History of Friedrich II of Prussia - Frederick the Great Chapter XIII. - Luxemburg Kurfursts in Brandenburg.
by Thomas Carlyle
If Brandenburg suffered much under the Bavarian Kurfursts for
Fifty years, it was worse, and approached to the state of worst,
under the Luxemburgers, who lasted for some Forty more.
Ninety years of anarchy in all; which at length brought it to
great need of help from the Fates!--
Karl IV. made his eldest Boy Wenzel, still only about twelve,
Elector of Brandenburg; [1373 (born 1361).] Wenzel shall be Kaiser
and King of Bohemia, one day, thinks Karl;--which actually came to
pass, and little to Wenzel's profit, by and by. In the mean while
Karl accompanied him to Brandenburg; which country Karl liked much
at the money, and indeed ever after, in his old days, he seemed
rather to busy himself with it. He assembled some kind of STANDE
(States) twice over; got the Country "incorporated with Bohemia"
by them, and made tight and handy so far. Brandenburg shall rest
from its woes, and be a silent portion of Bohemia henceforth,
thinks Karl,--if the Heavens so please. Karl, a futile Kaiser,
would fain have done something to "encourage trade" in
Brandenburg; though one sees not what it was he did, if anything.
He built the Schloss of Tangermunde, and oftenest lived there in
time coming; a quieter place than even Prag for him. In short, he
appears to have fancied his cheap Purchase, and to have cheered
his poor old futile life with it, as with one thing that had been
successful. Poor old creature: he had been a Kaiser on false
terms, "Ho every one that dare bully me, or that has money in his
pocket;"--a Kaiser that could not but be futile! In five years'
time he died; [King of Bohemia, 1346, on his Father's death;
Kaiser (acknowledged on Ludwig the BAIER'S death), 1347; died,
1378, age 62.] and doubtless was regretted in Brandenburg and
even in the Reich, in comparison with what came next.
In Brandenburg he left, instead of one indifferent or even bad
governor steadily tied to the place and in earnest to make the
best of it, a fluctuating series of governors holding loose, and
not in earnest; which was infinitely worse. These did not try to
govern it; sent it to the Pawnbroker, to a fluctuating series of
Pawnbrokers; under whom, for the next five-and-thirty years,
Brandenburg tasted all the fruits of Non-government, that is to
say, Anarchy or Government by the Pawnbroker; and sank faster and
faster, towards annihilation as it seemed. That was its fate under
the Luxemburg Kurfursts, who made even the Bavarian and all
others be regretted.
One thing Kaiser Karl did, which ultimately proved the saving of
Brandenburg: made friendship with the Hohenzollern Burggraves.
These, Johann II., temporary "STUTTHALTER" Johann, and his
Brother, who were Co-regents in the Family Domain, when Karl first
made appearance,--had stood true to Kaiser Ludwig and his Son, so
long as that play lasted at all; nay one of these Burggraves was
talked of as Kaiser after Ludwig's death, but had the wisdom not
to try. Kaiser Ludwig being dead, they still would not recognize
the PFAFFEN-KAISER Karl, but held gloomily out. So that Karl had
to march in force into the Nurnberg country, and by great
promises, by considerable gifts, and the "example of the other
Princes of the Empire," ["Hallow-eve, 1347, on the Field of
Nurnberg," Agreement was come to (Rentsch, p. 326).] brought them
over to do homage.
After which, their progress, and that of their successor (Johann's
son, Friedrich V.), in the grace of Karl, was something
xtraordinary. Karl gave his Daughter to this Friedrich V.'s eldest
Son; appointed a Daughter of Friedrich's for his own Second
Prince, the famed Sigismund, famed that is to be,--which latter
match did not take effect, owing to changed outlooks after Karl's
death. Nay there is a Deed still extant about marrying children
not yet born: Karl to produce a Princess within five years, and
Burggraf Friedrich V. a Prince, for that purpose! [Rentsch,
p. 336.] But the Burggraf never had another Prince; though Karl
produced the due Princess, and was ready, for his share.
Unless indeed this strange eager-looking Document, not dated in
the old Books, may itself relate to the above wedding which did
come to pass?--Years before that, Karl had made his much-esteemed
Burggraf Friedrich V. "Captain-General of the Reich;" "Imperial
Vicar," (SUBSTITUTE, if need were), and much besides; nay had
given him the Landgraviate of Elsass (ALSACE),--so far as lay with
him to give,--of which valuable country this Friedrich had actual
possession so long as the Kaiser lived. "Best of men," thought the
poor light Kaiser; "never saw such a man!"
Which proved a salutary thought, after all. The man had a little
Boy Fritz (not the betrothed to Karl's Princess), still chasing
butterflies at Culmbach, when Karl died. In this Boy lie new
destinies for Brandenburg: towards him, and not towards
annihilation, are Karl and the Luxemburg Kurfursts and Pawnbrokers
unconsciously guiding it.