Maximilian was twice married; first, to Mary of Burgundy, through whom he became possessed of the vast domains of that house; and secondly, to Bianca Sforza, daughter of the Duke of Milan, by whom he had no children. Of a kindly and chivalrous nature and endowed with many good qualities, Maximilian was popular amongst his subjects, but obtained little esteem from his contemporaries, owing to a radical inconstancy and indecision of temper, and an extravagance which involved him in perpetual pecuniary embarrassments. Margaret was not present at her father's death, but no one felt his loss more keenly than she did, for he had ever shown himself an affectionate and devoted parent, and though so often parted, their intercourse had been, as their correspondence proves, of the closest and most intimate kind. Her grief found vent in a long poem or lament, in which she enumerates her many sorrows: '.... O mort trop oultrageuse! Tu a estain la fleur chevaleureuse Et as vaincu celluy qui fust vainqueur, Maximilien, ce très-noble Empereur, Qui en bonté à nul ne se compère. C'estoy César, mon seul seigneur et père, Mais tu l'as mis en trop piteux estat, Sépulturé au chasteau Nieustat....'[61] [61] 'Complainte de Marguerite sur la mort de Maximilien son père' (_Albums de Marguerite d'Autriche_, p. 101). Amongst the condolences which she received there is an interesting joint-letter in Latin from Anne of Hungary (who was betrothed to Ferdinand of Austria), and from Ferdinand's sister Mary (affianced to Louis of Hungary). The letter is written from Innsbrück on the 22nd of January and signed by both princesses. Maximilian did much to improve his country, and greatly encouraged art and learning. He especially favoured the universities of Vienna and Ingoldstadt, and caused at least two works to be written under his own personal direction--_Theuerdank_ in verse, and _Weiss Künig_ in prose--in both of which he figures as the hero. He also rendered an important service to Germany by abolishing the famous secret tribunal of Westphalia.