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
But always some preaching, by zealous monks, accompanied the chivalrous
fighting. And colonists came in from Germany; trickling in, or at times
streaming. Victorious Ritterdom offers terms to the beaten Heathen;
terms not of tolerant nature, but which will be punctually kept by
Ritterdom. When the flame of revolt or general conspiracy burnt up
again too extensively, there was a new Crusade proclaimed in Germany and
Christendom; and the Hochmeister, at Marburg or elsewhere, and all
his marshals and ministers were busy,--generally with effect. High
personages came on crusade to them. Ottocar King of Bohemia, Duke of
Austria and much else, the great man of his day, came once (A.D. 1255);
Johann King of Bohemia, in the next century, once and again. The mighty
Ottocar, [Voigt, iii. 80-87.] with his extensive far-shining chivalry,
"conquered Samland in a month;" tore up the Romova where Adalbert had
been massacred, and burnt it from the face of the Earth. A certain
Fortress was founded at that time, in Ottocar's presence; and in honor
of him they named it KING'S FORTRESS, "Konigsberg:" it is now grown a
big-domed metropolitan City,--where we of this Narrative lately saw a
Coronation going on, and Sophie Charlotte furtively taking a pinch of
snuff. Among King Ottocar's esquires or subaltern junior officials on
this occasion, is one RUDOLF, heir of a poor Swiss Lordship and gray
Hill-Castle, called HAPSBURG, rather in reduced circumstances, whom
Ottocar likes for his prudent hardy ways; a stout, modest, wise young
man,--who may chance to redeem Hapsburg a little, if he live? How the
shuttles fly, and the life-threads, always, in this "loud-roaring Loom
of Time!"--
Along with Ottocar too, as an ally in the Crusade, was Otto III.
Ascanier Markgraf and Elector of Brandenburg, great-grandson of Albert
the Bear;--name Otto THE PIOUS in consequence. He too founded a Town
in Prussia, on this occasion, and called it BRANDENBURG; which is still
extant there, a small Brandenburg the Second; for these procedures he
is called Otto THE PIOUS in History. His Wife, withal, was a sister of
Ottocar's; [Michaelis, i. 270; Hubner, t. 174.]--which, except in the
way of domestic felicity, did not in the end amount to much for him;
this Ottocar having flown too high, and melted his wings at the sun, in
a sad way, as we shall see elsewhere.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account