Character of Maximilian--The Competitors for the
Empire--Charles--Francis I--Inclination of the Germans--The
Crown offered to Frederick--Charles is Elected.
A new character was going to appear upon the stage. God saw meet to
place the monk of Wittemberg in presence of the most powerful monarch
who had appeared in Christendom since Charlemagne. He chose a prince,
in the fervid vigour of youth, to whom every thing presaged a reign of
long duration--a prince whose sceptre extended over a considerable
portion both of the old and the new world; so that, according to a
celebrated expression, the sun never set on his vast dominions--and
opposed him to this humble Reformation, which began with the anguish
and sighs of a poor monk, in the obscure cell of a convent at Erfurt.
The history of this monarch and his reign seems to have been destined
to give a great lesson to the world. It was to show the nothingness of
all "the power of man," when it presumes to contend with "the weakness
of God." Had a prince, friendly to Luther, been called to the empire,
the success of the Reformation would have been attributed to his
protection. Had even an emperor opposed to the new doctrine, but
feeble, occupied the throne, the triumphant success of the work would
have been accounted for by the feebleness of the monarch. But it was
the proud conqueror of Pavia who behoved to humble his pride before
the power of the Divine Word, that all the world might see how he, who
had found it easy to drag Francis I a captive to Madrid, was compelled
to lower his sword before the son of a poor miner.
[Sidenote: COMPETITORS FOR THE IMPERIAL CROWN.]
The Emperor Maximilian was dead, and the electors had met at Frankfort
to give him a successor. In the circumstances in which Europe was
placed, this election was of vast importance, and was regarded with
deep interest by all Christendom. Maximilian had not been a great
prince; but his memory was dear to the people, who took a pleasure in
remembering his presence of mind and good-humoured affability. Luther
often talked of him to his friends, and one day related the following
anecdote.
A beggar had kept running after him asking charity, and addressing him
as his _brother_; "for," said he, "we are both descended from the same
father, Adam. I am poor," continued he, "but you are rich, and it is
your duty to assist me." At these words the emperor turned round and
said to him--"Hold, there's a penny: go to your other brothers, and if
each gives you as much, you will soon be richer than I am."[171]
[171] L. Op. (W.) xxii, 1869.
The person about to be called to the empire was not a good-natured
Maximilian. Times were to undergo a change; ambitious potentates were
competing for the imperial throne of the West; the reins of the empire
were to be seized by an energetic hand; profound peace was to be
succeeded by long and bloody wars.
[Sidenote: FRANCIS I. HENRY VIII. FREDERICK.]
At the assembly of Frankfort, three kings aspired to the crown of the
Cæsars. A youthful prince, grandson of the last emperor, born at the
opening of the century, and consequently nineteen years of age, first
presented himself. He was named Charles, and was born at Ghent. His
paternal grandmother, Mary, daughter of Charles the Bold, had left him
Flanders and the rich States of Burgundy. His mother, Joan, daughter
of Ferdinand of Arragon and Isabella of Castile, and wife of Philip,
son of the Emperor Maximilian, had transmitted to him the united
kingdoms of Spain, Naples, and Sicily, to which Christopher Columbus
had added a new world, while the recent death of his grandfather put
him in possession of the hereditary States of Austria. This young
prince, who was endowed with great talents. To a turn for military
exercises (in which the dukes of Burgundy had long been
distinguished)--to the finesse and penetration of the Italians--to the
reverence for existing institutions which still characterises the
house of Austria, and promised the papacy a firm defender, he joined a
thorough knowledge of public affairs, acquired under the direction of
Chièvres, having from fifteen years of age taken part in all the
deliberations of his cabinet.[172] These diversified qualities were,
in a manner, shrouded under Spanish reserve and taciturnity. In
personal appearance he was tall in stature, and had somewhat of a
melancholy air. "He is pious and tranquil," said Luther, "and I
believe does not speak as much in a year as I do in a day."[173] Had
the character of Charles been formed under the influence of freedom
and Christianity, he would perhaps have been one of the most
admirable princes on record; but politics engrossed his life, and
stifled his great and good qualities.
[172] Memoires de Bellay, i, 45.
[173] L. Op. (W.) xxii, 1874.
