Empire of Austria; Its Rise and Present Power

Cabot Abbott John Stevens

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pubOne.info thank you for your continued support and wish to present you this new edition. 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.

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• Publié par: Pub One Info
• Date de parution: 23 octobre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9782819911586
• Langue: English

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PREFACE
The studies of the author of this work, for the lastten years, in writing the "History of Napoleon Bonaparte," and "TheFrench Revolution of 1789," have necessarily made him quitefamiliar with the monarchies of Europe. He has met with so muchthat was strange and romantic in their career, that he has beeninterested to undertake, as it were, a biography of theMonarchies of Continental Europe - their birth, education,exploits, progress and present condition. He has commenced withAustria.
There are abundant materials for this work. The Lifeof Austria embraces all that is wild and wonderful in history; herearly struggles for aggrandizement - the fierce strife with theTurks, as wave after wave of Moslem invasion rolled up the Danube -the long conflicts and bloody persecutions of the Reformation - thethirty years' religious war - the meteoric career of GustavusAdolphus and Charles XII. shooting athwart the lurid storms ofbattle - the intrigues of Popes - the enormous pride, power andencroachments of Louis XIV. - the warfare of the Spanish successionand the Polish dismemberment - all these events combine in asublime tragedy which fiction may in vain attempt to parallel.
It is affecting to observe in the history ofGermany, through what woes humanity has passed in attaining evenits present position of civilization. It is to be hoped that thehuman family may never again suffer what it has already endured. Weshall be indeed insane if we do not gain some wisdom from thestruggles and the calamities of those who have gone before us. Thenarrative of the career of the Austrian Empire, must, by contrast,excite emotions of gratitude in every American bosom. Our lineshave fallen to us in pleasant places; we have a goodlyheritage.
It is the author's intention soon to issue, as thesecond of this series, the History of the Empire of Russia.
JOHN S. C. ABBOTT.
Brunswick, Maine, 1859.
CONTENTS.
CHAP. I. RHODOLPH OF HAPSBURG. From 1232 to1291.
Hawk's Castle. - Albert, Count of Hapsburg. -Rhodolph of Hapsburg. - His Marriage and Estates. - Excommunicationand its Results. - His Principles of Honor. - A Confederacy ofBarons. - Their Route. - Rhodolph's Election as Emperor of Germany.- The Bishop's Warning. - Dissatisfaction at the Result of theElection. - Advantages accruing from the Possession of aninteresting Family. - Conquest. - Ottocar acknowledges the Emperor;yet breaks his Oath of Allegiance. - Gathering Clouds. - WonderfulEscape. - Victory of Rhodolph. - His Reforms. Page 17
CHAP. II. REIGNS OF ALBERT I., FREDERIC, ALBERT ANDOTHO. From 1291 to 1347.
Anecdotes of Rhodolph. - His Desire for the Electionof his Son. - His Death. - Albert. - His Unpopularity. - Conspiracyof the Nobles. - Their Defeat. - Adolphus of Nassau chosen Emperor.- Albert's Conspiracy. - Deposition of Adolphus and Election ofAlbert. - Death of Adolphus. - The Pope Defied. - Annexation ofBohemia. - Assassination of Albert. - Avenging Fury. - The Hermit'sDirection. - Frederic the Handsome. - Election of Henry, Count ofLuxemburg. - His Death. - Election of Louis of Bavaria. - Captureof Frederic. - Remarkable Confidence toward a Prisoner. - Death ofFrederic. - An early Engagement. - Death of Louis. - Accession ofAlbert. Page 34
CHAP. 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 Powerto Austria. - Dividing the Empire. - Delight of the EmperorCharles. - Leopold. - His Ambition and successes. - Hedwige, Queenof 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.Page 48
CHAP. IV. ALBERT, LADISLAUS AND FREDERIC. From 1440to 1489.
Increasing Honors of Albert V. - Encroachments ofthe Turks. - The Christians Routed. - Terror of the Hungarians. -Death of Albert. - Magnanimous Conduct of Albert of Bavaria. -Internal Troubles. - Precocity of Ladislaus. - FortificationsRaised by the Turks. - John Capistrun. - Rescue of Belgrade. - TheTurks Dispersed. - Exultation over the Victory. - Death ofHunniades. - Jealousy of Ladislaus. - His Death. - BrotherlyQuarrels. - Devastations by the Turks. - Invasion of Austria. -Repeal of the Compromise. - The Emperor a Fugitive. Page 68
CHAP. V. THE EMPERORS FREDERIC II. AND MAXIMILIAN I.From 1477 to 1500.
