Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-07-28
From l. Opinion Rationale, July 49,
The House of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Origin and PrOgress---A Long
History in Brief

The House of Hohenzollern, which, to-
day. makes so much noise in Europe, and
menaces all nations by its ambitious pro-
iects, is of Suabian origin. In leaving
the town of Hechidgen, watered by
tributary of the Neckar, the traveller who
directs his steps southwark toward Ber-
lingen, sees rising on his left conical-
shaped hill, on the summit of which is
situated a castle of feudal proportions.
That is the cradle of the house of Zollern,
called Hohen or high Zollern, on account
of the elevation OF the ancient manor.
This castle, which gave its name to the
royal house of Prussia, was built about the
year $50, AID. The petty mobiles to whom
it served as a residence. lived for a long
time in obscurity and became divided in
to three branches that of Franconia,
whence has issued the royal house of Prus-
STA, and those of Hanhingen and Sc mar
ingen, who remained stationary. The two
latter have played but an insignificant
role in history, but the line of Franconia
learned earlyIto appreciatelthe value of
money, and Frederick VI, afterward
Frederick l., conceived the happy idea of
lending 100000 forms to the Emperor
Sigismund. That 100000 forms was the
origin of his greatness. Sigismund, being
unable to repay them, yielded as a collat-
eral security to his creditor the Margrav-
ate of Brandenburg till he should be able
to discharge the debt. Frederick found
some trouble in establishing himself in
the Marches, for the noblea of the district
did not feel disposed to submit to this n.y.
pothetical superior. The KitgoWs, the
Bismarks and others revolted, and at
first came off conquerors. But
Frederick was man of ability. He
learned that the Margrave of Thuringia
was the possessor of new weapon of war
of marvellous power, called cannon. He
brought this to bear upon his adversaries,
and, thanks to the cannon, terminated the
struggle to his own advantage. Thus was
Prussia born by the power of gold and
cannon-balls. X \ Despoiled of their
possessions in consequence of the wars of
Napoleon, the little princedoms of Hech-
ingen and SIgmarlngen lost their royal
dignity, but having given their adhesion
to the Confederation of the Rhine, they
were reconstructed by Napoleon l., a pro-
ceeding which did not prevent them from
turning against him in 1914. Having but
scanty revenues and abundant debts,
Hechingen and Sigmarlngen decided
upon resigning, in 194S, all their rights in
favor OF the King of Prussia, who,
by treaty concluded in 1850,
agreed to pay the former branch an
annual sum of 10000 thalers, and the lat
ter of $4,000 thalers. He felt his honor
concerned in the possession of this little
territory, containing $4,000 inhabitants,
which gave him, besides, a footing in
South Germany. Scarcely was he invest
ed with his double Principality before he
fastened to repair the manor of Zollern,
to rebuild anew his Gothic Notifications,
and to cause to be inscribed in letters OF
gold and azure, above the entrance door,
this inscription:
Zollern, Nuremberg, Brandenburg
united, built this castle in 1853. The
strong hand of Prussia raised me up. I
am called to the door of the Eagle
1851"
Above this proud gateway of the Eagle
his Prussian Majesty caused figure in
relief to be erected, representing a fully
armed knight, with this motto "V0nl
FelS zuna Meer"-from the rock to the sea !;
that is to say, from Zollern to the Baltic,
from Zollern to Trieste, on the A4riatic,
being understood.