Not contented with all the sceptres which he grasped in his hand,
young Charles aspired to the imperial dignity. "It is like a sunbeam,
which throws lustre on the house which it illumines," said several,
"but put forth the hand to lay hold of it and you will find nothing."
Charles, on the contrary, saw in it the pinnacle of all earthly
grandeur, and a means of acquiring a magic influence over the spirit
of the nations.
Francis I was the second of the competitors. The young paladins of the
court of this chivalric king were incessantly representing to him that
he was entitled, like Charlemagne, to be the emperor of all the West,
and reviving the exploits of the ancient knights, to attack the
crescent which was menacing the empire, discomfit the infidels, and
recover the holy sepulchre.
"It is necessary," said the ambassadors of Francis to the electors,
"it is necessary to prove to the Dukes of Austria, that the imperial
crown is not hereditary. Besides, in existing circumstances, Germany
has need not of a young man of nineteen, but of a prince who, to an
experienced judgment, joins talents which have already been
recognised. Francis will unite the arms of France and Lombardy to
those of Germany, and make war on the Mussulmans. Sovereign of the
duchy of Milan, he is already a member of the imperial body." These
arguments, the French ambassadors supported by four hundred thousand
crowns, which they distributed in purchasing votes and in festivities,
by which they endeavoured to gain over their guests.
The third competitor was Henry VIII, who, jealous of the influence
which the choice of the electors might give to Francis or Charles,
also entered the lists, but soon left his powerful rivals sole
disputants for the crown.
The electors were not disposed to favour either. Their subjects
thought they would have in Francis a foreign master, and a master who
might deprive the electors themselves of their independence, as he had
lately deprived the nobles of his own dominions. As to Charles, it was
an ancient rule with the electors not to choose a prince who was
already playing an important part in the empire. The pope shared in
these fears. He wished neither the king of Naples, who was his
neighbour, nor the king of France, whose enterprising spirit filled
him with alarm; "Choose rather some one from amongst yourselves," was
his message to the electors. The elector of Trèves proposed Frederick
of Saxony, and the imperial crown was laid at the feet of Luther's
friend.
[Sidenote: CHARLES V ELECTED EMPEROR.]
This choice would have obtained the approbation of all Germany.
Frederick's wisdom, and affection for his people, were well known.
During the revolt of Erfurt, he had been urged to take the town by
assault, and refused, in order to spare blood. "But it will not cost
five men." "A single man would be too many," replied the prince.[174]
The triumph of the Reformation seemed on the eve of being secured by
the election of its protector. Ought not Frederick to have regarded
the offer of the electors as a call from God himself? Who could have
presided better over the destinies of the empire than a prince of so
much wisdom? Who could have been stronger to oppose the Turks than an
emperor strong in faith? The refusal of the Elector of Saxony, so much
lauded by historians, was perhaps a fault. For the contests which
afterwards tore Germany to pieces he is perhaps partly to blame. But
it is difficult to say whether Frederick deserves censure for his want
of faith or honour for his humility. He thought that even the safety
of the empire made it his duty to refuse the crown.[175] "To save
Germany," said this modest and disinterested prince, "an emperor more
powerful than I is requisite."
[174] L. Op. (W.) xxii, p. 1858.
[175] "Is vero heroïca plane moderatione animi magnifice
repudiavit".... (Pallavicini, i, p. 79.) With a moderation amounting
to heroism he nobly declined it.
The legate of Rome seeing that the choice would fall upon Charles,
intimated that the pope withdrew his objections; and on the 28th of
June, the grandson of Maximilian was elected. "God," said Frederick
afterwards, "gave him to us in mercy and in anger."[176] The Spanish
envoys sent a present of thirty thousand gold florins to the Elector
of Saxony, as a mark of their master's gratitude; but the prince
refused it, and charged his ministers not to accept of any present. At
the same time he secured the German liberties by an engagement, to
which the envoys of Charles took an oath in his name. The
circumstances in which the latter prince encircled his head with the
imperial crown seemed still better fitted than the oath to secure the
Germanic liberties, and the success of the Reformation. The young
prince was jealous of the laurels which his rival, Francis I, had
gained at Marignan. The struggle was to be continued in Italy, and in
the meantime the Reformation would doubtless be made secure. Charles
left Spain in May, 1520, and was crowned on the 22nd of October, at
Aix-la-Chapelle.
[176] L. Op. (W.) xxii, p. 1880.