6。RupertofthePfalz,1400—1410;calledRupertKLEMM(Pincers,Smith’s_vice);Brother—in—lawtoBurggrafFriedrichVI。
(afterwardsKurfurstFriedrichI。),whomarchedwithhimtoItalyandoftenelse—whither,BurggrafJohanntheelderBrother—
in—lawbeingthenoftenestinHungarywithSigismund,KarlIV。’ssecondSon。
7(d)。Sigismund,1410—1437,Wenzel’syoungerBrother;thefourthandlastoftheLuxemburgers,seventhandlastoftheIntercalaryKaisers。SoldBrandenburg,afterthriceoroftenerpawningit。
SigismundSUPER—GRAMMATICAM。
Super~Grammaticamdied9thDecember,1437;leftonlyaDaughter,weddedtothethenAlbertDukeofAustria;whichAlbert,onthestrengthofthis,cametotheKingshipofBohemiaandofHungary,ashisWife’sinheritance,andtotheEmpirebyelection。
Diedthereuponinfewmonths:"threecrowns,Bohemia,Hungary,theReich,inthatoneyear,1438,"saytheoldHistorians;"andthennextyearhequittedthemall,forafourthandmorelastingcrown,asishoped。"KaiserAlbertII。,1438—1439:AfterwhomallareHapsburgers,——excepting,ifthatisanexception,theunluckyKarlVII。alone(1742—1745),whodescendsfromLudwigtheBaier。
ENDSVOLUMEII
HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussiaV3
byThomasCarlyleCarlyle’s"HistoryofFriedrichIIofPrussia"
BOOKIII。
THEHOHENZOLLERNSINBRANDENBURG。
1412—1718
CHAPTERI。
KURFURSTFRIEDRICHI。
BurggrafFriedrich,onhisfirstcomingtoBrandenburg,foundbutacoolreceptionasStatthalter。["Johannistage"(24June)"1412,"hefirstsetfootinBrandenburg,withdueescort,induestate;onlyStatthalter(Viceregent)asyet:
Pauli,i。594,ii。58;Stenzel,GeschichtedesPreussischenStaats(Hamburg,1830,1851),i。167—169。]Hecameastherepresentativeoflawandrule;
andtherehadbeenmanyhelpingthemselvesbyarulelesslife,oflate。Industrywasatalowebb,violencewasrife;plunder,disordereverywhere;toomuchthehabitforbaronialgentlemento"livebythesaddle,"astheytermedit,thatisbyhighwayrobberyinmodernphrase。
TheTowns,harriedandplunderedtoskinandbone,weregladtoseeaStatthalter,anddidhomagetohimwithalltheirheart。
ButtheBaronageorSquirearchyofthecountrywereofanothermind。These,inthelateanarchies,hadsetupforakindofkingsintheirownright:theyhadtheirfeuds;madewar,madepeace,leviedtolls,transit—dues;livedmuchattheirowndiscretioninthesesolitarycountries;——rushingoutfromtheirstonetowers("wallsfourteenfeetthick"),toseizeanyherdof"sixhundredswine,"anyconvoyofLubeckorHamburgmerchant—goods,thathadnotcontentedtheminpassing。Whatwerepedlersandmechanicfellowsmadefor,ifnottobeplunderedwhenneedful?Arbitraryrule,onthepartoftheseNobleRobber—Lords!AndthenmuchoftheCrown—Domainshadgonetothechiefofthem,——pawned(andthepawn—ticketlost,sotospeak),orsoldforwhattrifleofreadymoneywastobehad,inJobstandCompany’stime。Tothesegentlemen,aStatthaltercomingtoinquireintomatterswasnowelcomephenomenon。YourEDLEHERR(NobleLord)ofPutlitz,NobleLordsofQuitzow,Rochow,Maltitzandothers,supremeintheirgrassysolitudesthislongwhile,andaccustomedtonothinggreaterthanthemselvesinBrandenburg,howshouldtheyobeyaStatthalter?
SuchwasmoreorlesstheuniversalhumorintheSquirearchyofBrandenburg;notofgoodomentoBurggrafFriedrich。ButthechiefseatofcontumacyseemedtobeamongtheQuitzows,Putlitzes,abovespokenof;bigSquiresinthedistricttheycallthePriegnitz,intheCountryofthesluggishHavelRiver,northwestfromBerlinafiftyorfortymiles。Theserefusedhomage,verymanyofthem;saidtheywere"incorporatedwithBohmen;"saidthisandthat;——muchdisinclinedtohomage;andwouldnotdoit。
Stiffsurlyfellows,muchdeficientindiscernmentofwhatisabovethemandwhatisnot:——athick—skinnedset;bodiescladinbuffleather;mindsalsocasedinillhabitsoflongcontinuance。
Friedrichwasverypatientwiththem;hopedtoprevailbygentlemethods。He"invitedthemtodinner;""hadthemoftenatdinnerforayearormore:"butcouldmakenoprogressinthatway。
"WhoisthiswehavegotforaGovernor?"saidthenoblelordsprivatelytoeachother:"ANURNBERGERTAND(NurnbergPlaything,——
woodenimage,suchastheymakeatNurnberg),"saidthey,grinning,inathick—skinnedway:"IfitrainedBurggravesalltheyearround,noneofthemwouldcometoluckinthisCountry;"——andcontinuedtheirfeuds,toll—levyings,plunderingsandothercontumacies。Seeingmatterscometothispassafterwaitingaboveayear,BurggrafFriedrichgatheredhisFrankishmen—at—arms;
quietlymadeleaguewiththeneighboringPotentates,Thuringenandothers;gotsomemunitions,someartillerytogether——especiallyonehugegun,thebiggesteverseen,"atwenty—fourpounder"noless;towhichthepeasants,draggingherwithdifficultythroughtheclayeyroads,gavethenameofFAULEGRETE(Lazy,orHeavyPeg);aremarkablepieceofordnance。LazyPeghehadgotfromtheLandgrafofThuringen,onloanmerely;butheturnedhertoexcellentaccountofhisown。IhaveofteninquiredafterLazyPeg’sfateinsubsequenttimes;butcouldneverlearnanythingdistinct:——theGermanDryasdustisadulldog,andseldomcarriesanythinghumaninthosebigwalletsofhis!——
Equippedinthisway,BurggrafFriedrich(hewasnotyetKurfurst,onlycomingtobe)marchesfortheHavelCountry(earlydaysof1414);[Michaelis,i。287;Stenzel,i。168(where,contrarytowont,isaninsignificanterrorortwo)。Pauli(ii。58)is,asusual,lostinwater。]makeshisappearancebeforeQuitzow’sstrong—houseofFriesack,wallsfourteenfeetthick:"YouDietrichvonQuitzow,areyoupreparedtoliveasapeaceablesubjecthenceforth:todohomagetotheLawsandme?"——"Never!"answeredQuitzow,andpulleduphisdrawbridge。WhereuponHeavyPegopeneduponhim,HeavyPegandotherguns;and,insomeeight—and—fortyhours,shookQuitzow’simpregnableFriesackabouthisears。
ThiswasinthemonthofFebruary,1414,daynotgiven:FriesackwasthenameoftheimpregnableCastle(stilldiscoverableinourtime);anditoughttobememorableandvenerabletoeveryPrussianman。BurggrafFriedrichVI。,notyetquitebecomeKurfurstFriedrichI。,butinayear’sspacetobecomeso,heinpersonwasthebeneficentoperator;HeavyPeg,andsteadyHumanInsight,thesewereclearlythechiefimplements。
Quitzowbeingsettled,——forthecountryisinmilitaryoccupationofFriedrichandhisallies,andexceptinsomestonecastleamanhasnochance,——straightwayPutlitzoranothermutineer,withhisdrawbridgeup,wasbatteredtopieces,andhisdrawbridgebroughtslammingdown。Afterthismanner,inanincrediblyshortperiod,mutinywasquenched;anditbecameapparenttoNobleLords,andtoallmen,thathereatlengthwasamancomewhowouldhavetheLawsobeyedagain,andcouldandwouldkeepmutinydown。
Friedrichshowednocruelty;farthecontrary。Yourmutinyonceended,andalittlerepentedof,heisreadytobeyourgraciousPrinceagain:Fair—playandthesocialwine—cup,orinexorablewarandLazyPeg,itisatyourdiscretionwhich。Brandenburgsubmitted;hardlyeverrebelledmore。Brandenburg,underthewiseKurfurstithasgot,beginsinasmalldegreetobecosmicagain,orofthedomainofthegods;ceasestobechaoticandamerecockpitofthedevils。ThereisnodoubtbutthisFriedrichalso,likehisancestorFriedrichIII。,theFirstHereditaryBurggraf,wasanexcellentcitizenofhiscountry:amanconspicuouslyimportantinallGermanbusinessinhistime。Amansettingupfornoparticularmagnanimity,abilityorheroism,butunconsciouslyexhibitingagooddeal;whichbydegreesgaineduniversalrecognition。HedidnotshinemuchasReichs—Generalissimo,underKaiserSigismund,inhisexpeditionsagainstZisca;onthecontrary,hepresidedoverhugedefeatandrout,onceandagain,inthatcapacity;andindeedhadrepresentedinvainthat,withsuchaspeciesofmilitia,victorywasimpossible。Herepresentedandagainrepresented,tonopurpose;whereuponhedeclinedtheofficefarther;inwhichothersfarednobetter。[Hormayr,OEsterreichischerPlutarchvii。109—158,?Zisca。]
