History of the German Emperors and their contemporaries. Translated from the German and compiled from authentic sources. By E. P. ... Illustrated

Front matter

HISTORY OF THE GERMAN EMPERORS AND THEIR CONTEMPORARIES. TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN AND COMPILED EROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES. BY ELIZABETH PEAKE, AUTHOR OF " PEN PICTURES OF EUROPE." ILLUSTRATED. PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 1874. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by ELIZABETH PEAKE, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. Lippincott's Press, Philadelphia. THIS HISTORY IS DEDICATED TO MY SCHOLARS, HAVING BEEN WRITTEN ESPECIALLY FOR THEIR USE, TO REFRESH THEIR MEMORIES, AND TO RECALL THE PLEASANT HOURS WHICH THEY HAVE PASSED IN THE PURSUIT OF THIS " QUEENLY BRANCH OF KNOWLEDGE" WITH THEIR FAITHFUL AND AFFECTIONATE FRIEND, E. PEAKE.

Preface

. The Town-House in Frankfort-on-the-Main, called Roemer, a building of the fifteenth century, has little architectural beauty, but much historical interest to recommend it, having been the scene of the ceremonies attending the election of the Emperors, and the place where the festivities which succeeded their coronations were held. The walls of the banqueting-room, or Kaiscrsaal, where the Emperors were entertained, and waited on at table by kings and princes, are covered with their portraits in the order of their succession, — fifty-two in number, — painted by Lessing, Bendeman, Bethel, and other eminent living artists. Under nearly every one is the motto whicl the Em peror adopted at his coronation. At the end of the hall is the "Judg ment of Solomon," by Steinle. Looking at these portraits reminded me of Carlyle's saying, that "the history of the world is but the biography of great men;" and the thought struck me that it might be a good plan to begin with Charlemagne, and come down to the present time, taking as a clue, through the Middle or Dark Ages, a connected outline of the lives of the Emperors, and the great events which occurred in their times, with a brief mention of their contemporaries, even though it might occasion some repetition.

If this work serves as a guide through any of the intricacies of history, and adds a modicum to the general knowledge of past events and characters, the ambition of the' author will be satisfied. E. P. CONTENTS. PAGE Introduction 9 FRANK EMPERORS. Charlemagne I7 Louis the Debonnaire . 25 Louis II., the German 29 Charles the Fat 31 Arnulph 32 Louis the Child 33 Conrad 1 34 SAXON EMPERORS. Henry the Fowler 39 Otho I., the Great 41 Contemporaries 44 Otho II., the Red 46 Otho III 48 Henry II., surnamed the Saint 51 Contemporaries 53 ' FRANCO N IAN EMPERORS. Conrad II., the Salic 59 Henry III., the Black 61 Henry IV 63 Henry V 68 lothaire of supplinburg 7° Contemporaries 71 SUABIAN EMPERORS. Conrad III. 91 Frederic I., Barbarossa 95 Henry VI 103 Philip of Suabia 105 Otto IV. of Brunswick 107 Frederic II 109 Contemporaries .... 115 HAPSBURG, AND OTHER HOUSES.

Rudolph of Hapsburg 131 Adolph of Nassau 136 Albert I :39 Contemporaries 143 CONTENTS. PAGE Henry VII 149 Frederic the Handsome I52 Louis the Bavarian TS3 Charles IV 1Si Gunther of Schwarzburg z5% Contemporaries lfil Wenceslaus I7° Rupert, or Robert J75 Sigismund J76 Contemporaries l84 HOUSE OF AUSTRIA. Albert II. J99 Frederic III 200 Contemporaries 210 Maximilian 1 222 Contemporaries 226 Charles V. * . 239 Contemporaries 251 Ferdinand I . 293 Contemporaries 296 Maximilian II 306 Contemporaries 308 Rudolph II 315 Contemporaries 320 Matthias 336 Ferdinand II 341 Ferdinand III ■ . . 363 Contemporaries 370 Leopold 1 381 Joseph I. 387 Contemporaries 389 Charles VI 403 Charles VII 405 Contemporaries 406 HOUSE OF AUSTRIA-LORRAINE. Francis I. , • 417 Contemporaries 428 Joseph II 444 Leopold II 447 Contemporaries 448 Francis II 45g Contemporaries 463 HOUSE OF HOHENZOLLERN. William 1