The Empire of Austria - John S. C. Abbott (best books to read now TXT) 📗

PREFACE


The studies of the author of this work, for the last ten years, in writing the "History of Napoleon Bonaparte," and "The French Revolution of 1789," have necessarily made him quite familiar with the monarchies of Europe. He has met with so much that was strange and romantic in their career, that he has been interested to undertake, as it were, a biography of the Monarchies of Continental Europe - their birth, education, exploits, progress and present condition. He has commenced with Austria.

There are abundant materials for this work. The Life of Austria embraces all that is wild and wonderful in history; her early struggles for aggrandizement - the fierce strife with the Turks, as wave after wave of Moslem invasion rolled up the Danube - the long conflicts and bloody persecutions of the Reformation - the thirty years' religious war - the meteoric career of Gustavus Adolphus and Charles XII. shooting athwart the lurid storms of battle - the intrigues of Popes - the enormous pride, power and encroachments of Louis XIV. - the warfare of the Spanish succession and the Polish dismemberment - all these events combine in a sublime tragedy which fiction may in vain attempt to parallel.

It is affecting to observe in the history of Germany, through what woes humanity has passed in attaining even its present position of civilization. It is to be hoped that the human family may never again suffer what it has already endured. We shall be indeed insane if we do not gain some wisdom from the struggles and the calamities of those who have gone before us. The narrative of the career of the Austrian Empire, must, by contrast, excite emotions of gratitude in every American bosom. Our lines have fallen to us in pleasant places; we have a goodly heritage.

It is the author's intention soon to issue, as the second of this series, the History of the Empire of Russia.

JOHN S. C. ABBOTT.

Brunswick, Maine, 1859.


CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
RHODOLPH OF HAPSBURG. From 1232 to 1291.

Hawk's Castle. - Albert, Count of Hapsburg. - Rhodolph of Hapsburg. - His Marriage and Estates. - Excommunication and its Results. - His Principles of Honor. - A Confederacy of Barons. - Their Route. - Rhodolph's Election as Emperor of Germany. - The Bishop's Warning. - Dissatisfaction at the Result of the Election. - Advantages accruing from the Possession of an interesting Family. - Conquest. - Ottocar acknowledges the Emperor; yet breaks his Oath of Allegiance. - Gathering Clouds. - Wonderful Escape. - Victory of Rhodolph. - His Reforms.


CHAPTER II.
REIGNS OF ALBERT I., FREDERIC, ALBERT AND OTHO. From 1291 to 1347.

Anecdotes of Rhodolph. - His Desire for the Election of his Son. - His Death. - Albert. - His Unpopularity. - Conspiracy of the Nobles. - Their Defeat. - Adolphus of Nassau chosen Emperor. - Albert's Conspiracy. - Deposition of Adolphus and Election of Albert. - Death of Adolphus. - The Pope Defied. - Annexation of Bohemia. - Assassination of Albert. - Avenging Fury. - The Hermit's Direction. - Frederic the Handsome. - Election of Henry, Count of Luxemburg. - His Death. - Election of Louis of Bavaria. - Capture of Frederic. - Remarkable Confidence toward a Prisoner. - Death of Frederic. - An early Engagement. - Death of Louis. - Accession of Albert.


CHAPTER III.
RHODOLPH II., ALBERT IV. AND ALBERT V. From 1389 to 1437.

Rhodolph II. - Marriage of John to Margaret. - Intriguing for the Tyrol. - Death of Rhodolph. - Accession of Power to Austria. - Dividing the Empire. - Delight of the Emperor Charles. - Leopold. - His Ambition and successes. - Hedwige, Queen of Poland. - "The Course of true Love never did run smooth." - Unhappy Marriage of Hedwige. - Heroism of Arnold of Winkelreid. - Death of Leopold. - Death of Albert IV. - Accession Of Albert V. - Attempts of Sigismond to bequeath to Albert V. Hungary and Bohemia.


CHAPTER IV.
ALBERT, LADISLAUS AND FREDERIC. From 1440 to 1489.