TheoffertobeKaiserwasmadehiminhisolddays;buthewiselydeclinedthattoo。ItwasinBrandenburg,bywhathesilentlyfoundedthere,thathedidhischiefbenefittoGermanyandmankind。Heunderstoodthenobleartofgoverningmen;hadinhimthejustice,clearness,valorandpatienceneededforthat。
Amanofsterlingprobity,foronething。Whichindeedisthefirstrequisiteinsaidart:——ifyouwillhaveyourlawsobeyedwithoutmutiny,seewellthattheybepiecesofGodAlmighty’sLaw:otherwisealltheartilleryintheworldwillnotkeepdownmutiny。
Friedrich"travelledmuchoverBrandenburg;"lookingintoeverythingwithhisowneyes;——making,Icanwellfancy,innumerablecrookedthingsstraight。Reducingmoreandmorethatfamishingdog—kennelofaBrandenburgintoafruitfularablefield。Hisportraitsrepresentasquareheaded,mild—lookingsolidgentleman,withacertaintwinkleofmirthintheseriouseyesofhim。ExceptinthoseHussitewarsforKaiserSigismundandtheReich,inwhichnomancouldprosper,hemaybedefinedasconstantlyprosperous。ToBrandenburghewas,veryliterally,theblessingofblessings;redemptionoutofdeathintolife。IntheruinsofthatoldFriesackCastle,battereddownbyHeavyPeg,AntiquarianScience(ifithadanyeyes)mightlookforthetap—rootofthePrussianNation,andthebeginningofallthatBrandenburghassincegrowntounderthesun。
Friedrich,inonecapacityoranother,presidedoverBrandenburgnearthirtyyears。Hecamethitherfirstofallin1412;wasnotcompletelyKurfurstinhisownrighttill1415;norpubliclyinstalled,"with100,000lookingonfromtheroofsandwindows,"
inConstanceyonder,till1417,——agethensomeforty—five。
HisBrandenburgresidence,whenhehappenedtohavetimeforresidingorsittingstill,wasTangermunde,theCastlebuiltbyKaiserKarlIV。Hediedthere,21stSeptember,1440;ladentolerablywithyears,andstillbetterwithmemoriesofhardworkdone。Rentschguessesbygoodinferencehewasbornabout1372。
AsIcount,heisseventhindescentfromthatConrad,BurggrafConradI。,CadetofHohenzollern,whocamedownfromtheRauheAlp,seekingservicewithKaiserRedbeard,abovetwocenturiesago:Conrad’sgenerationandsixothershadvanishedsuccessivelyfromtheworld—theatreinthatever—mysteriousmanner,andleftthestageclear,whenBurggrafFriedrichtheSixthcametobeFirstElector。Letthreecenturies,lettwelvegenerationsfarthercomeandpass,andtherewillbeanotherstillmorenotableFriedrich,——ourlittleFritz,destinedtobeThirdKingofPrussia,officiallynamedFriedrichII。,andpopularlyFredericktheGreat。ThisFirstElectorishislinealancestor,twelvetimesremoved。[Rentsch,pp。349—372;Hubner,t。176。]
ChapterII。
MATINEESDUROIDEPRUSSE。
ElevensuccessiveKurfurstsfollowedFriedrichinBrandenburg。
Ofwhomandtheirbirths,deaths,wars,marriages,negotiationsandcontinualmultitudinousstreamofsmallerorgreateradventures,muchhasbeenwritten,ofadrearyconfusednature;
nexttonothingofwhichoughttoberepeatedhere。SomelistoftheirNames,withwhatrememberablehumanfeatureorevent(ifany)stillspeakstousinthem,wemusttrytogive。TheirNames,welldated,withanyactions,incidents,orphasesoflife,whichmayinthiswaygettoadheretotheminthereader’smemory,thereadercaninsert,eachatitsrightplace,inthegrandTideofEuropeanEvents,orinsuchPictureasthereadermayhaveofthat。TherebywithdiligencehemayproduceforhimselfsomefainttwilightnotionoftheFlightofTimeinremoteBrandenburg,——
convincehimselfthatremoteBrandenburgwaspresentallalong,aliveafteritssort,andassisting,dumblyorotherwise,inthegreatWorld—Dramaasthatwenton。
Wehavetosayingeneral,thehistoryofBrandenburgundertheHohenzollernshasverylittleinittoexciteavulgarcuriosity,thoughperhapsagreatdealtointerestanintelligentone。
Haditfoundtreatmentdulyintelligent;——which,however,howcouldit,luckybeyonditsneighbors,hopetodo!CommonplaceDryasdust,andvoluminousStupidity,notworseherethanelsewhere,playtheirPart。
ItisthehistoryofaState,orSocialVitality,growingfromsmalltogreat;steadilygrowinghenceforthunderguidance:
andthecontrastbetweenguidanceandno—guidance,ormis—
guidance,insuchmatters,isagainimpressivelyillustratedthere。Thisweseewelltobethefact;andthedetailsofthiswouldbeofmoment,weretheygivenus:buttheyarenot;——howcouldvoluminousDryasdustgivethem?Then,ontheotherhand,thePhenomenonis,foralongwhile,onsosmallascale,whollywithoutimportanceinEuropeanpoliticsandaffairs,thecommonplaceHistorian,writingofitonalargescale,becomesunreadableandintolerable。WitnessgrandiloquentPauliourfatalfriend,withhisEightwateryQuartos;whichgodsandmen,unlessdrivenbynecessity,havelearnedtoavoid![Dr。CarlFriedrichPauli,AllgemeinePreussischeStaats—Geschichte,oftenenoughcitedhere。]ThePhenomenonofBrandenburgissmall,remote;andtheessentialparticulars,toodelicatefortheeyeofDryasdust,aremostlywanting,drowneddeepindetailsoftheunessential。Sothatwearewellcontent,myreadersandI,tokeepremotefromitonthisoccasion。
OnoneotherpointImustgivethereaderwarning。Arockofoffenceonwhichifheheedlesslystrike,Ireckonhewillsplit;
atleastnohelpofminecanbenefithimtillhebegotoffagain。
Alas,offencesmustcome;andmuststand,likerocksofoffence,totheshipwreckofmany!ModernDryasdust,interpretingthemysteriouswaysofDivineProvidenceinthisUniverse,orwhathecallswritingHistory,hasdoneuncountablehavocuponthebestinterestsofmankind。Haplessgodlessdullardthatheis;
drivenanddrivingoncoursesthatleadonlydownward,forhimasforus!Butonecouldforgivehimallthings,comparedwiththisdoctrineofdevilswhichhehascontrivedtogetestablished,prettygenerally,amonghisunfortunatefellow—creaturesforthetime!——Imustinsertthefollowingquotation,readersguessfromwhatauthor:——
"InanimpudentPamphlet,forgedbyIknownotwhom,andpublishedin1766,underthetitleofMatineesduRoidePrusse,purportingtobe’MorningConversations’ofFredericktheGreatwithhisNephewtheHeir—Apparent,everylineofwhichbetraysitselfasfalseandspurioustoareaderwhohasmadeanydirectoreffectualstudyofFrederickorhismannersoraffairs,——itissetforth,inthewayofexordiumtothesepretendedroyalconfessions,that’notremaison,’ourFamilyofHohenzollern,eversincethefirstoriginofitamongtheSwabianmountains,oritsfirstdescenttherefromintotheCastleandImperialWardenshipofNurnberg,somesixhundredyearsagoormore,hasconsistentlytravelledoneroad,andthisaverynotableone。’We,asImyselftheroyalFrederickstilldo,haveallalongproceeded,’namely,’inthewayofadroitMachiavelism,asskilfulgamblersinthisworld’sbusiness,ardentgatherersofthisworld’sgoods;andinbriefasdevoutworshippersofBeelzebub,thegrandregulatorandrewarderofmortalsherebelow。