Wanderings of the Emperor Frederic. - ProposedAlliance with the Duke of Burgundy. - Mutual Distrust. - Marriageof Mary. - The Age of Chivalry. - The Motive inducing the Lord ofPraunstein to Declare War. - Death of Frederic II. - The Emperor'sSecret. - Designs of the Turks. - Death of Mahomet II. - FirstEstablishment of Standing Armies. - Use of Gunpowder. - Energy ofMaximilian. - French Aggressions. - The League to Expel the French.- Disappointments of Maximilian. - Bribing the Pope. - Invasion ofItaly. - Capture and Recapture. - The Chevalier de Bayard. Page77
CHAP. VI. MAXIMILIAN I. From 1500 to 1519.
Base Treachery of the Swiss Soldiers. - Perfidy ofFerdinand of Arragon. - Appeals by Superstition. - Coalition withSpain. - The League of Cambray. - Infamy of the Pope. - The King'sApology. - Failure of the Plot. - Germany Aroused. - Confidence ofMaximilian. - Longings for the Pontifical Chair. - MaximilianBribed. - Leo X. - Dawning Prosperity. - Matrimonial Projects. -Commencement of the War of Reformation. - Sickness of Maximilian. -His Last Directions. - His Death. - The Standard by which hisCharacter is to be Judged. Page 91
CHAP. VII. CHARLES V. AND THE REFORMATION. From 1519to 1581.
Charles V. of Spain. - His Election as Emperor ofGermany. - His Coronation. - The First Constitution. - Progress ofthe Reformation. - The Pope's Bull against Luther. - His Contemptfor his Holiness. - The Diet at Worms. - Frederic's Objection tothe Condemnation of Luther by the Diet. - He obtains for Luther theRight 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. - TerribleInsurrection. - The Holy League. - The Protest of Spires. -Confession of Augsburg. - The Two Confessions. - CompulsoryMeasures. Page 106
CHAP. VIII. CHARLES V. AND THE REFORMATION. From1531 to 1552.
Determination to crush Protestantism. - Incursion ofthe Turks. - Valor of the Protestants. - Preparations for renewedHostilities. - Augmentation of the Protestant Forces. - The Councilof Trent. - Mutual Consternation. - Defeat of the Protestant Army.- Unlooked-for Succor. - Revolt in the Emperor's Army. - TheFluctuations of Fortune. - Ignoble Revenge. - Capture ofWittemberg. - Protestantism apparently crushed. - Plot againstCharles. - Maurice of Saxony. - A Change of Scene. - The Biter Bit- The Emperor humbled. - His Flight. - His determined Will. Page121
CHAP. IX. CHARLES V. AND THE TURKISH WARS. From 1552to 1555.
The Treaty of Passau. - The Emperor yields. - Hiscontinued Reverses. - The Toleration Compromise. - MutualDissatisfaction. - 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 MockBurial. - His Death. - His Traits of Character. - The King'sCompliment to Titian. - The Condition of Austria. - Rapid Advanceof the Turks. - Reasons for the Inaction of the Christians. - TheSultan's Method of Overcoming Difficulties. - The little Fortressof Guntz. - What it accomplished. Page 186
CHAP. X. FERDINAND I. - HIS WARS AND INTRIGUES. From1555 to 1562.
John of Tapoli. - The Instability of Compacts. - TheSultan's Demands. - A Reign of War. - Powers and Duties of theMonarchs of Bohemia. - The Diet. - The King's Desire to crushProtestantism. - The Entrance to Prague. - Terror of theInhabitants. - 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 thePope. - Paul IV. - A quiet but powerful Blow. - The Progress of theReformers. - Attempts to reconcile the Protestants. - Theunsuccessful Assembly. Page 151
CHAP. XI. DEATH OF FERDINAND I. - ACCESSION OFMAXIMILIAN II. From 1562 to 1576.
The Council of Trent. - Spread of the Reformation. -Ferdinand's Attempt to influence the Pope. - His Arguments againstCelibacy. - Stubbornness of the Pope. - Maximilian II. -Displeasure of Ferdinand. - Motives for not abjuring the CatholicFaith. - Religious Strife in Europe. - Maximilian's Address toCharles IX. - Mutual Toleration. - Romantic Pastime of War. -Heroism of Nicholas, Count of Zeini. - Accession of Power toAustria. - Accession of Rhodolph III. - Death of Maximilian. Page166
CHAP. XII. CHARACTER OF MAXIMILIAN. - SUCCESSION OFRHODOLPH III. From 1576 to 1604.
Character of Maximilian. - His Accomplishments. -His Wife. - Fate of his Children. - Rhodolph III. - The Liberty ofWorship. - Means of Emancipation. - Rhodolph's Attempts againstProtestantism. - Declaration of a higher Law. - TheologicalDifferences. - The Confederacy at Heilbrun. - The GregorianCalendar. - 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 andrecaptured. - Devastation of the Country. - Treatment of StephenBotskoi. Page 182
CHAP. XIII. RHODOLPH III. AND MATTHIAS. From 1604 to1609.
Botskoi's Manifesto. - Horrible Suffering inTransylvania. - Character of Botskoi. - Confidence of theProtestants. - Superstition of Rholdoph. - His Mystic Studies. -Acquirements of Matthias. - Schemes of Matthias. - His increasingpower. - Treaty with the Turks. - Demands on Rhodolph. - TheCompromise. - Perfidy of Matthias. - The Margravite. -Fillisbustering. - The People's Diet. - A Hint to Royalty