New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-13
BTSNARCK'S RICH ANCESTORS.
HOW HIS FAMILY AND THE HoHDNZoLIERNS
ROSE TO POWER.

While Morl.z Busch IN his book the nfe OF
his master Bismarck. busles himself with relating
only what has happened to the Iron Chancellor
during and since the Franco Prussan war 81 1870
1871, other German historians or chroniclers have
hunted up the history of Blsmarcks family as far
back in centuries "a they could ird documents to
guide them in their researches. II Is thus that
a book written about the famous German trio Bis
marck Wilhelm and Won Moltke reveals singu-
lar similarity in the origin ~ the greatness NJ the
Bismarck and Hohenzollern families and tells how
the representative Of the ono was 70 he made
Emperor Of Germany by the efforts Of the repre-
sentative of the other.
There is IN Germany dismal province which
was called formerly tho Sandlot Of the Empire.
That Is Brandenburg. a country covered with rye
and pines with a changing climate. sky ordina-
riIy gray a long and hard winter. That country
is the cradle OF the Bismarcks and % the Prussan
n,onarchs. The Bismarcks preceded the Hohen-
zollerns there.
The Rismarcks were az the beginning nothing bur
simple merchant talors One OF them. Claus be-
rich and loaned. in 1870 a certain sum n fhs
Margrave Louis the Bavarian. then a. war with
the Duke Of Brunswick As a guarantee this
smart merchant demanded the revenues ~ rho GUS
tom house % p neighborng port. which was the
outlet for the town OF StendaL whore he lived. n
was the custom OF those times FOR the princes end
nobemen rarely to pay their debts. and Claus Bis
marck had the good luck he paid back by
the Margraye. who had vanqushed the Duke NJ
Brunswick However. tho protection OF the MAJ
grave seemed 20 insure the prosperity ~ the Bis
MARKHAM tailor. when the Democratic party
successful AZ The municipal elections Of StendaI.
and Claus Bismarck. who was AZ the head ~ ths
Conservative party. banishei from his native
town The Margrave gave 10 him in ths way OF
compensation. and probably also as an acknowledge
ment OF l,ans OF money, the castle of Burg
stall with its dependencies. To possess noble
property made the a nobeman. and Il IL
thus that the Bismarcks rose from tho status OF
simple merchant taOrs 10 rhe rank OF landed lords.
About sixty years after tho rise Of The Bis
MARKHAM tailor 10 nobility a certain Friedrich Won
Hohenzollern Burgrave or imperial Official at
NurnberS. loaned one hundred thousand gold
ducats to Emperor Sgismund, who unable TO
refund that sum AZ tho appointed time on ths
dered vacant the Electorate OF that name. Sgis-
mund coded II Professionally 10 Friedrich Hohen-
zollern with the simple title OF administrators. Tho
cities and towns readily accepted the Official.
but IL not 90 with the nobility. which declared
that 1t would not recognize at any price tho Junk
dealer OF Niirnberg. Still. Friedrich succeeded by
force and wiles in making all the Inhabitants
nize the rights granted 20 him by the Emperor. In
1i15 new loan OF 10000 ducats made ~ Emperor
Sigismund by the Hohenzoern ancestor. gave 20
him the power which he wanted. He was ma ie Mar
grave and Elector and consequently the aosolute
sovereign of the Brandenburg March Later AZ tho
Princes OF Anholt continued 20 assert certain al
legged rights regarding the Electorate. Friedrich
bought their remuneration by giving them $1,000
gold ducats.
II Is thus that the Bismarcks. having become
lords through mOney-lending were the vassals In
Brandenburg OF the Hohenzollerns. uho had DO
come sovereign princes through similar means.