Whichcreedwe,theHohenzollerns,havefound,andIstillfind,tobethetrueone;learnityou,myprudentNephew,andletallmenlearnit。Byholdingsteadilytothat,andworkinglateandearlyinsuchspirit,wearecometowhatyounowsee;——andshalladvancestillfarther,ifitpleaseBeelzebub,whoisgenerallykindtothosethatservehimwell。’SuchisthedoctrineofthisimpudentPamphlet;’originalManuscripts’ofwhicharestillpurchasedbysimplepersons,——whohavethennoblyofferedthemtome,thriceover,gratisornearlyso,asapricelesscuriosity。
Anewprintededitionofwhich,probablythefifth,hasappearedwithinfewyears。Simplepersons,consideritacuriousandinterestingDocument;ratherambiguousinoriginperhaps,butprobablyauthenticinsubstance,andthrowingunexpectedlightonthecharacterofFrederickwhommencalltheGreat。InwhichnewlighttheyarewillingameritoriousEditorshouldshare。
"WhowrotethatPamphletIknownot,andaminnoconditiontoguess。Acertainsnappishvivacity(veryunlikethestyleofFrederickwhomitpersonates);awearisomegrimacing,gesticulatingmaliceandsmartness,approachingorreachingthesaddignityofwhatiscalled’wit’inmoderntimes;ingeneraltherottennessofmatter,andtheepigrammaticunquietgraciosityofmannerinthisthing,anditselaboratelyINhumanturnbothofexpressionandofthought,arevisiblecharacteristicsofit。
Thought,wesaid,——ifthoughtitcanbecalled:thoughtallhamstrung,shrivelledbyinveteraterheumatism,onthepartofthepoorill—thriventhinker;naytied(sotospeak,forheisofepigrammaticturnwithal),asbycrossropes,rightshouldertoleftfoot;andforcedtoadvance,hobblingandjerkingalong,inthatsadguise:notinthewayofwalk,butofsaltationanddance;andthistowardsafalsenotatrueaim,ratherno—whitherthansome—whither:——HerewerefeaturesleadingonetothinkofanillustriousPrincedeLigneasperhapsconcernedintheaffair。
TheBibliographicalDictionaries,producingnoevidence,namequiteanotherperson,orseriesofpersons,[Acertain"N。deBonneville"(afterwardsaRevolutionaryspiritual—mountebank,forsometime)isnowthefavoriteName;——proves,oninvestigation,tobeanimpossibleone。Barbier(DictionnairedesAnonymes),inahelplessdoubtingmanner,givesstillothers。]highlyunmemorableotherwise。Whereuponyouproceedtosaidotherperson’sacknowledgedWORKS(astheyarecalled);
andfindthereastylebearingnoresemblancewhatever;andareleftinadubiousstate,ifitwereofanymoment。Intheabsenceofproof,IamunwillingtochargehisHighnessdeLignewithsuchanaction;andindeedamlittlecarefultobeacquaintedwiththeindividualwhodidit,whocouldandwoulddoit。APrinceofCoxcombsIcandiscernhimtohavebeen;capableofshiningintheeyesofinsincerefoolishpersons,andofdoingdetrimenttothem,notbenefit;amanwithoutreverencefortruthorhumanexcellence;notknowinginfactwhatistruefromwhatisfalse,whatisexcellentfromwhatissham—excellentandatthetopofthemode;anapparentlypoliteandknowingman,butintrinsicallyanimpudent,darkandmerelymodish—insolentman;——who,ifhefellinwithRhadamanthusonhistravels,wouldnotescapeahorse—
whipping,Himwewillwillinglyleavetothatbeneficialchance,whichindeedseemsacertainonesoonerorlater;andaddressourselvestoconsiderthetheoryitself,andthefactsitpretendstobegroundedon。
"Astothetheory,Imustneedssay,nothingcanbefalser,morehereticalormoredamnable。Myownpooropinion,anddeepconvictiononthatsubjectiswellknown,thislongwhile。And,infact,thesummaryofallIhavebelieved,andhavebeentryingasIcouldtoteachmankindtobelieveagain,iseventhatsameopinionandconviction,appliedtoallprovincesofthings。
Alas,inthishissadtheoryabouttheworld,ourpoorimpudentPamphleteerisbynomeanssingularatpresent;nayratherhehasinamannerthewholepracticalpartofmankindonhissidejustnow;themoreisthepityforusall!——
"Itisverycertain,ifBeelzebubmadethisworld,ourPamphleteer,andthehugeportionofmankindthatfollowhim,areright。ButifGodmadetheworld;andonlyleadsBeelzebub,assomeuglymuzzledbearisled,alongerorshortertemporaryDANCE
inthisdivineworld,andalwaysdrawshimhomeagain,andpeelstheunjustgainsoffhim,andduckshiminacertainhotLake,withsureintenttolodgehimtheretoalleternityatlast,——thenourPamphleteer,andthehugeportionofmankindthatfollowhim,arewrong。
"MoreIwillnotsay;beingindeedquitetiredofSPEAKINGonthatsubject。Notasubjectwhichitconcernsmetospeakof;muchasitconcernsme,andallmen,toknowthetruthofit,andsilentlyineveryhourandmomenttodosaidtruth。Asindeedthesacredvoiceoftheirownsoul,iftheylisten,willconclusivelyadmonishallmen;andtrulyifITdonot,therewillbelittleuseinmylogictothem。Formyownshare,Iwantnotradewithmenwhoneedtobeconvincedofthatfact。IfIamintheirpremises,anddiscoversuchathingofthem,Iwillquittheirpremises;
iftheyareinmine,Iwill,asoldSamueladvised,countmyspoons。IngeniousgentlemenwhobelievethatBeelzebubmadethisworld,arenotaclassofgentlemenIcangetprofitfrom。
Letthemkeepatadistance,lestmischieffalloutbetweenus。
Theyareofthesetdeservingtobecalled——andthisnotinthewayofprofaneswearing,butofsolemnwrathandpity,Isayofvirtuousangerandinexorablereprobation——thedamnedset。For,inverydeed,theyaredoomedanddamned,byNature’soldestActofParliament,they,andwhatsoeverthingtheydoorsayorthink;
unlesstheycanescapefromthatdevil—element。WhichIstillhopetheymay!——
"Butwithregardtothefactsthemselves,’DENOTREMAISON,’
Itakeleavetosay,theytooarewithoutbasisoftruth。Theyarenotsofalseasthetheory,becausenothingcaninfalsityquiteequalthat。’NOTREMAISON,’thisPamphleteermaylearn,ifhepleasetomakestudyandinquirybeforespeaking,didnotrisebyworshipofBeelzebubatallinthisworld;butbyaquiteoppositelineofconduct。Itrose,infact,bythecoursewhichall,exceptfools,stockjobberstags,cheatinggamblers,forgingPamphleteersandothertemporarycreaturesofthedamnedsort,havefoundfromofoldtobetheonewayofpermanentlyrising:bysteadyservice,namely,oftheOppositeofBeelzebub。ByconformingtotheLawsofthisUniverse;insteadoftryingbypettifoggingtoevadeandprofitablycontradictthem。TheHohenzollernstoohaveaHistorystillarticulatetothehumanmind,ifyousearchsufficiently;
andthisiswhat,evenwithsomeemphasis,itwillteachusconcerningtheiradventures,andachievementsofsuccessinthefieldoflife。ResisttheDevil,goodreader,andhewillfleefromyou!"——Soendsourindignantfriend。
HowtheHohenzollernsgottheirbigTerritories,andcametowhattheyareintheworld,willbeseen。Probablytheywerenot,anyofthem,paragonsofvirtue。TheydidnotwalkinaltogetherspecklessSundaypumps,ormuchclear—starchedintoconsciousnessofthemoralsublime;butinruggedpracticalboots,andbysuchroadsastherewere。Concerningtheirmoralities,andconformitiestotheLawsoftheRoadandoftheUniverse,therewillmuchremaintobearguedbypamphleteersandothers。Menwillhavetheiropinion,Menofmorewisdomandofless;ApesbytheDead—Seaalsowillhavetheirs。ButwhatmanthatbelievedinsuchaUniverseasthatofthisDead—SeaPamphleteercouldconsenttoliveinitatall?WhothatbelievedinsuchaUniverse,anddidnotdesigntolivelikeaPapin’s—Digester,orPORCUSEPICURI,inanextremelyuglymannerinit,couldavoidoneoftwothings:
GoingrapidlyintoBedlam,orelseblowinghisbrainsout?
