New-York tribune., 1919-05-11
The Sinister 'F7wo -

opOuueIL III L ne Md0CnoSCer GUAR
ia dian" that the number g when de-
noting the succession of monarchs of the
same name, has sinister significance at
tached to it. We are told that at is rather
curious that the second royal holder of
name has generally proved unfortunate,
either IN his personal concerns or in his
country's." Why this should be so the
anonymous sponsor of the hypothesis does
not even attempt to explain, but he gives
facts. The obvious contemporary examples
OF Wilhelm II and Nicholas II are quoted;
also those of yesterday, Abdul Hamid II,
the deposed tyrant of the Ottoman Empire,
and Manoel II, the amiable, if not alto
gether blameless, ex-King of Portugal. Ma
poleon III, it is pointed out, was in reality
the second Napoleon to occupy the throne
of France, and the last of French emperors
certainly does not stand for success in
kingcraft. 1t may be noted here that the
correspondent overlooked the even more
emphatic example of Napoleon II, properly
so called, the "young Eagle" of Rostand's
tragedy, son of the Little Corporal" who
had been acclaimed King of Rome in his
cradle, and died, a mere shadow of a youth
a prisoner of his own grandfather, Francis
|, and of Metternich.
But we are served with whole series of
instances in support of the strange theory.
In England, we read, William II was acci-
dentally killed, Edward II and Richard II
were murdered, while Henry H. Charles
IL and James II were all decidedly un-
lucky monarchs. In Scotland we have the
same tale. Constant II, we are told, was
beheaded by the Danes. There are Malcolm
IL and Duncan II, murdered; David
IL, imprisoned in England, and James Il, ac-
cidentally killed. In France the list con-
tlnues, Francis II left his country loaded
with debt and prey to the miseries of
civil war; Henry II died of wounds acci
dentally received. In Spain, Charles II
earned the title of bad Henry II was
poisoned and Philip II died covered with
ulcers. Theodor II of Russia was mur-
dered Peter II was deposed, Alexander II
and Nicholas II were both murdered
Surely, grim record
The Record Of Hungary
1t is, without doubt. 1t also is an incom-
plete record, and can be easily extended
with instances adduced from Continental
history. There is Sweden Its greatest
ruler, Gustavus II, better known under the
name of Gustavus Adolphus, bought his last
victory, on the meadow of Lutzen. with
his life. In Denmark we see Chris
olan H. by far the ablest member of the
mouse OF Oldenburg, deposed and impris-
oned by rebellious nobles for nineteen wears
IN the castle of Sonderborg History ac-
cords him the epithet "the Bloody" In
Germany, Frederick H. the only genius
among medieval emperors, was the last
ruler of the house of Staufen, and with his
death his entire lifes work collapsed
The history of Hungary alone furnishes
enough data to build a theory upon. Bella II.
surnamed "the Blind" was not born so. bu+ I
had his eyes pierced by rebels Andrew II
is the Hungarian John Lakeland. While he
was away warning for the Holy Sepulchre
ms queen was assassinated by the very man
he had appointed his lieutenant. Later he
was compelled by the al-powerful barons
to sign q document called the Golden Bull
Justly called the Magma Charta of HIM
gary-a Bill of Rights legalizing armed re-
sstance to a despotc king. This was in
1922, only seven years after the catherine
at Runnymede. The clause of lawful re-
bellion' was first applied against Andrew IT
himself Charles II, of the house of Aniou.
1lcknamed "the Little,' was murdered after
a few months reign. The defeat and deatb
of Louis IL on the battlefield of Mohacs
marx the greatest disaster in HUNGARIAN
history and ushers in 100 years Of Turkisb
conquest.
eurlousiy, the inventor of this cabalistic
'"eoiy aiso mas overlooked what may be
'aiied the classical example of the sinister
lgnlficance of the number 2. There was
IN ancient belief current in Rome that .ha
'ity was to fall when a second Romn1rs
would ascend the throne; and in the voar
I'o' when odoacer, the German soldier Of
ortune' deposed the young Emperor Rom
'lus Augustulus, the Western Empire came
o end.