The Empire of Austria by John S. C. Abbott (great novels .TXT) 📕

Ferdinand. - His Bigotry. - Henry, Count of Thurn. - Convention at Prague. - The King's Reply. - The Die Cast. - Amusing Defense of an Outrage. - Ferdinand's Manifesto. - Seizure of Cardinal Klesis. - The King's Rage. - Retreat of the King's Troops. - Humiliation of Ferdinand. - The Difficulties Deferred. - Death of Matthias.


CHAPTER XVI.
FERDINAND II. From 1619 to 1621.

Possessions of the Emperor. - Power of the Protestants of Bohemia. - General Spirit of Insurrection. - Anxiety of Ferdinand. - Insurrection led by Count Thurn. - Unpopularity of the Emperor. - Affecting Declaration of the Emperor. - Insurrection in Vienna. - The Arrival of Succor. - Ferdinand Seeks the Imperial Throne. - Repudiated by Bohemia. - The Palatinate. - Frederic Offered the Crown of Bohemia. - Frederic Crowned. - Revolt in Hungary. - Desperate Condition of the Emperor. - Catholic League. - The Calvinists and the Puritans. - Duplicity of the Emperor. - Foreign Combinations. - Truce between the Catholics and the Protestants. - The Attack upon Bohemia. - Battle of the White Mountain.


CHAPTER XVII.
FERDINAND II. From 1621 to 1629.

Pusillanimity of Frederic. - Intreaties of the Citizens of Prague. - Shameful Flight of Frederic. - Vengeance Inflicted upon Bohemia. - Protestantism and Civil Freedom. - Vast Power of the Emperor. - Alarm of Europe. - James I. - Treaty of Marriage for the Prince of Wales. - Cardinal Richelieu. - New League of the Protestants. - Desolating War. - Defeat of the King of Denmark. - Energy of Wallenstein. - Triumph of Ferdinand. - New Acts of Intolerance. - Severities in Bohemia. - Desolation of the Kingdom. - Dissatisfaction of the Duke of Bavaria. - Meeting of the Catholic Princes. - The Emperor Humbled.


CHAPTER XVIII.
FERDINAND II. AND GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS. From 1629 to 1632.

Vexation of Ferdinand. - Gustavus Adolphus. - Address to the Nobles of Sweden. - March of Gustavus. - Appeal to the Protestants. - Magdeburg joins Gustavus. - Destruction of the City. - Consternation of the Protestants. - Exultation of the Catholics. - The Elector of Saxony Driven from His Domains. - Battle of Leipsic. - The Swedes penetrate Bohemia. - Freedom of Conscience Established. - Death of Tilly. - The Retirement of Wallenstein. - The Command Resumed by Wallenstein. - Capture of Prague. - Encounter between Wallenstein and Gustavus. - Battle of Lutzen. - Death of Gustavus.


CHAPTER XIX.
FERDINAND II., FERDINAND III. AND LEOPOLD I. From 1632 to 1662.

Character of Gustavus Adolphus. - Exultation of the Imperialists. - Disgrace of Wallenstein. - He offers to Surrender to the Swedish General. - His Assassination. - Ferdinand's son Elected as his Successor. - Death of Ferdinand. - Close of the War. - Abdication of Christina. - Charles Gustavus. - Preparations for War. - Death of Ferdinand III. - Leopold Elected Emperor. - Hostilities Renewed. - Death of Charles Gustavus. - Diet Convened. - Invasion of the Turks.


CHAPTER XX.
LEOPOLD I. From 1662 to 1697.

Invasion of the Turks. - A Treaty Concluded. - Possessions of Leopold. - Invasion of the French. - League of Augsburg. - Devastation of the Palatinate. - Invasion of Hungary. - Emerio Tekeli. - Union of Emerio Tekeli with the Turks. - Leopold Applies to Sobieski. - He Immediately Marches to his Aid. - The Turks Conquered. - Sobieski's Triumphal Receptions. - Meanness of Leopold. - Revenge upon Hungary. - Peace Concluded. - Contest for Spain.