"Itwillnotdoformeatanyrate,thisinfiniteDog—house;
notforme,yeDryasdusts,andomnipotentDog—monstersandMud—gods,whoeveryouare。OnehonorablethingIcando:
takeleaveofyouandyourDog—establishment。Enough!"——
ChapterIII。
KURFURSTFRIEDRICHII。
TheFirstFriedrich’ssuccessorwasayoungerson,FriedrichII。;
wholastedtill1471,abovethirtyyears;andprovedlikewiseanotablemanagerandgovernor。Verycapabletoasserthimself,andhisjustrights,inthisworld。HewasbutTwenty—sevenathisaccession;buttheBerlinBurghers,attemptingtotakesomelibertieswithhim,foundhewasoldenough。HegotthenameIRONTEETH。FriedrichFERRATISDENTIBUS,fromhisdecisivewaysthenandafterwards。Hehadhisshareofbrabblingwithintricatelitigantneighbors;quarrelsnowandthennottobesettledwithoutstrokes。HisworstwarwaswithPommern,——justclaimsdisputedthere,andmuchconfusedbickering,siegingandharassinginconsequence:ofwhichquarrelwemustspeakanon。ItwashewhofirstbuilttheconspicuousSchlossorPalaceatBerlin,havinggotthegroundforit(samegroundstillcoveredbytheactualfineEdifice,whichisasecondeditionofFriedrich’s)fromtherepentantBurghers;andtookuphischiefresidencethere。
[1442—1431(Nicolari,i。81)。]
ButhisprincipalachievementinBrandenburgHistoryishisrecoveryoftheProvincecalledtheNeumarktothatElectorate。
InthethriftlessSigismundtimes,theNeumarkhadbeenpledged,hadbeensold;TeutschRitterdom,towhosedominionsitlaycontiguous,hadpurchaseditwithmoneydown。TheTeutschRitterswerefallenmoneylessenoughsincethen;theyofferedtopledgetheNeumarktoFriedrich,whoaccepted,andadvancedthesum:
afterawhiletheTeutschRitters,forasmallfarthersum,agreedtosellNeumark。[Michaelis,i。301。]IntowhichTransaction,withitsdatesandcircumstances,letuscastoneglance,forourbehoofafterwards。TheTeutschRitterswereanopulentdomineeringBodyinSigismund’searlytime;buttheyarenowcomewelldowninFriedrichII。’s!Andarecomingeverlower。Sinkingsteadily,orwithdesperateattemptstorise,whichonlyincreasethespeeddownwards,eversincethatfatalTannenbergBusiness,15thJuly,1410。Hereisthesadprogressoftheirdescenttothebottom;
dividedintothreestagesorperiods:——
"PERIODFIRSTisofThirtyyears:1410—1440。ApeacewithPolandsoonfollowedthatDefeatofTannenberg;humiliatingpeace,withmulctinmoney,andslightlyinterritory,attachedtoit。
Whichagainwassoonfollowedbywar,andeveragain;eachnewpeacemorehumiliatingthanitsforegoer。TeutschOrderissteadilysinking,——intodebt,amongotherthings;driventoseverefinance—measures(ultimatelyevento’debaseitscoin’),whichproduceirritationenough。PolandisgraduallyedgingitselfintotheterritoriesandtheinteriortroublesofPreussen;prefatorytogreateroperationsthatlieaheadthere。
"SECONDPERIOD,ofFourteenyears。Soithadgoneon,frombadtoworse,till1440;whenthegeneralpopulation,throughitsHeads,theLandedGentryandtheTowns,weariedoutwithfiscalandotheroppressionsfromitsdomineeringRitterdombroughtnowtosuchapinch,beganeverywheretostirthemselvesintovocalcomplaint。
Complaintemphaticenough:’Wherewillyoufindamanthathasnotsufferedinjuryinhisrights,perhapsinhisperson?Ourfriendstheyhaveinvitedasguests,andundershowofhospitalityhavemurderedthem。Men,forthesakeoftheirbeautifulwives,havebeenthrownintotheriverlikedogs,’——andenoughofthelikesort。[Voigt,vii。747;quotingevidently,notanexpressmanifesto,butonemanufacturedbytheoldChroniclers。]Nowantofcomplaint,norofcomplainants:TownofThorn,TownofDantzig,Kulm,allmannerofTownsandBaronages,proceedednowtoformaBUND,orgeneralCovenantforcomplaining;torepugn,inhotterandhotterform,againstadomineeringRitterdomwithbacksobroken;infine,tocolleaguewithPoland,——whatwasmostominousofall。Baronage,Burgherage,theywereGermanmostlybyblood,andbyculturewerewhollyGerman;butpreferredPolandtoaTeutschRitterdomofthatnature。Nothingbutbrabblings,scufflings,objurgations;agreatoutbreakripeningitself。
TeutschRitterdomhastohiresoldiers;nomoneytopaythem。
ItwasinthesesadyearsthattheTeutschRitterdom,fallenmoneyless,offeredtopledgetheNeumarktoourKurfurst;1444,thatoperationwasconsummated。[Pauli,ii。187,——doesnotnamethesum。]Allthisgoeson,inhotterandhotterform,fortenyearslonger。
"PERIODTHIRDbegins,earlyin1454,withanimportantspecialcatastrophe;andends,intheThirteenthyearafter,withastillmoreimportantuniversaloneofthesamenature。PrussianBUND,orAnti—OppressionCovenantoftheTownsandLandedGentry,risingintemperatureforfourteenyearsatthisrate,reachedatlasttheignitingpoint,andburstintofire。February4th,1454,theTownofThorn,darlingfirst—childofTeutschRitterdom,——child223
yearsoldatthistime,["Founded1231,asawoodenBurg,justacrosstheriver,ontheHeathenside,mainlyroundthestemofanimmenseoldOakthatgrewhandythere,——SevenBargesalwaysontheriver(Weichsel),toflytoourownsideifquiteoverwhelmed"
OakandSevenBargesisstilltheTown’s—
ArmsofThorn。SeeKohler,Munzbelustigungen,xxii。107;quotingDusburg(aPriestoftheOrder)andhisoldChronicaTerraePrusciae,writtenin1326。]andgrownverybig,andnowveryangry,——suddenlytookitsoldparentbythethroat,sotospeak,andhurledhimouttothedogs;totheextraneousPolacksfirstofall。TownofThorn,namely,sentthatdayits’LetterofRenunciation’totheHochmeisteroveratMarienburg;seizedinadayortwomoretheHochmeister’sOfficialEnvoys,DignitariesoftheOrder;ledthemthroughthestreets,amiduniversalstormofexecrations,hootingsanduncleanprojectiles,straight,tojail;andbesiegedtheHochmeister’sBurg(BASTILLEofThorn,withafewRittersinit),alltheartilleryandallthethroatsandheartsoftheplaceragingdeliriouslyuponit。SothatthepoorBitters,whohadnochanceinresisting,wereinfewdaysobligedtosurrender;[8thFebruary,1454,saysVoigt(viii。361);16th,saysKohler
(Munzbelustigungen,xxii。110)。]hadtocomeoutinbarejerkin;andThornignominiouslydismissedthemintospaceforevermore,——withactual’kicks,’IhavereadinsomeBooks,thoughothersveilthatsadfeature。Thornthrewoutitsoldparentinthismanner;sworefealtytotheKingofPoland;
andinvitedotherTownsandKnightagestofollowtheexample。
Towhichallwerewilling,whereverable。
"Warhereupon,whichblazedupoverPreussenatlarge,——PrussianCovenantandKingofPolandVERSUSTeutschRitterdom,——andlastedintothethirteenthyear,beforeitcouldgooutagain;outbylackoffuelmainly。Oneofthefellestwarsonrecord,especiallyforburningandruining;above’300,000fighting—men’arecalculatedtohaveperishedinit;andoftowns,villages,farmsteads,acipherwhichmakesthefancy,asitwere,blackandashyaltogether。Ritterdomshowednolackoffightingenergy;
butthatcouldnotsaveit,inthepassthingsweregotto。
Enormouslackofwisdom,ofrealityandhumanveracity,therehadlongbeen;andthehourwasnowcome。Financewentout,tothelastcoin。Largemercenaryarmiesallalong;andintheendnotthecolorofmoneytopaythemwith;mercenariesbecamedesperate;
’besiegedtheHochmeisterandhisRittersinMarienburg;’——finallysoldtheCountrytheyheld;formallymadeitovertotheKingofPoland,togettheirpayoutofit。Hochmeisterhadtoseesuchthings,andsaylittle。Peace,orextinctionforwantoffuel,cameintheyear1466。PolandgottoitselfthewholeofthatfineGermanCountry,henceforthcalled’WESTPreussen’todistinguishit,whichgoesfromtheleftbankoftheWeichseltothebordersofBrandenburgandNeumark;——wouldhavegotNeumarktoo,hadnotKurfurstFriedrichbeentheretosaveit。TheTeutschOrderhadtogoacrosstheWeichsel,ignominiouslydriven;tocontentitselfwith’EASTPreussen,’theKonigsberg—Memelcountry,andeventodohomagetoPolandforthat。Whichlatterwasthebitterestclauseofall:butitcouldnotbehelped,morethantheothers。InthismannerdiditsrevoltedchildrenflingoutTeutschRitterdomignominiouslytothedogs,tothePolacks,firstofall,——Thorn,theeldestchild,leadingofforsettingtheexample。"
