoChrist;andiftheChristianTeutschRitterdomcouldconqueritfromSatanasforthemselves,itwouldbewellforallparties。Hermann,amanofsagaciousclearhead,listensattentively。Thenotionisperhapsnotquitenewtohim:atallevents,hetakesupthenotion;negotiatesuponit,withTitularBishop,withPope,Kaiser,DukeofPoland,TeutschOrder;andinbrief,abouttwoyearsafterwards(A。D。1228),havingdonethenegotiatingstothelastitem,heproduceshisactualTeutschRitters,ready,onPrussianground。
Year1225,thinksDryasdust,afterastruggle。Placewhere,provesalsoatlengthdiscoverableinDryasdust,——nottoofaracrossthenorthPolishfrontier,alwayswith"Masovia"(thenowWarsawregion)tofallbackupon。Butinwhatnumber;how;nayalmostwhen,toayear,——donotaskpoorDryasdust,whooverwhelmshimselfwithidledetails,andbyreasonofthetreesisunabletoseethewood。[Voigt,ii。177,184,192。]——TheTeutschRittersstraightwaybuildaBurgforheadquarters,spreadthemselvesonthishandandthat;andbegintheirgreattask。InthenameofHeaven,wemaystillsayinatruesense;asthey,everyRitterofthemtotheheart,feltittobeinallmannerofsenses。
ThePrussianswereafiercefightingpeople,fanaticallyAnti—
Christian:theTeutschRittershadaperilousnever—restingtimeofit,especiallyforthefirstfiftyyears。Theybuiltandburntinnumerablestockadesforandagainst;builtwoodenFortswhicharenowstoneTowns。Theyfoughtmuchandprevalently;gallopeddesperatelytoandfro,everonthealert。Inpeaceablerulteriortimes,theyfencedintheNogatandtheWeichselwithdams,wherebyunlimitedquagmiremightbecomegrassymeadow,——asitcontinuestothisday。Marienburg(MARY’SBurg),stillatownofimportanceinthatsamegrassyregion,withitsgrandstoneSchlossstillvisibleandevenhabitable;thiswasatlengththeirHeadquarter。ButhowmanyBurgsofwoodandstonetheybuilt,indifferentparts;whatrevolts,surprisals,furiousfightsinwoodyboggyplaces,theyhad,nomanhascounted。Theirlife,readinDryasdust’snewestchaoticBooks(whichareofendlesslength,amongotherillqualities),islikeadimnightmareofunintelligiblemarchingandfighting:onefeelsasifthemereamountofgallopingtheyhadwouldhavecarriedtheOrderseveraltimesroundtheGlobe。WhatmultipleoftheEquatorwasit,then,ODryasdust?TheHerrProfessor,littlestudiousofabridgment,doesnotsay。
Butalwayssomepreaching,byzealousmonks,accompaniedthechivalrousfighting。AndcolonistscameinfromGermany;tricklingin,orattimesstreaming。VictoriousRitterdomofferstermstothebeatenHeathen;termsnotoftolerantnature,butwhichwillbepunctuallykeptbyRitterdom。Whentheflameofrevoltorgeneralconspiracyburntupagaintooextensively,therewasanewCrusadeproclaimedinGermanyandChristendom;andtheHochmeister,atMarburgorelsewhere,andallhismarshalsandministerswerebusy,——generallywitheffect。Highpersonagescameoncrusadetothem。OttocarKingofBohemia,DukeofAustriaandmuchelse,thegreatmanofhisday,cameonce(A。D。1255);
JohannKingofBohemia,inthenextcentury,onceandagain。
ThemightyOttocar,[Voigt,iii。80—87。]withhisextensivefar—
shiningchivalry,"conqueredSamlandinamonth;"toreuptheRomovawhereAdalberthadbeenmassacred,andburntitfromthefaceoftheEarth。AcertainFortresswasfoundedatthattime,inOttocar’spresence;andinhonorofhimtheynameditKING’S
FORTRESS,"Konigsberg:"itisnowgrownabig—domedmetropolitanCity,——whereweofthisNarrativelatelysawaCoronationgoingon,andSophieCharlottefurtivelytakingapinchofsnuff。