Increasing Honors of Albert V. - Encroachments of the Turks. - The Christians Routed. - Terror of the Hungarians. - Death of Albert. - Magnanimous Conduct of Albert of Bavaria. - Internal Troubles. - Precocity of Ladislaus. - Fortifications Raised by the Turks. - John Capistrun. - Rescue of Belgrade. - The Turks Dispersed. - Exultation over the Victory. - Death of Hunniades. - Jealousy of Ladislaus. - His Death. - Brotherly Quarrels. - Devastations by the Turks. - Invasion of Austria. - Repeal of the Compromise. - The Emperor a Fugitive.


CHAPTER V.
THE EMPERORS FREDERIC II. AND MAXIMILIAN I. From 1477 to 1500.

Wanderings of the Emperor Frederic. - Proposed Alliance with the Duke of Burgundy. - Mutual Distrust. - Marriage of Mary. - The Age of Chivalry. - The Motive inducing the Lord of Praunstein to Declare War. - Death of Frederic II. - The Emperor's Secret. - Designs of the Turks. - Death of Mahomet II. - First Establishment of Standing Armies. - Use of Gunpowder. - Energy of Maximilian. - French Aggressions. - The League to Expel the French. - Disappointments of Maximilian. - Bribing the Pope. - Invasion of Italy. - Capture and Recapture. - The Chevalier de Bayard.


CHAPTER VI.
MAXIMILIAN I. From 1500 to 1519.

Base Treachery of the Swiss Soldiers. - Perfidy of Ferdinand of Arragon. - Appeals by Superstition. - Coalition with Spain. - The League of Cambray. - Infamy of the Pope. - The King's Apology. - Failure of the Plot. - Germany Aroused. - Confidence of Maximilian. - Longings for the Pontifical Chair. - Maximilian Bribed. - Leo X. - Dawning Prosperity. - Matrimonial Projects. - Commencement of the War of Reformation. - Sickness of Maximilian. - His Last Directions. - His Death. - The Standard by which his Character is to be Judged.


CHAPTER VII.
CHARLES V. AND THE REFORMATION. From 1519 to 1581.

Charles V. of Spain. - His Election as Emperor of Germany. - His Coronation. - The First Constitution. - Progress of the Reformation. - The Pope's Bull against Luther. - His Contempt for his Holiness. - The Diet at Worms. - Frederic's Objection to the Condemnation of Luther by the Diet. - He obtains for Luther the Right of Defense. - Luther's triumphal March to the Tribunal. - Charles urged to Violate his Safe Conduct. - Luther's Patmos. - Marriage of Sister Catharine Bora to Luther. - Terrible Insurrection. - The Holy League. - The Protest of Spires. - Confession of Augsburg. - The Two Confessions. - Compulsory Measures.


CHAPTER VIII.
CHARLES V. AND THE REFORMATION. From 1531 to 1552.

Determination to crush Protestantism. - Incursion of the Turks. - Valor of the Protestants. - Preparations for renewed Hostilities. - Augmentation of the Protestant Forces. - The Council of Trent. - Mutual Consternation. - Defeat of the Protestant Army. - Unlooked-for Succor. - Revolt in the Emperor's Army. - The Fluctuations of Fortune. - Ignoble Revenge. - Capture of Wittemberg. - Protestantism apparently crushed. - Plot against Charles. - Maurice of Saxony. - A Change of Scene. - The Biter Bit - The Emperor humbled. - His Flight. - His determined Will.


CHAPTER IX.
CHARLES V. AND THE TURKISH WARS. From 1552 to 1555.

The Treaty of Passau. - The Emperor yields. - His continued Reverses. - The Toleration Compromise. - Mutual Dissatisfaction. - Remarkable Despondency of the Emperor Charles. - His Address to the Convention at Brussels. - The Convent of St. Justus. - Charles returns to Spain. - His Convent Life. - The Mock Burial. - His Death. - His Traits of Character. - The King's Compliment to Titian. - The Condition of Austria. - Rapid Advance of the Turks. - Reasons for the Inaction of the Christians. - The Sultan's Method of Overcoming Difficulties. - The little Fortress of Guntz. - What it accomplished.