AndsotheTeutschRittersaresunkbeyondretrieval;andWestPreussen,calledsubsequently"RoyalPreussen,"NOThavinghomagetopayasthe"Ducal"orEastPreussenhad,isGermannolonger,butPolish,Sclavic;notprosperingbythechange。[WhatThornhadsunkto,outofitspalmystate,seeinNanke’s
WanderungendurchPreussen(Hamburg&Altona,1800),ii。177—200:——apleasantlittleRook,treatingmainlyofNaturalHistory;butdrawingyou,byitsinnocentsimplicityandgeniality,toreadwiththankswhateverisinit。]AndallthatfineGermancountry,reducedtorebelagainstitsunwiseparent,wascutawaybythePolishsword,andremainedwithPoland,whichdidnotproveverywiseeither;till——till,intheYear1773,itwascutbackbytheGermansword!AllreadershaveheardofthePartitionofPoland:butofthePartitionofPreussen,307yearsbefore,allhavenotheard。
Itwasinthesecondyearofthatfinaltribulation,markedaboveasPeriodThird,thattheTeutschRitters,famishingformoney,completedtheNeumarktransactionwithKurfurstFriedrich;
Neumark,alreadypawnedtohimtenyearsbefore,theyin1455,forasmallfarthersum,agreedtosell;andhe,longcarefullysteeringtowardssuchanissue,anddexterouslykeepingoutofthemainbroil,failednottobuy。Friedrichcouldthenceforth,onhisownscore,protecttheNeumark;keepupaninvisiblebutimpenetrablewallbetweenitandtheneighboringanarchicconflagrationsofthirteenyears;andtheNeumarkhaseversinceremainedwithBrandenburg,itsoriginalowner。
AstoFriedrich’sPomeranianquarrel,thisisthefigureofit。
HereisascenefromRentsch,whichfallsoutinFriedrich’stime;
andwhichbroughtmuchbattlingandbroilingtohimandhis。
SymbolicalwithalofmuchthatbefellinBrandenburg,fromfirsttolast。UndertheHohenzollernsasbefore,Brandenburggrewbyaggregation,byassimilation;andweseeherehowdifficulttheprocessoftenwas。
Pommern(POMERANIA),longWendish,butpeaceablysosincethetimeofAlberttheBear,andgrowingevermoreGerman,had,ingoodpart,accordingtoFriedrich’snotion,iftherewereforceinhumanTreatiesandImperialLaws,fallenfairlytoBrandenburg,——
thatistosay,thehalfofit,Stettin—Pommernhadfairlyfallen,——intheyear1464,whenDukeOttoofStettin,thelastWendishDuke,diedwithoutheirs。Inthatcasebymanybargains,somewithbloodycrowns,ithadbeensettled,IftheWendishDukesdiedout,thecountrywastofalltoBrandenburg;——andheretheyweredead。"AtDukeOtto’sburial,accordingly,intheHighChurchofStettin,whenthecoffinwasloweredintoitsplace,theStettinBurgermeister,AlbrechtGlinde,tookswordandhelmet,andthrewthesameintothegrave,intokenthattheLinewasextinct。
ButFranzvonEichsted,"apparentlyanotherBurgherinstructedforthenonce,"jumpedintothegrave,andpickedthemoutagain;
alleging,No,theDukesofWOLGAST—Pommernwereofkin;thesetokenswemustsendtohisGraceatWolgast,withofferofourhomage,saidFranzvonEichsted。"[Rentsch,p。110(whoseprinterhasputhisdateawry);Stenzel(i。233)callstheman"LORENZ
Eikstetten,aresoluteGentleman。"]——Andsenttheywere,andacceptedbyhisGrace。Andperhapshalf—a—scoreofbargains,withbloodycrownstosomeofthem;andyetotherchances,andcenturies,withtheextinctionofnewLines,——hadtosupervene,beforeevenStettin—Pommern,andthatinnocompletestate,couldbegot。[1648,byTreatyofWestphalia。]AstoPommernatlarge,Pommernnotdeniedtobedue,aftersuchextinctionandre—extinctionofnativeDucalLines,didnotfallhomeforcenturiesmore;andwhatstrugglesandinextricablearmed—
litigationstherewereforit,readersofBrandenburg—Historytoowearisomelyknow。Theprocessofassimilationnottheleastofaneasyone!——
ThisFriedrichwassecondson:hisFather’soutlookforhimhad,atfirst,beentowardsaPolishPrincessandthecrownofPoland,whichwasnotthensoelectiveasafterwards:andwithsuchviewhisearlybreedinghadbeenchieflyinPoland;Johann,theeldestsonandheir—apparent,helpinghisFatherathomeinthemeanwhile。ButthesePolishoutlookswenttonothing,theyoungPrincesshavingdied;sothatFriedrichcamehome;possessedmerelyofthePolishlanguage,andofwhattalentsthegodshadgivenhim,whichwereconsiderable。Andnow,inthemeanwhile,Johann,whoatonetimepromisedwellinpracticallife,hadtakentoAlchemy;andwasbusywithcruciblesandspeculations,toadegreethatseemedquestionable。FatherFriedrich,therefore,hadtointerfere,anddealwiththis"JohanntheAlchemist"(JOHANNES
ALCHEMISTA,sotheBooksstillnamehim);wholoyallyrenouncedtheElectorship,athisFather’sbidding,infavorofFriedrich;
acceptedBaireuth(betterhalfoftheCulmbachTerritory)forapanage;andtherepeacefullydistilledandsublimatedatdiscretion;thegovernmenttherebeinganeasiertask,andfitterforasoftspeculativeHerr。AthirdBrother,Albertbyname,gotAnspach,ontheFather’sdecease;verycapabletodoanyfightingtheremightbeoccasionfor,inCulmbach。
AstotheBurggrafship,itwasnowdone,allbuttheTitle。
TheFirstFriedrich,oncehewasgottobeElector,wiselypartedwithit。TheFirstFriedrichfoundhisElectorshiphaddreadfullyrealdutiesforhim,andthatthisoftheBurggrafshiphadfallenmostlyobsolete;sohesoldittotheNurnbergersforaroundsum:
onlythePrincipalitiesandTerritoriesareretainedinthatquarter。Aboutwhichtoo,andtheirfeudalduties,boundariesandtolls,withajealouslitigiousNurnbergforneighbor,thereatlengthcamequarrellingenough。ButAlbertthethirdBrother,overatAnspach,tookchargeofallthat;andnothingofitfellinJohann’sway。
ThegoodAlchemistdied,——performedhislastsublimation,poorman,——sixorsevenyearsbeforehisBrotherFriedrich;agethensixty—three。[14thNovember,1464。]Friedrich,withhisIronTeethandfaculties,onlyheldouttillfifty—eight,——10thFebruary,1471。Themannerofhisendwaspeculiar。InthatWarwithPommern,hesatbesiegingaPomeraniantown,Uckermundethenameofit:whenatdinneroneday,acannon—ballplungeddownuponthetable,[Michaelis,i。303。]withsuchacrashaswecanfancy;——
whichgreatlyconfusedthenervesofFriedrich;muchinjuredhishearing,andevenhismemorythenceforth。Inafewmonthsafterwardsheresigned,infavorofhisSuccessor;retiredtoPlassenburg,andtherediedinaboutayearmore。
ChapterIV。
KURFURSTALBERTACHILLES,ANDHISSUCCESSOR。
NeitherFriedrichnorJohannleftotherthandaughters:sothattheunitedHeritage,BrandenburgandCulmbachboth,camenowtothethirdBrother,Albert;whohasbeeninCulmbaththesemanyyearsalready。Atall,fiery,tougholdgentleman,offormidabletalentforfighting,whowascalledthe"ACHILLESOFGERMANY"inhisday;beingthenaveryblazingfar—seencharacter,dimashehasnowgrown。[Born1414;Kurfurst,1471—1486。]ThisAlbertAchilleswastheThirdElector;AncestorheofalltheBrandenburgandCulmbachHohenzollernPrincesthathavesincefiguredintheworld。Afterhimthereisnobreakorshiftinthesuccession,downtothelittleFriedrichnowborn;——FriedrichtheoldGrandfather,FirstKING,wastheTwelfthKURFURST。