CHAPTER XXI.
LEOPOLD I. AND THE SPANISH SUCCESSION From 1697 to 1710.

The Spanish Succession. - The Impotence of Charles II. - Appeal to the Pope. - His Decision. - Death of Charles II. - Accession of Philip V. - Indignation of Austria. - The Outbreak of War. - Charles III. Crowned. - Insurrection in Hungary. - Defection of Bavaria. - The Battle of Blenheim. - Death of Leopold I. - Eleonora. - Accession of Joseph I. - Charles XII. of Sweden. - Charles III. of Spain. - Battle of Malplaquet. - Charles at Barcelona. - Charles at Madrid.


CHAPTER XXII.
JOSEPH I. AND CHARLES VI. From 1710 to 1717.

Perplexities in Madrid. - Flight of Charles. - Retreat of the Austrian Army. - Stanhope's Division cut off. - Capture of Stanhope. - Staremberg assailed. - Retreat to Barcelona. - Attempt to pacify Hungary. - The Hungarian Diet. - Baronial crowning of Ragotsky. - Renewal of the Hungarian War. - Enterprise of Herbeville. - The Hungarians crushed. - Lenity of Joseph. - Death of Joseph. - Accession of Charles VI. - His career in Spain. - Capture of Barcelona. - The Siege. - The Rescue. - Character of Charles. - Cloisters of Montserrat. - Increased Efforts for the Spanish Crown. - Charles Crowned Emperor of Austria and Hungary. - Bohemia. - Deplorable Condition of Louis XIV.


CHAPTER XXIII.
CHARLES VI. From 1716 to 1727.

Heroic Decision of Eugene. - Battle of Belgrade. - Utter Rout of the Turks. - Possessions of Charles VI. - The Elector of Hanover succeeds to the English Throne. - Preparations for War. - State of Italy. - Philip V. of Spain. - Diplomatic Agitations. - Palace of St. Ildefonso. - Order of the Golden Fleece. - Rejection of Maria Anne. - Contest for the Rock of Gibraltar. - Dismissal of Rippeeda. - Treaty of Vienna. - Peace Concluded.


CHAPTER XXIV.
CHARLES VI. AND THE POLISH WAR. From 1727 to 1735.

Cardinal Fleury. - The Emperor of Austria urges the Pragmatic Sanction. - He promises his two Daughters to the two Sons of the Queen of Spain. - France, England and Spain unite against Austria. - Charles VI. issues Orders to Prepare for War. - His Perplexities. - Secret Overtures to England. - The Crown of Poland. - Meeting of the Polish Congress. - Stanislaus goes to Poland. - Augustus III. crowned. - War. - Charles sends an Army to Lombardy. - Difficulties of Prince Eugene. - Charles's Displeasure with England. - Letter to Count Kinsky. - Hostilities Renewed.


CHAPTER XXV.
CHARLES VI. AND THE TURKISH WAR RENEWED. From 1735 to 1739.

Anxiety of Austrian Office-holders. - Maria Theresa. - The Duke of Lorraine. - Distraction of the Emperor. - Tuscany assigned to the Duke of Lorraine. - Death of Eugene. - Rising Greatness of Russia. - New War with the Turks. - Condition of the Army. - Commencement of Hostilities - Capture of Nissa. - Inefficient Campaign. - Disgrace of Seckendorf. - The Duke of Lorraine placed in Command. - Siege of Orsova. - Belgrade besieged by the Turks. - The third Campaign. - Battle of Crotzka. - Defeat of the Austrians. - Consternation in Vienna. - Barbarism of the Turks. - The Surrender of Belgrade.


CHAPTER XXVI.
MARIA THERESA. From 1739 to 1741.

Anguish of the King. - Letter to the Queen of Russia. - The Imperial Circular. - Deplorable Condition of Austria. - Death of Charles VI. - Accession of Maria Theresa. - Vigorous Measures of the Queen. - Claim of the Duke of Bavaria. - Responses from the Courts. - Coldness of the French Court. - Frederic of Prussia. - His Invasion of Silesia. - March of the Austrians. - Battle of Molnitz. - Firmness of Maria Theresa. - Proposed Division of Plunder. - Villainy of Frederic. - Interview with the King. - Character of Frederic. - Commencement of the General Invasion.


