Sketcher.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 412, 7 April 1904, Page 2

Sketcher.

THE BOMANCE OF THE HAPSBUBGS ■HE proud Hapsburgs are indeed moat illustrious among European dynasties, but the founders of the

Honse were still indistinguishable among the rack of nobles when King Edward's ancestors had long been potentates and wore a orowa. The factors which raised the Hapsburgs to their lofty Imperial status are easily discerned. In the first instance, it was courtesy to a fearful traveller, who nobly repaid his protector with a Boyal diadem: Second to this, and more decisive, has been the ability of the Hapßburgs to marry rich and influential wives.

Though they claim descent from Charleraange, the history ef the Hapsburgs dates only from the tenth century and Onntrum, Count of Alsace. His son Werner was Bishop of Strasburg, and in the year 1001 built for himself a caetle on the rocky heights of the Biver Am in Switzerland From its position the stronghold received the name of Hapsburg or Hawk's Castle. Thus the building bishop's descendants became known as Hapsburgs. By marrying well-dowered maidens, by bullying . neighbouring nobles, and by rendering good fighting service 'for the Emperor against the Guelph ancestors of King Edward, the forbears of the Emperor Francis Joseph extended their estates.

Count Albert of Hapsburg was especially energetic. He added Constance, Sfcrarburg, Basle, Coire, and Lausanne to his domains, and became Landgrave of Upper Alsace and Lord of Zurich. But the middle of the thirteenth century found the Hapsburgs still in the position of Swiss Counts. At one -bound they were raised to Imperial rank and a kingdom in the person of Budolph. This great founder of the Hapsburgs was bold and warlike, always fighting with his fellow nobles, and _6ven the plundering of the churches was-charged against him The minor rank of the Hapsburgs at that period is sufficiently shown by Rudolph's position as Master of the Horse to the King of Bohemia. Suddenly, in 1273, while engaged in besieging the City of Basle, Budolph of Hapsburg received the amasing news that he had been chosen King of the Romans. That this petty Swiss count, engaged in a trumpery quarrel with Basle, should suddenly be elevated to the headship of the Holy Roman Empire, comprising the whole of Central Europe, requires explanation. For forty years there had been an Imperial interregnum, which was ended by the dramatic election of Budolph of Hapsburg. This was brought about by Werner of Eppstein, who had been made Archbishop of Mentz a few years before. On his journey to Borne to do homage to the Pope, Werner passed through the Hapsburg domains, was hospitably entertained, escorted across the Alps, and protected against banditti by Count Budolph. The Archbishop was impressed by his host's abilities, and grateful for his courteous guidance from the tenors of the road.

In return for this kindness, and unknown to Rudolph, the Archbishop so intrigued and influenced the princes of the Germanic nations that they eleoted the Swiss Count as their King. Budolph's insignificance was the great factor in his election. As he wtts but a petty count the Princes expected in him merely a nominal Sovereign, a governor easily governed. Moreover, Budolph had six fair daughters, and by marrying them the Princes would secure influence with their Suzerain. Thus was the Count of Hapsburg elected King of the Bomans. lathe Imperial archives at Vienna is

still preserved as an historic talisman a shoe of the horse that Bndolph was riding while directing operations against Basle, vhen messengers informed him of his unexpected promotion to a crown. Bndolph eagerly accepted the dignity, and clinched the matter by marrying three of his daughters to the Duke of Bavaria, the Dake of Saxony, and the Marquis of Brandenburg. Leaving Hapsburg for Aix-la-Ohapelle, he was there crowned with the ancient diadem of Charlemangne. The f ope blessed the appointment, and confirmed Budolph's title as Emperor of thb Holy Soman Umpire. But Ottocar, King of Bohemia, protested. He refused to acknowledge as Sing over him a petty Swiss count. Badolph showed himselt a man of power. He strengthened himself by marrying another daughter of the Duke of Sclavonia, and espousing his eldest son to the daughter of the Count of Tyrol. He called the Empire to arms to assert his title against the King of Bohemia. His sons-in-law dutifully responded. Bndolph defeated Ottocar, and compelled him to do homage to him in Vienna, He seised possession of Austria, Styria, Carinthia, and Garniola, and concluded the matter by marrying his fifth daughter to Ottocar. Never were daughters so helpful to man as to Bndolph, first of the Imperial Hapsburgs. Henceforth the Hapsburgs were established in Vienna. By degrees they lest their original family estates in Switzsrland, but conquest, marriage, and purchase gave them greater domains and dignity in Germanic Burope that rendered insignificant the loss of their steppingstone to power. All the immediate descendants of Bndolph did not succeed to the Imperial throne, for it was filled bj eleotion. But from 1438 until its dissolution by Napoleon, the Hapsburgs were Emperors of the Holy Soman Empire, reigning, if . they did not always rule, over almost the whole of Enrope, save France, and being i the bulwark of Christendom against the invading Turk. To trace, even broadly, the rise of the Hapsburgs would be to write the history of Enropa for six hundred years. The seal was Bet upon their historic eminence by Maximilian I. in the opening years of the sixteenth century. By his marriage to the daughter of Charles the Bold, the Netherlands were added to the Hapsburg domains. By marriage his son united the Houses of Austria and Spain, from which union sprang Charles V., who may be said to have held Europe in the hollow of his hand.

In 1526, again by power of marriage, the Hapshurga annexed Bohemia and Hangar}, and converted Austria (hitherto only an archduchy) into a kingdom. Even in bo brief a sketch as this the matrimonial genius of the Eapsburgs is strikiagly evident, and it is even more so when examined in detail. Marriage, indeed, has been empatically the path of Hapsburgs to greatness. The example of Budolphin marrying his five daughters for the promotion of his dignity and extension of his realm was followed by his descendants. So. marked was this that a popular Maxim of the Middle Ages ran 'Let others war; do thou, Austria, make fortunate marriages.' With the Empress Maria Theresa in 1780, the last of the true Hapßburgs died In the Napoleonic storm the aaoient dynasty was shorn of its highest dignity. At Austerlitz the Holy Soman Empire was shattered, and with it the. sway which the Hapsburgs had exercised for nearly four hundred years. Francis resigned the title of King of the Bo nans and Emperor of Germany, and took the title of Emperor of Austria-Hungary ,