Wehavetosay,theyfollowedgenerallyintheirAncestors’steps,andhadsuccessofthelikekind,moreorless;Hohenzollernsallofthem,bycharacterandbehavioraswellasbydescent。Nolackofquietenergy,ofthrift,soundsense。Therewaslikewisesolidfair—playingeneral,nofoundingofyourselfongroundthatwillnotcarry;——andtherewasinstant,gentlebutinexorable,crushingofmutiny,ifitshoweditself;which,aftertheSecondElector,oratmosttheThird,ithadaltogetherceasedtodo。YoungFriedrichII。,uponwhomthoseBerlinBurghershadtriedtoclosetheirgates,tillheshouldsignsome"Capitulation"totheirmind,gotfromthem,andnotquiteinill—humor,thatnameIRONTEETH:——"NottheleastaNose—of—wax,thisone!Nousetryinghere,then!"——which,withthehumorattachedtoit,isitselfsymbolicalofFriedrichandtheseHohenzollernSovereigns。Albert,hisBrother,hadplentyoffightinginhistime:butitwasintheNurnbergandotherdistantregions;nofighting,orhardlyany,neededinBrandenburghenceforth。
WithNurnberg,andtheEx—Burggrafshipthere,nowwhenanewgenerationbegantotugatthelooseclausesofthatBargainwithFriedrichI。,andallFree—Townsweregoinghighupontheirprivileges,Alberthadatonetimemuchtrouble,andatlengthactualfuriousWar;——otherFree—TownscountenancingandassistingNurnbergintheaffair;numerouspettyPrinces,feudalLordsofthevicinity,doingthelikebyAlbert。Twentyyearsago,allthis;anditdidnotlast,sofuriouswasit。"Eightvictories,"
theycountonAlbert’spart,——furioussuccessfulskirmishes,callthem;——inoneofwhich,Iremember,Albertplungedinalone,hisRittersbeingrathershy;andlaidabouthimhugely,hangingbyastandardhehadtaken,tillhislifewasnearlybeatenout。[1449
(Rentsch,p。399)。]Eightvictories;andalsoonedefeat,whereinAlbertgotcaptured,andhadtoransomhimself。ThecaptorwasoneKunzofKauffungen,theNurnberghiredGeneralatthetime:amanknowntosomereadersforhisStealingoftheSaxonPrinces(PRINZENRAUB,theycallit);afeatwhichcostKunzhishead。
[Carlyle’sMiscellanies(London,1869),vi。?PRINZENRAUB。]Albert,however,prevailedintheend,ashewasapttodo;andgothisNurnbergersfixedtoclausessatisfactorytohim。
InhisearlydayshehadfoughtagainstPoles,Bohemiansandothers,asImperialgeneral。Hewasmuchconcerned,allalong,inthoseabstrusearmed—litigationsoftheAustrianHousewithitsdependencies;anddiligentlyhelpedtheKaiser,——FriedrichIII。,ratheraweakish,butaneagerandgreedyKaiser,——throughmostofthem。ThatinextricableHungarian—Bohemian—PolishDONNYBROOK(sowemaycallit)whichAustriahadonhand,oneofSigismund’sbequeststoAustria;distressinglytumultuousDonnybrook,whichgoesfrom1440to1471,fightinginafierceconfusedmanner;——
theAnti—TurkHunniades,theAnti—AustrianCorvinus,theroyalMajestiesGeorgePodiebrad,LadislausPOSTHUMUS,LudwigOHNEHAUT
(LudwigNO—SKIN),andotherLudwigs,LadislausesandVladislauses,strikingandgettingstruckatsucharate:——Albertwasgenerallywhatwemaycallchief—constableinallthat;givingaknockhereandthenonethere,intheKaiser’sname。[Hormayr,ii。138,140
(?HUNYADYCORVIN);Rentsch,pp。389—422;Michaelis,i。304—313。]
Almostfromboyhood,hehadlearnedsoldiering,whichhehadneverafterwardsleisuretoforget。Greatstoreoffightinghehad,——sayhalfacenturyofit,offandon,duringtheseventyandoddyearshelastedinthisworld。WiththeDonnybrookwespokeof;withtheNurnbergers;withtheDukesofBavaria(endlessbickeringswiththeseDukes,LudwigBEARDY,LudwigSUPERBUS,LudwigGIBBOSUSorHunchback,againstthemandaboutthem,onhisownandtheKaiser’sscore);alsowiththeFrench,alreadyclutchingatLorraine;alsowithCharlestheRashofBurgundy;——lastlywiththeBishopofBamberg,whogothimexcommunicatedandwouldnotburythedead。
KurfurstAlbert’sLetteronthislastemergency,tohisViceregentinCulmbach,isafamedPiecestillextant(date1481);[Rentsch,p。409。]andhisplaninsuchemergency,isasimpleandlikelyone:"CarrythedeadbodiestotheParson’shouse;lethimseewhetherhewillnotburythembyandby!——OnemustfenceofftheDevilbytheHolyCross,"saysAlbert,——appealtoHeavenwithwhathonestmother—witHeavenhasvouchsafedone,meansAlbert。"Thesefellows"(thePriests),continueshe,"wouldfainhavethetemporalswordaswellasthespiritual。HadGodwishedthereshouldbeonlyonesword,hecouldhavecontrivedthataswellasthetwo。Hesurelydidnotwantforintellect(ErwargareinweiserMann),"——wantofintellectitclearlywasnot!——Inshort,theyhadtoburythedead,anddoreason;andAlberthustledhimselfwellclearofthisbroil,ashehaddoneofmany。
Battleenough,poorman,withsteelandotherweapons:——andweseehediditwithsharpinsight,goodforecast;nowandtheninawildlyleonineorAQUILINEmanner。Atallhook—nosedman,oflean,sharp,rathertaciturnaspect;noseandlookareveryaquiline;
andthereisacloudysorrowinthoseoldeyes,whichseemscapableofsuddeneffulgencetoadangerousextent。Hewasaconsiderable,diplomatisttoo:verygreatwiththeKaiser,OldFriedrichIII。(Max’sfather,CharlesV。’sGreat—Grandfather);
[HowadmirahleAlbertis,nottosay"almostdivine,"totheKaiser’sthenSecretary,oily—mouthedAEneasSylvius,afterwardsPope,Rentschcantestify(pp。401,586);quotingAEneas’seulogiesandgossipries(HistoriaRerumFredericiImperatoris,Iconclude,thoughnobookisnamed)。
OilydiligentAEneas,inhisownyoungyearsandinAlbert’sprime,hadofcourseseenmuchofthis"miracle"ofArmsandArt,——"miracle"and"almostdivine,"sotospeak。]andmanagedmanythingsforhim。Managedtogetthethrice—lovelyHeiressoftheNetherlandsandBurgundy,DaughterofthatCharlestheRash,withherSeventeenProvinces,forMax,[1477]——whowasthoughtthereuponbyeverybodytobetheluckiestmanalive;thoughtheissuecontradicteditbeforelong。
KurfurstAlbertdiedin1486,March11,agedseventy—two。ItwassomemonthsafterBosworthFight,whereourCrookedRichardgothisquietushereinEnglandandbroughttheWarsoftheRosestotheirfinale:——alittlechubbyBoy,thesonofpoorparentsatEislebeninSaxony,MartinLutherthenameofhim,waslookingintothisabtruseUniverse,withthosestrangeeyesofhis,inwhatroughwoollenorlinsey—woolseyshort—clotheswedonotknow。
[Born10thNovember,1483]
Albert’sfuneralwasverygrand;theKaiserhimself,andalltheMagnatesoftheDietandReichattendinghimfromFrankfurttohislastresting—place,manymilesofroad。ForhediedattheDiet,inFrankfurt—on—Mayn;havingfallenilltherewhilebusy,——perhapstoobusyforthatage,intheharshspringweather,——electingPrinceMaximilian("luckyMax,"whowillbeKaisertoobeforelong,andisalreadydeepinILL—luck,tragicalandothertobeKingoftheRomans。TheoldKaiserhad"lookedinonhimatOnolzbach"(Anspach),andbroughthimalong;suchamancouldnotbewantingonsuchanoccasion。Amanwho"perhapsdidmorefortheGermanEmpirethanfortheElectorateofBrandenburg,"
hintsome。TheKaiserhimself,FriedrichIII。,wasnowgettingold;anxioustoseeMaxsecure,andtosethishouseinorder。
Asomewhatanxious,creaky,close—fisted,ineffectualoldKaiser;
[SeeKohler(Munzbelustigungen,vi。393—401;
ii。89—96,&c。)foravividaccountofhim。]distinguishedbyhisluckingettingMaxsoprovidedfor,andbringingtheSeventeenProvincesoftheNetherlandstohisHouse。HeisthefirstoftheHapsburgKaiserswhohadwhathassincebeencalledthe"Austrianlip"——protrusiveunder—jaw,withheavylipdisinclinedtoshut。
HegotitfromhisMother,andbequeatheditinamarkedmanner;
hisposteritytothisdaybearingtracesofit。Mother’snamewasCimburgis,aPolishPrincess,"DukeofMasovia’sdaughter;"
aladywhohadsomethingoftheMAULTASCHEinher,incharacteraswellasmouth。——InoldAlbert,thepooroldKaiserhaslosthisrighthand;andnodoubtmusessadlyasheridesinthefuneralprocession。
AlbertisburiedatHeilsbronninFrankenland,amonghisAncestors,——burialinBrandenburgnotyetcommonforthesenewKurfursts:——hisskull,inanafter—time,usedtobeshownthere,laidonthelidofthetomb;skullmarvellousforstrength,andfor"havingnovisiblesutures,"saysRentsch。PiousBrandenburgOfficialityatlengthputanendtothatprofanation,andrestoredtheskulltoitsplace,——marvellousenough,withwhathadoncedweltinit,whetherithadsuturesornot。
