The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-15

AAANAN
especially on tho part Of the Emperor,
who declared that the Nethsrhnd provinces
ought 10 come to him a. lApsed Imperial
ieis. For a time Philip denied that any
links existed between bis domains and the
empire, and although In i4ts he found II
CONVENIENT 10 discuss the question with the
Emperor Frederick III, he never came Il
the point Of paying homage.
Beyond a doubt these territories oolleo'
lively constituted a royal rather than q
duoal realm. But, as our author points
out, they were individual entities, having
few interrelations, and Philip the Good
was justified In thinking that the one thing
needful to bring HE poSs essions into 9
coherent national body vas a unity Of
legal existence among the dissimilar parts
The effort to attain this unity was the one
thought that dominated the career OF hi
successor and led him to dream Of roya
! or imperial dignities for himself,
A a final cement TO the new friendship
between Burgundy and France It wa
agreed that Philips heir should wed q
daughter Of Charles VII. The Princess
only ten years old, was formally betrothec
and conducted to Burgundy, but abe die
not live long enough to become Duchess
nor to allay the enmity between her hus-
band and her brother, Louis XI,
The little Countess OF Charolais diec
at Brussels in 1915, when her husband wa
but IS years old, The Duke and Duchess
Of Burgundy disagreed On the subject
Of their sons second marriage. The bride
ultimately selected for the heir was Isa'
bella OF Bourbon, daughter Of the Dukes
sister. A papal dispensation wal neces-
sary for q marriage between two neal
relatives, but Duke Philip would not wal
for II and the marriage took place. 1t Il
noteworthy that although the Count Of
Charolais was m unwilling bridegroom
he proved a faithful husband in a court
where marital fidelity was rare.
Duke Philips absence from his estates
in 1855 was an important factor in th'
development Of his heirs character. Thu
opportunity to administer the government
in his fathers absence changed Charles o.
CharolAis from a youth TO a man. Oul
author points out that 'his character wa
built on singular lines, Vigorous Of body
intense Of purpose, inclined to melancholy
he was profoundly convinced Of his owl
Importance as heir to the greatest dukedou
in Christendom. as future successor TO .
potentate who, although unorowned, could
afford TO treat lightly the authority Of botf
King and Emperor, whose vassal he nom'
inally was" According to contemporary
writer's, he acquitted himself honorably Of
his charge and made himself respected a
a magistrate. Above all he insisted that
justice should be dealt out to all alike
The only danger in his methods Of admins
tration was that he acted on impulse. with
out sufficiently informing himself about
the matter in hand or hearing both sides
Of a controversy,
Charles was "a years old when he sue
ceeded HE father, Philip the Good, as Duke
Of Burgundy and lord Of all the possessions
Of his house. There is no doubt that had
Philip not slackened his ambition at a
critical time he could have left a roya.
rather than a ducal crown TO his son He
did not so will il, however, and 10 some
extent had reoeded from the Independence
which he at one time asserted, inasmnoh
as he had accepted feudal obligations 10
Louis XI. which he never had recognized
toward Charles VII. Lured by the hope
Of becoming prime advise Of the French
King, Duke Philip had lad emphasis on
his position as first peer Of France. Tic
his son was bequeathed the task Of at
tempting 10 turn a duoal State into a State
royal and Of establishing a realm which
should hold the balance Of power between
France and Germany. In the mind Of
Philips successor there was no doubt an
TO which was the greater, tho c~leverer and
the more powerful Of the two rulers. King
Louis ri. and Charles the Duke. Had moi
the former, asks our author, as Dauphin
been a beggarly suppliant at Duke Philips
gatesl Had not, too, Louis XII. as King
been forced To yield at the gates Of his own
capital 10 every demand made by Charles,
standing forth as the conscientious repre-
sentative OF the public welfare OF France
in the so-called League Of the Public Veal?