The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-15
but not until he had reoOnhmed every
thing previously sworn 10 at PCTonne

Charles OF Burgundy absolute master
wherever he was; and he used his power
automatically. Not only was Liege levelled
TO the ground. with the exception OF the
churches and ecclesiastical buildings, but
At Huy the Duke had a number Of prisoners
executed and at Jouvain and Brussels ne
gave fresh examples Of his "reminiscences
On the whole the successful expedition
against LieEe carried Charles Of Burgundy
70 the very crest Of his prosperity.
Scarcely had the successful expedition
against Lego been concluded when George
Podlebrad, eX-Ring Of Bohemia, sent en-
voys to Client to offer 10 support the election
OF Charles, Duke Of Burgundy, TO be King
Of the Romans in consideration Of the sum
OF 10000 forms. This modest sup was
10 secure not only Podiebrad's own vote
as Elector for Bohemia but his Influence
with the Archbishop Elector OF Mayenoe,
the Eleotor Of SaGony and the Margrave OF
Brandenbourg. AZ a matter Of fact, the
depoeed King had no influence at ell
with the Arst named %elector, and the last
named also showed no disposition to serve
him. The hope Of obtaining ultimately
the imperial crown was dangled In vain at
this time before the eyes Of the Duke, and
the sole result Of the overtures was to In
crease Charles's sense Of Importance.
Another offer now made TO Charles had
a material influence on the course OF events
and on his personal fortunes. The Arch
duke Sigismund Of Austria, Count OF Tyrol.
possessed certain outlying territories IN
western Germany. These included certain
parts Of Upper Alsace, lands on both sides OF
the Rhine. Thurgau and Argau In Swit1er-
| land, Breisdau and some other seigneuries
in the Black Forest. In consideration OF
$1,000 forms Slgismund offered to transfer
all Of these fefs TO Charles OF Burgundy.
The conveyance was a'mortgage, but one
that put the mortgage In possession, and
there was a further restriction that pay
ment by instruments could not be made
but that there could be no redemption
unless the m%ortgagor should repay al
Besancon the whole loan plus the outlay
that might have been made by the mort
gagee. In view Of %Sigismund's lack OF
| foresight and prodigality Charles was
justified In counting the ~mortgaged territory
az annexed to Burgundy in perpetuity.
The risk Of trouble with the Swiss was
not taken into consideration by Charles
when weighing the advantages OF Sigis-
mund's prefer. His own relations with
the Swiss Cantons had previously been
friendly enough, but never before had he
been so near a neighbor, As a matter OF
fact he had little or no trouble with them
IL
for some years after May, 1869, when the
Treaty Of st. Omer vac signed, Mean
while Charles became Duke Of Guelder5
and within a hairs breadth Of beng Gre
ated King Of the Romans (which normally
carried with it the right Of succession to
the empire). and when that project fell TO
the ground, Of having his various domin-
ions converted into a kingdom by a decree
Of the Emperor Frederick III, He also
contrived to lay hands on the Duchy OF
Lorraine, which formed a link between his
northern and southern territories.
Ultimately Sigismund recovered the mort
gagged lands with the aid Of the Swiss, who
declared war against Duke Charles. By
way OF reprisal the latter early in lG76
began a march against Bern, but turned
aside to attack the little fortress OF Granson.
While he was besieging this place the allied
forces OF the mountaineers fell upon him,
and in the ensuing battle the Burgundians,
though led by the Duke in person, were
completely routed. The fatal mistake com
mitted by Charles was that he despised the
herdsmen OF Switzerland and under
estimated their numbers and their valor.
Feverishly recruiting a new army, he had
assembled before the end OF May In the
same year 10000 men, with which force
he resumed his campaign against Bern.
On his march thither he stopped for a few
| days 10 reduce the town OF Morat, and
here il was that his second encounter with
the Swiss occurred. II as a tremendous
fight while II lasted, but with n an hour
Charles was repulsed and almost all his
infantry persisted. The number Of the
slain in the Burgundian host has been
vanously computed at from 10000 TO 10000,
After this catastrophe rumors went abroad
that the Dukes mental balance was shaken.
There seems 10 have been no ground for
the imputation Of insanity. He wal in
hnitely ~ohagHned. but he put on a brave
front and retained his self-confdence,
He himself declared that in the following
wear he would reopen the wal against the
Swiss with an army Of $50, 900 men. As a
matter Of fact, when Charles laid siege
for the second time to Nancy in October,
1877, he had been able TO collect only about
10000 soldiers. These were attacked on
January S, 1873, by a larger force under the
.t.N nh "a z--.tna uhiah tnalttAal
a strong body Of Swiss.
Although Charles fought with super
human ferocity, the battle proper was
OF short duration and caused but little
bloodshed, the pursuit, on the contrary,
vas sanguinary IN the extreme, beosuse
the Burgundian army had left no loophole
for retreat. As to how Charles met his
death there is absolute uncertainty. 1t
Is generally accepted tina. the last person
to see him alive was a page in the service
OF a N~eapolitan mercenary. just before
this lad was himself made captive he noticed
the Duke surrounded by troops, saw
his horse tumble and vas sure that the
rider fell. With this last glimpse Of him
the figure Of Charles Of Burgundy disap-
pears from the view Of man. Two days
later a party went forth from Nancy to
the battlefield, and was guided by the
Italian page to the edge Of a pool, which
he asserted was the very spot where he
had seen Charles, Ciroumstantial evil
dence seemed to ooToborate> his words,
for a dozen or more bodice strewn along
the ground in the immediate vicinity Of
the pool were those Of close friends and