JOHANNTHECICEROISFOURTHKURFURST,ANDLEAVESTWONOTABLESONS。
Albert’seldestSon,theFourthKurfurst,wasJohannesCicero(1486—1499):Johanneswashisnaturalname,towhichtheepithet"CiceroofGermany(CICEROGERMANIAE)"wasaddedbyanadmiringpublic。HehadcommonlyadministeredtheElectorateduringhisFather’sabsences;anddoneitwithcredittohimself。Hewasanactiveman,nowisedeficientasaGovernor;creditablysevereonhighwayrobbers,foronething,——destroysyou"fifteenbaronialrobber—towers"atastroke;wasalsoconcernedintheHungarian—
BohemianDONNYBROOK,anddidthatalsowell。Butnothingstruckadiscerningpubliclikethetalenthehadforspeaking。Spoke"fourhoursatastretchinKaiserMax’sDiets,inelegantlyflowingLatin;"withafairshareofmeaning,too;——andhadburstsofparliamentaryeloquenceinhimthatwereastonishingtohear。
Atall,square—headedman,oferect,cheerfullycomposedaspect,headflungratherbackifanything:hisburstsofparliamentaryeloquence,oncegloriousastheday,procuredhimthename"JohannesCICERO;"andthatiswhatremainsofthem:fortheyaresunknow,irretrievableheandthey,intothebellyofeternalNight;thefinalresting—place,Idoperceive,ofmuchCiceronianwareinthisworld。Apparentlyhehad,likesomeofhisDescendants,whatwouldnowbecalled"distinguishedliterarytalents,"——insignificanttomankindandus。IfindhewaslikewisecalledDERGROSSE,"JohntheGREAT;"butoninvestigationitprovestobemere"JohntheBIG,"anamecomingfromhistallstatureandultimatefatnessofbody。
Fortherest,helefthisfamilywelloff,connectedwithhighPotentatesallaround;andhadincreasedhisstore,toafairdegree,inhistime。BesideshiseldestSonwhofollowedasElector,bynameJoachimI。,aburlygentlemanofwhommuchiswritteninBooks,heleftasecondSon,ArchbishopofMagdeburg,whointimebecameArchbishopofMainzandCardinalofHolyChurch,[UlrichvanHutten’sgrand"Panegyric"uponthisAlbertonhisfirstEntranceintoMainz(9thOctober,1514),——"entrancewitharetinueof2,000horse,mainlyfurnishedbytheBrandenburgandCulmbachkindred,"saytheoldBooks,——isinUlrichiabHuttenEquitisGermaniOpera(Munch’sedition;
Berlin,1821),i。276—310。]——andbyaccidentgottobeforevermemorableinChurch—History,asweshallseeanon。ArchbishopofMainzmeanswithalKUR—MAINZ,ElectorofMainz;whoisChiefoftheSevenElectors,andasitweretheirPresidentor"Speaker。"
Albertwasthenameofthisone;hiselderBrother,thethenKur—Brandenburg,wascalledJoachim。CardinalAlbertKur—Mainz,likehisbrotherJoachimKur—Brandenburg,figuresmuch,andblazeswidelyabroad,inthebusyreignofKarlV。,andtheinextricableLutheran—Papal,Turk—Christianbusinessithad。
ButthenotablepointinthisAlbertofMainzwasthatofLeoX。
andtheIndulgences。[Pauli,v。496—499;Rentsch,p。869。]PopeLeohadpermittedAlberttoretainhisArchbishopricofMagdeburgandotherdignitiesalongwiththatofMainz;whichwasanunusualfavor。ButthePopeexpectedtobepaidforit,——tohave30,000
ducats(15,000pounds),almostaKing’sransomatthattime,forthe"Pallium"toMainz;PALLIUM,orlittleBitofwoollenCloth,onsalebythePope,withoutwhichMainzcouldnotheheld。
Albert,withallhisdignities,wasdreadfullyshortofmoneyatthetime。ChapterofMainzcouldorwoulddolittleornothing,havingbeendrainedlately;Magdeburg,Halberstadt,thelike。
Alberttriedvariousshifts;triedalittlestrokeoftradeinrelics,——gatheredintheMainzdistrict"somehundredsoffractionalsacredbones,andthreewholebodies,"whichhesenttoHalleforpiouspurchase;——butnothingcameofthisbranch。
The15,000poundsremainedunpaid;andPopeLeo,buildingSt。Peter’s,"furnishingasister’stoilet,"anddoingworsethings,wasinextremeneedofit。Whatistobedone?"IcouldborrowthemoneyfromtheFuggersofAugsburg,"saidtheArchbishophesitatingly;"butthen——?"——"Icouldhelpyoutorepayit。"saidhisHoliness:"Couldrepaythehalfofit,——ifonlywehad(buttheyalwaysmakesuchclamoraboutthesethings)anIndulgencepublishedinGermany!"——"Well;itmustbe!"answeredAlbertatlast,agreeingtotaketheclamoronhimself,andtodothefeat;beingathiswits’—endformoney。HedrawsouthisFull—
Power,which,asfirstSpiritualKurfurst,hehastheprivilegetodo;nominates(1516)oneTetzelforChiefSalesman,aPriestwhosehardnessofface,andshiftinessofheadandhand,wereknowntohim;and——hereisoneHohenzollernthathasaplaceinHistory!
Poorman,itwasbyaccident,andfromextremetightnessformoney。HewasbynomeansaviolentChurchman;hehadhimselfinclinationstowardsLuther,evenofapracticalsort,asthethingwenton。Buttherewasnohelpforit。
CardinalAlbert,Kur—Mainz,showshimselfacopiousdexterouspublicspeakerattheDietsandelsewhereinthosetimes;amanintentonavoidingviolentmethods;——uncomfortablyfatinhislateryears,tojudgebythePortraits。Kur—Brandenburg,Kur—Mainz(theyoungernowofficiallyevengreaterthantheelder),thesenamesareperpetuallyturningupintheGermanHistoriesofthatReformation—Period;absentonnogreatoccasion;andtheyatlength,fromamidthemeaninglessbead—rollofNames,wearisomelymetwithinsuchBooks,emergeintoPersonsforusasabove。
ChapterV。
OFTHEBAIREUTH—ANSPACHBRANCH。
AlbertAchillestheThirdElectorhad,beforehisaccession,beenMargrafofAnspach,andsincehisBrothertheAlchemist’sdeath,MargrafofBaireuthtoo,orofthewholePrincipality,——"MargrafofCulmbach"wewillcallit,forbrevity’ssake,thoughthebewilderingoldBookshavenotsteadilyanynameforit。
[Acertainsubalternofthisexpresstitle,"MargrafofCulmbach"
(aCadet,withsometemporaryappanagethere,whowasonceintheserviceofhimtheycalltheWinter—King,andmayagainbetransientlyheardofbyushere),isthealtogetherMysteriousPersonagewhoprintshimself"MARQUISDELULENBACH"inBromley’sCollectionofRoyalLetters(London,1787),pp。52,&c。:——oneofthemostcuriousBooksontheThirty—YearsWar;"edited"withacomposedstupidity,andcheerfulinfinitudeofignorance,whichstillfartherdistinguishit。TheBROMLEY
Originalswellwortharealediting,turnout,oninquiry,tohavebeen"soldasAutographs,anddispersedbeyondrecovery,aboutfiftyyearsago。"]Afterhisaccession,AlbertAchillesnaturallyheldbothElectorateandPrincipalityduringtherestofhislife。
WhichwasanextremelyrarepredicamentforthetwoCountries,thebigandthelittle。
NootherElectorheldthemboth,fornearlyahundredyears;northen,exceptasitwereforamoment。Thetwocountries,ElectorateandPrincipality,Hohenzollernboth,andconstitutingwhattheHohenzollernshadinthisworld,continuedintimatelyconnected;withaffinityandclientshipcarefullykept,up,andthelesserstandingalwaysundertheexpressprotectionandasitwereCOUSINSHIPofthegreater。ButtheyhadtheirseparatePrinces,LinesofPrinces;andtheyonlytwice,inthetimeoftheseTwelveElectors,cameeventemporarilyunderthesamehead。
Andastoultimateunion,Brandenburg—BaireuthandBrandenburg—
AnspachwerenotincorporatedwithBrandenburg—Proper,anditsnewfortunes,tillalmostourownday,namelyin1791;northeneithertocontinue;havingfallentoBavaria,inthegrandCongressofVienna,withinthenextfive—and—twentyyears。Allwhich,withthecomplexitiesandperplexitiesresultingfromithere,wemust,insomebriefway,endeavortoelucidateforthereader。
TWOLINESINCULMBACHORBAIREUTH—ANSPACH:THEGERABONDOF1598。
CulmbachtheElectorleft,athisdeath,tohisSecondSon,——