CHAPTER XXVII.
MARIA THERESA. From 1741 to 1743.

Character of Francis, Duke of Lorraine. - Policy of European Courts. - Plan of the Allies. - Siege of Prague. - Desperate Condition of the Queen - Her Coronation in Hungary. - Enthusiasm of the Barons. - Speech of Maria Theresa. - Peace with Frederic of Prussia. - His Duplicity. - Military Movement of the Duke of Lorraine. - Battle of Chazleau. - Second Treaty with Frederic. - Despondency of the Duke of Bavaria. - March of Mallebois. - Extraordinary Retreat of Belleisle. - Recovery of Prague by the Queen.


CHAPTER XXVIII.
MARIA THERESA. From 1743 to 1748.

Prosperous Aspect of Austrian Affairs. - Capture of Egea. - Vast Extent of Austria. - Dispute with Sardinia. - Marriage of Charles of Lorraine with the Queen's Sister. - Invasion of Alsace. - Frederic overruns Bohemia. - Bohemia recovered by Prince Charles. - Death of the Emperor Charles VII. - Venality of the old Monarchies. - Battle of Hohenfriedberg. - Sir Thomas Robinson's Interview with Maria Theresa. - Hungarian Enthusiasm. - The Duke of Lorraine Elected Emperor. - Continuation of the War. - Treaty of Peace. - Indignation of Maria Theresa.


CHAPTER XXIX.
MARIA THERESA. From 1748 to 1759.

Treaty of Peace. - Dissatisfaction of Maria Theresa. - Preparation for War. - Rupture between England and Austria. - Maria Theresa. - Alliance with France. - Influence of Marchioness of Pompadour. - Bitter Reproaches between Austria And England. - Commencement of the Seven Years' War. - Energy of Frederic of Prussia. - Sanguinary Battles. - Vicissitudes of War. - Desperate Situation of Frederic. - Elation of Maria Theresa. - Her Ambitious Plans. - Awful Defeat of the Prussians at Berlin.


CHAPTER XXX.
MARIA THERESA. From 1759 to 1780.

Desolations of War. - Disasters of Prussia. - Despondency of Frederic. - Death of the Empress Elizabeth. - Accession of Paul III. - Assassination of Paul III. - Accession Of Catharine. - Discomfiture of the Austrians. - Treaty of Peace. - Election of Joseph to the Throne of the Empire. - Death of Francis. - Character of Francis. - Anecdotes. - Energy of Maria Theresa. - Poniatowski. - Partition of Poland. - Maria Theresa as a Mother. - War with Bavaria. - Peace. - Death of Maria Theresa. - Family of the Empress. - Accession of Joseph II. - His Character.


CHAPTER XXXI.
JOSEPH II. AND LEOPOLD II. From 1780 to 1792.

Accession of Joseph II. - His Plans of Reform. - Pius VI. - Emancipation of the Serfs. - Joseph's Visit to his Sister, Maria Antoinette. - Ambitious Designs. - The Imperial Sleigh Ride. - Barges on the Dneister. - Excursion to the Crimea. - War with Turkey. - Defeat of the Austrians. - Great Successes. - Death of Joseph. - His Character. - Accession of Leopold II. - His Efforts to confirm Despotism. - The French Revolution. - European Coalition. - Death of Leopold. - His Profligacy. - Accession of Francis II. - Present Extent and Power of Austria. - Its Army. - Policy of the Government.


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.


In the small canton of Aargau, in Switzerland, on a rocky bluff of the Wulpelsberg, there still remains an old baronial castle, called Hapsburg, or Hawk's Castle. It was reared in the eleventh century, and was occupied by a succession of warlike barons, who have left nothing to distinguish themselves from the feudal lords whose castles, at that period, frowned upon almost every eminence of Europe. In the year 1232