Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-08-24

! TO Oh lt. he relSned IN the year 1852. Dur.
ing the life of this prince, Germany began te
recover from Papal influence; but the i'm.
oeclllty OF those who followed him, and q
succession OF able Popes, plunged the empire
| anew into religious squabbles, and eventual,
| ly involved the German states in utter con.
| fusion. Several princes of the Suabian line
at the instigation of the Holy See, took up
the cross, and marched TO Palestine against
the lnhdels. Such was the case with Ere
| derrick |. and H.. But nothing could appease
the implacable policy of the ecclesiastics,
who were sufficiently influential in Germany
to set up emperors of their own, and to sup
port them against the regular claimant.
Conrad Y. who reigned ABOUT the middle
! OF the thirteenth century, was the last mo-
| march of the house of Suabia: Several no
minal sovereigns preceded, mere phantoms
strangers alike to the imperial residence and
20 the diadem. Universal disorder prevail
ed: Usurpation and rapine triumphed un-
ri the Germans, of every class, instructed
oy their sutferings, or wishing TO enjuv their
acquisitions, determined once more 10 court
order and tranquility by the election of
thief to award the general interests of the
lation. The choice fell upon Rodolph of
Hapsbourgh, A. ID. 1878, man well qua
ltied for the station, and who thus laid the
foundation of the fortunes of his family. 1t
was under Frederick III. of the house of Sau-
bia, that the Teutonic order was introduced
into Germany. The knights of this order,
who sprung from an obscure beginning in
the Holy Land, rose to be military institu
ton OF high renown, were greatly instrument
tai in the propagation of the Christian reli-
gion i'll the North of Europe; they drove the
Pagans out of Prussia, and spread the Cos
pei among the Russians. In the Course of
time they amassed immense wealth, which,
abusing their power, they were unable to
retain, and, in modern times, have sunk into
state of insignihcance.
The history of Iapsbourg, is, in effect,
the history of all Europe from the year 1878.
The Austrian branch of the family, if We
except Charles V. of the Spanish branch, has
always been the most powerful; but Frede-
rick Ii. of Prussia, denominated the Great,
and who is of the same house, is, perhaps,
the most ilustrious prince of the line. A
bout the middle of the sixteenth century the
race of Hapsbourg of what was called Old
Austria, was divided into the Austrian Spa
nish branch, and the AUSTRIAN German
branch, the former of which became extinct
iii the year 17G0, and was preceded on the
death of Charles IL. king of Spain, by {,
branch of the house Of Bourbon. The Au-
strian-German branch became extinct a
ID. 1740, on the death of Charles vi when
Maria Theresa intermarried with Francis
of Lorraine, which laid the foundation of a
new house of Austria.
The German historians to be consulted
for he particular incidents of the reigns of
the princes of the house of Hapsbourg are
Heiss, Pfeffel, and Koch but the English
reader may gather ali the material facts
from accurate compilations in our own lam
guage. Statesmen of modern times have
considered it unnecessary to De very deeply
versed in those European transactions which
took place previously to the fifteenth centu-
ry. As matter of clrlosity, and as a means
of enlargng our knowledge of human nature
and the destiny of nations, it is certainly de-
sirable to be made intimately acquainted
with the occurrences OF every century But,
for the purpose of fully comprehending he
combinations of policy and negotiation for the
last two hundred years, it is only requisite to
commence our attentive researches at the
commencement of the thirty years war,
which was terminated by the treaty of West
phaIia, A. y. 1913. Religion, which was the
ostensive cause of this long war, was, in re-
atty, nothing more than veil TO disguise
the ambition of the house of Austria, which
sought to erect upon the ruins of the COME
deracY of German states an hereditar"
throne. The Catholic League.and the EUan-
gcicak union kept the Germans in a fer
ment but these parties did not blind France
and Sweden TO the aspiring efforts of the
Austrian monarchy. Those two powers
threw their weight into the scale of the mi
nor German princes, who were thereby pre-
served from ruin and subsection. A war OF
such duration was the nursery of genius
| both in the camp an, the cabinet, and, &C
Cordingly, we find, on the side of Austria
| lilly, Walstein, PiCoIOmini, aud others on
that of France, Turenne, Condo, and the
| artful Richeiieu; and OH the part of sweden,
the celebrated Gustavus Adolphus, Oxen
stern, and Torstenson. This conflict will
be forever immortalized among military men
by the battles of Prague and Rocroi, of Lcip-
sic and Lutzen, and various others. Each
| of the parties engaged in it gained an &C
cession Of territory by the treaty OF West
phalia which became a part OF the tunda-
mental Jaw of the Gernanic empire.
The next important war in which Ger
| MANY was engaged, was at the instance of
the House of Austria, for the Spanish sue
cession. Charles III. of Spain, had devised
the crown to the grandson of the French
king Louis XIV. who, in conjunction with
the Spanish nation, entered into a contest
with the emperor of Germany, and several
other powers, who claimed the succession
for a member Of the Austrian family. Ma
! nv brilliant men arose, ""d many gallant
exploits were performed during the contest
The battles of Blcnheim, of Families, o
| Malplauuet, Of Almanac, and various Other
combats, will never be forgotten and read
ers Of a warlike temper, still dwell with en-
thusiasm ON the names If Nillars and Ven
dome, Of Eugene and Marlborough. spain
which then retained a considerable portio'