CHAPTER X.
FERDINAND I. - HIS WARS AND INTRIGUES. From 1555 to 1562.

John of Tapoli. - The Instability of Compacts. - The Sultan's Demands. - A Reign of War. - Powers and Duties of the Monarchs of Bohemia. - The Diet. - The King's Desire to crush Protestantism. - The Entrance to Prague. - Terror of the Inhabitants. - The King's Conditions. - The Bloody Diet. - Disciplinary Measures. - The establishment of the Order of Jesuits. - Abdication of Charles V. in Favor of Ferdinand. - Power of the Pope. - Paul IV. - A quiet but powerful Blow. - The Progress of the Reformers. - Attempts to reconcile the Protestants. - The unsuccessful Assembly.


CHAPTER XI.
DEATH OF FERDINAND I. - ACCESSION OF MAXIMILIAN II. From 1562 to 1576.

The Council of Trent. - Spread of the Reformation. - Ferdinand's Attempt to influence the Pope. - His Arguments against Celibacy. - Stubbornness of the Pope. - Maximilian II. - Displeasure of Ferdinand. - Motives for not abjuring the Catholic Faith. - Religious Strife in Europe. - Maximilian's Address to Charles IX. - Mutual Toleration. - Romantic Pastime of War. - Heroism of Nicholas, Count of Zeini. - Accession of Power to Austria. - Accession of Rhodolph III. - Death of Maximilian.


CHAPTER XII.
CHARACTER OF MAXIMILIAN. - SUCCESSION OF RHODOLPH III. From 1576 to 1604.

Character of Maximilian. - His Accomplishments. - His Wife. - Fate of his Children. - Rhodolph III. - The Liberty of Worship. - Means of Emancipation. - Rhodolph's Attempts against Protestantism. - Declaration of a higher Law. - Theological Differences. - The Confederacy at Heilbrun. - The Gregorian Calendar. - Intolerance in Bohemia. - The Trap of the Monks. - Invasion of the Turks. - Their Defeat. - Coalition with Sigismond. - Sale of Transylvania. - Rule of Basta. - The Empire captured and recaptured. - Devastation of the Country. - Treatment of Stephen Botskoi.


CHAPTER XIII.
RHODOLPH III. AND MATTHIAS. From 1604 to 1609.

Botskoi's Manifesto. - Horrible Suffering in Transylvania. - Character of Botskoi. - Confidence of the Protestants. - Superstition of Rholdoph. - His Mystic Studies. - Acquirements of Matthias. - Schemes of Matthias. - His increasing power. - Treaty with the Turks. - Demands on Rhodolph. - The Compromise. - Perfidy of Matthias. - The Margravite. - Fillisbustering. - The People's Diet. - A Hint to Royalty. - The Bloodless Triumph. - Demands of the Germans. - Address of the Prince of Anhalt to the King.


CHAPTER XIV.
RHODOLPH III. AND MATTHIAS. From 1609 to 1612.

Difficulties as to the Succession. - Hostility of Henry IV. to the House of Austria. - Assassination of Henry IV. - Similarity in Sully's and Napoleon's Plans. - Exultation of the Catholics. - The Brother's Compact. - How Rhodolph kept it. - Seizure of Prague. - Rhodolph a Prisoner. - The King's Abdication. - Conditions Attached to the Crown. - Rage of Rhodolph. - Matthias Elected King. - The Emperor's Residence. - Rejoicings of The Protestants. - Reply of the Ambassadors. - The Nuremberg Diet. - The Unkindest cut of all. - Rhodolph's Humiliation and Death.


CHAPTER XV.
MATTHIAS. From 1612 to 1619.

Matthias Elected Emperor of Germany. - His Despotic Character. - His Plans Thwarted. - Mulheim. - Gathering Clouds. - Family Intrigue. - Coronation of