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 extraordinary.
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.