properlytotwosons,butoneofthemsoondied,andtheotherbecamesolepossessor;——Friedrichbyname;who,asfounderoftheElderLineofBrandenburg—CulmbachPrinces,mustnotbeforgottenbyus。FounderoftheFirstorElderLine,fortherearetwoLines;thisofFriedrich’shavinggoneoutinaboutahundredyears;andtheAnspach—BaireuthterritorieshavingfallenhomeagaintoBrandenburg;——where,however,theycontinuedonlyduringthethenKurfurst’slife。;ohannGeorge(1525—1598),SeventhKurfurst,washetowhomBrandenburg—Culmbachfellhome,——nay,strictlyspeaking,itwasbutthesureprospectofitthatfellhome,thethingitselfdidnotquitefallinhistime,thoughthedisposalofitdid,["Disposal,"1598;thingitself,1603,inhisSon’stime。]——tobeconjoinedagainwithBrandenburg—Proper。
Conjoinedfortheshortpotentialremainderofhisownlife;
andthentobedisposedofasanapanageagain;——whichlatteroperation,asJohannGeorgehadthree—and—twentychildren,couldbenodifficultone。
JohannGeorge,accordingly(Year1598),splittheTerritoryintwo;Brandenburg—Baireuthwasforhissecondson,Brandenburg—
Anspachforhisthird:herebyagainweretwonewprogenitorsofCulmbachPrincesintroduced,andaNewLine,Secondor"YoungerLine"theycallit(Linemostlysplitintwo,asheretofore);
which——aftercomplexadventuresinitssplitcondition,Baireuthunderonehead,Anspachunderanother——continuesactivedowntoourlittleFritz’stimeandfarther。AswillbecomebuttooapparenttousinthecourseofthisHistory!——
FromofoldtheseTerritorieshadbeenfrequentlydivided:
eachhasitsownlittlecapital,TownofAnspach,TownofBaireuth,[Populationsaboutthesame;16,000to17,000inourtime。]suitableforsucharrangement。Frequentlydivided;
thoughalwaysundertheclosestcousinship,andreadyforreuniting,ifpossible。GenerallyundertheElderLinetoo,underFriedrich’sposterity,whichwasrathernumerousandofteninneedofapanages,theyhadbeeninseparatehands。Buttheunderstoodpracticewasnottodividefarther;Baireuthbyitself,Anspachbyitself(orstillluckierifonehandcouldgetholdofboth),——andespeciallyBrandenburgbyitself,uncutbyanyapanage:this,Iobserve,wasthereceivedpractice。ButJohannGeorge,wiseKurfurstashewas,wishednowtomakeitsurer;anddidsobyafamedDeed,calledtheGeraBond(GERAISCHEVERTRAG),dated1598,[Michaelis,i。345。]thelastyearofJohannGeorge’slife。
Hereby,inaFamilyConclaveheldatthatGera,alittletowninThuringen,itwassettledandindissolublyfixed,ThattheirElectorate,unlikeallothersinGermany,shallcontinueindivisible;LawofPrimogeniture,hereifnowhereelse,istobeinfullforce;andonlytheCulmbachTerritory(ifotherwiseunoccupied)canbesplitoffforyoungersons。Culmbachcanbesplitoff;andthisagainwithalcanbesplit,ifneedbe,intotwo(BaireuthandAnspach);butnotinanycasefarther。
WhichHousehold—Lawwasstrictlyobeyedhenceforth。Dateofit1598;principalauthor,JohannGeorge,SeventhElector。This"GeraBond"thereadercannoteforhimselfasanexcellentpieceofHohenzollernthrift,andimportantintheBrandenburgannals。
Onthewhole,BrandenburgkeepscontinuallygrowingundertheseTwelveHohenzollerns,weperceive;slowerorfaster,justastheBurggrafdomhaddone,andbysimilarmethods。Aluckyoutlayofmoney(asinthecaseofFriedrichIronteethintheNeumark)
bringsthemoneProvince,luckyinheritanceanother:——goodmanagementisalwaysthere,whichisthemotherofgoodluck。
Andsotheregoesonagain,fromJohannGeorgedownwards,anewstreamofCulmbachPrinces,calledtheYoungerorNewLine,——
properlytwocontemporaryLines,ofBaireuthersandAnspachers;——
alwaysincloseaffinitytoBrandenburg,andwithultimatereversiontoBrandenburg,shouldbothLinesfail;butwithmutualinheritanceifonlyone。Theyhadintricatefortunes,serviceinforeignarmies,muchwanderingabout,sometimesconsiderablescarcityofcash:but,forahundredandfiftyyearstocome,neitherLinebyanymeansfailed,——ratherthecontrary,infact。
OfthislatterorNewCulmbachLine,orsplitLine,especiallyoftheBaireuthpartofit,ourlittleWilhelmina,littleFritz’sSister,whobecameMargravinethere,hasgivenalltheworldnotice。FromtheAnspachpartofit(atthattimeinsorescarcityofcash)cameQueenCaroline,famedinourGeorgetheSecond’stime。[SeeaSynopticDiagramoftheseGenealogies,infra,p。388a。]FromittoocameanunmomentousMargraf,whomarriedalittleSisterofWilhelmina’sandFritz’s;ofwhomweshallhear。
ThereislastlyastillmoreunmomentousMargraf,onlysonofsaidUnmomentousandhissaidSpouse;whoagaincombinedthetwoTerritories,Baireuthhavingfailedofheirs;andwho,himselfwithoutheirs,andwithafrailLadyCravenasMargravine,——diedatHammersmith,closebyus,in1806;andsoendedthetroublesomeaffair。Hehadalready,in1791,soldofftoPrussiaalltemporaryclaimsofhis;andletPrussiahavetheHeritageatoncewithoutwaitingfarther。Prussia,aswenoticed,didnotkeepitlong;
anditisnowpartoftheBavarianDominion;——forthesakeofeditorsandreaders,longmayitsocontinue!
OfthisYoungerLine,intrinsicallyratherinsignificanttomankind,weshallhaveenoughtowriteintimeandplace;wemustatpresentdirectourattentiontotheElderLine。
THEELDERLINEOFCULMBACH:FRIEDRICHANDHISTHREENOTABLESONSTHERE。
KurfurstAlbertAchilles’ssecondson,Friedrich(1460—1536),[Rentsch,pp。593—602。]thefounderoftheElderCulmbachLine,ruledhiscountrywellforcertainyears,andwas"amanfamedforstrengthofbodyandmind;"butclaimslittlenoticefromus,exceptforthesonshehad。Aquiet,commendable,honorableman,——
withacertainpatheticdignity,visibleevenintheeclipsedstatehesankinto。Pooroldgentleman,aftergrandenoughfeatsinwarandpeace,hefellmelancholy,fellimbecile,blind,soonaftermiddlelife;andcontinuedsofortwentyyears,tillhedied。Duringwhichdarkstate,saytheoldBooks,itwasapleasuretoseewithwhatattentionhisSonstreatedhim,andhowreverentlytheeldestalwaysledhimouttodinner。[Ib。p。612。]
TheyliveanddineatthathighCastleofPlassenburg,whereoldFriedrichcanbeholdtheRedorWhiteMaynnomore。Alas,alas,PlassenburgisnowaCorrection—House,wheremaleandfemalescoundrelsdobeatingofhemp;andpiousFriedrich,likeeloquentJohann,hasbecomeaforgottenobject。HewasoftheGermanReichs—Array,whomarchedtotheNetherlandstodeliverMaxfromdurance;Max,theKingoftheRomans,whom,forallhisluck,themutinousFlemingshadputunderlock—and—keyatonetime。[1482
(Pauli,ii。389):hisbeautifulyoungWife,"thrownfromherhorse,"hadperishedinathrice—tragicway,shortwhilebefore;
andtheSeventeenProvinceswereunrulyundertheguardianshipofMax。]Thatishisonefeatmemorabletomeatpresent。
HewasJohannCicero’sHALF—brother,childbyasecondwife。
LikehisUncleKurfurstFriedrichII。,hehadmarriedaPolishPrincess;thesharpAchilleshavingperhapsaneyetocrownsinthatdirection,duringthatHungarian—Bohemian—PolishDonnybrook。
Butifso,thereagaincamenothingofacrownwithit;thoughitwasnotwithoutitsgoodresultsforFriedrich’schildrenbyandby。
HehadeightSonsthatreachedmanhood;fiveorsixofwhomcametosomethingconsiderableintheworld,andThreearememorabledowntothisday。OneofhisdaughtershemarriedtotheDukeofLiegnitzinSilesia;whichisamongthefirstlinksInoticeofaconnectionthatgrewstrongwiththatsovereignDuchy,andisworthremarkingbymyreadershere。OftheThreenotableSonsitisnecessarythatwesaysomething。Casimir,George,AlbertarethenamesoftheseThree。
Casimir,theeldest,[1481—1527。]whoseshareofheritageisBaireuth,wasoriginallyintendedfortheChurch;butincliningrathertosecularandmilitarythings,orhisprospectsofpromotionaltering,heearlyquittedthat;andtookvigorouslytothecareerofarmsandbusiness。Atruculent—lookingHerr,withthoughtfuleyes,andhangingunder—lip:——HATofenviablesoftness;