History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 02Carlyle, Thomas
History
History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 02
Carlyle, Thomas
Frederick II, King of Prussia, 1712-1786; Prussia (Germany) -- History -- Frederick II, 1740-1786; Social problems
He transferred the Markgrafdom to BRANDENBURG, probably as more central
in his wide lands; SALZWEDEL is henceforth the led Markgrafdom or
MARCK, and soon falls out of notice in the world. Salzwedel is called
henceforth ever since the "Old Marck (_Alte Marck, Altmarck_ );" the
Brandenburg countries getting the name of "New Marck." Modern NEUMARK,
modern "Middle-Marck" (in which stands Brandenburg itself in our time),
"UCKER-Marck" (OUTSIDE Marck,--word UCKER is still seen in UKRAINE, for
instance): these are posterior Divisions, fallen upon as Brandenburg
(under Albert chiefly) enlarged itself, and needed new Official
parcellings into departments.
Under Albert the Markgrafdom had risen to be an ELECTORATE withal. The
Markgraf of Brandenburg was now furthermore the KURFURST of Brandenburg;
officially "Arch-treasurer of the Holy Roman Empire;" and one of the
Seven who have a right (which became about this time an exclusive one
for those Seven) to choose, to KIEREN the Romish Kaiser; and who are
therefore called KUR Princes, KURFURSTE or Electors, as the highest
dignity except the Kaiser's own. In reference to which abstruse matter,
likely to concern us somewhat, will the uninstructed English reader
consent to the following Excerpt, slightly elucidatory of KURFURSTS and
their function?
"FURST (Prince) I suppose is equivalent originally to our noun of
number, First. The old verb KIEREN (participle ERKOREN still in use, not
to mention 'Val-KYR' and other instances) is essentially the same word
as our CHOOSE, being written KIESEN as well as KIEREN. Nay, say the
etymologists, it is also written KUSSEN (to KISS,--to CHOOSE with such
emphasis!), and is not likely to fall obsolete in that form.--The other
Six Electoral Dignitaries who grew to Eight by degrees, and may be worth
noting once by the readers of this Book; are:--
"1. Three Ecclesiastical, MAINZ, COLN, TRIER (Mentz, Cologne,
Treves), Archbishops all, with sovereignty and territory more or less
considerable;--who used to be elected as Popes are, theoretically by
their respective Chapters and the Heavenly Inspirations, but practically
by the intrigues and pressures of the neighboring Potentates, especially
France and Austria.
"2. Three Secular, SACHSEN, PFALZ, BOHMEN (Saxony, Palatinate, Bohemia);
of which the last, BOHMEN, since it fell from being a Kingdom in itself,
to being a Province of Austria, is not very vocal in the Diets. These
Six, with Brandenburg, are the Seven Kurfursts in old time; SEPTEMVIRS
of the Country, so to speak.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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