Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-07-29
Rhetorical sketch Concerning the
House IFOhenZ0IIern.


HohenzolIern is the name of castle in
Southern Germany, which centuries ago
was owned by knights bearing the same
name. Although they appear on the sur
face of history for the first time about the
year 14I6, when Frederic Of Hohenzollern,
was Castle grave, (Castellan,) Of the Impe-
rial Palace at Nuremberg, yet, it is prob
able that his ancestors already occupied
pre- eminent stations in the German En-
pire. The Emperor Sigismond attending
the great Council of Constant (1414-141S),
finding his finances by his display of splen-
dor in dilapidated condition, applied to
his rich vassal, Frederic of Hohenzollern,
for loan, pledging as security the provin-
ce of B.andenburg, in Northern Germany,
and. when he saw himself unable to resti-
tute the loan, he left that province as
hereditary possession in the hands of his
creditor. Thus, Frederic became the
founder of the house of Brandenburg. OF
his Successors, Albert was Grand Master
of the Order of German Knights, who
stood with the Templars in close brother
hood, and were fighting for the conversion
of the heather in Prussia and Lithaunia.
When Luther entered upon the work of
reformation. Albert was ono of the first who
declared for Luther, renouncing his pledge
as Grand Master, but retaining Prussia,
which he had conquered and ruled in the
name of the order. Charles V bestowed
the title and dignity of Prince Elector on
his successor, but did not succeed thereby
to lead him back to the Roman Catholic
Church. We omit number of successors,
who would or could not work for aggran-
dizement, until we reach Frederick William
(reigning about 1870, called the Great
Prince Elector. He fought successfully on
all sides, and wrested Pomerania from the
Swedes. His son, who was fond of splen-
dor, prevailed on the Emperor Leopold to
confer on him the title and crown of King
of Prussia, under the name of Frederic
N700). The reign of his successor was
economical to such degree that he left a
full treasury to his son, Frederic ii the
Great, who went to war with Austria,
France and Russia, defeating them in the
seven-years' war 1756-1763) and securing
the possession of Silesia.
The Peace of Paris (1S15) added the
beautiful provinces along the Rhine to
Prussia, and the year 1866, after the battle
of Sadowa, saw the whole of Northern Ger
many, with some portions of the South,
containing a population of $4,000, 900,
united to follow the lead of Prussia.
While thus the descendants of Frederic
of Hohenzollern, the Castle-grave of Nu>
| remburg, were rapidly rising in power,
there in the South of Germany the knights
or princes of the old, original house o.
| Hohenzollern led rather humble, insig
nifcant life, enjoying their small posses
| sions, the duchies of Hohenzollern-Heo.
hingen and Sigmaringen, even when the
Peace of Paris had altered in general the
| maps of Europe In 1854 they resigned
their principalities in favor of Prussia
since which time they reside in Berlin ant
fill high offices, civil and military One o
these Princes, Charles, reigns, with the
consent of Turkey and Russia, in Rouma
MIA; another, Leopold, may perchance stil
ascend the Spanish throne, while thirt
one, Frederic-calledthe Red Prince'-o1
whom the Hungarian nation have set theil
eyes, in consequence of a gipsys prophe
| cy, that a Red Waraior shall make them (
graat and free people, is General of HUI
zars and wears scarlet uniform. 1t ma!
be not amiss to mention that the old lint
of the house of Hohenzollern never
swerved from the Roman Catholic faith.