History Of The German Emperors And Their Contemporaries

Excerpt from History of the German Emperors and Their Contemporaries Looking at these portraits reminded me of Carlyle's saying, that the history of the world is but the biography of great men; and the thought struck me that it might be a good plan to begin with Charlemagne, and come down to the present time, taking as a clue, through the Middle or Dark Ages, a connected outline of the lives of the Emperors, and the great events which occurred in their times, with a brief mention of their contemporaries, even though it might occasion some repetition. If this work serves as a guide through any of the intricacies of history, and adds a modicum to the general knowledge of past events and characters, the ambition of the author will be satisfied. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1874 edition. Excerpt: ...of the richest provinces of the Netherlands. It is related in old German chronicles of the sixteenth century, that Katharina von Schwarzburg once made the terrible Duke of Alva tremble. She was a German dame, belonging to a house which had been noted for its heroes from the earliest times, and which had given the Emperor Gunther to Germany. In 1547, when the Emperor Charles V., after the victory of Milhlberg, was about to send some of his troops through Thuringia to the Netherlands, Katharina obtained from him a safeguard or warrant that her subjects and her property should be unmolested on the march of the Spanish troops through her territories. On her part, she was to furnish bread, beer, and other provisions for a fair price at the bridge of Rudolstadt, over which the army was to pass. She took the precaution, however, to pull down the bridge near the city and build another at some distance from it, in order that her rapacious guests might not be led into temptation. At the same time she sent word to her subjects, who lived on the road the troops were to take, to bring all their treasures to the castle of Rudolstadt for safekeeping. Meantime, the Duke of Alva, accompanied by Henry of Bmnswick and his sons, approached the castle, and sent forward a messenger, inviting himself and his generals to breakfast with the Countess von Schwarzburg. So modest a request from the head of a powerful army could not well be refused. "What the house afforded would be given," was the answer. "His Excellency would be welcome." At the same time she reminded him of the safeguard, and requested him to see that it was strictly enforced. A friendly reception and a well-filled table awaited the duke and his suite at the castle, and he...