The Washington times., 1922-04-02
80 wAes NsAIe IXNN,

THE former Emperor and Empress of
Austria, Karl and Zita, who were
exiled on the island of Madeira
after their recent spectacular effort to
crawl back on the throne, are now penni.
less.
awarded by the Allies the priceless
Treasure of the Golden Fleece" he can.
not pay his board bill. Even. though he Is
the owner of ninety.four wagon loads of
inestimable treasures, Karl and his i'm
perial wife have been forced to leave the
villa he was living in in Fumchal, Ma
deira, and they have taken an old house
on the top of the mountain, where the rent
is free. The doors and windows are
shaky, the plastering is cracked and the
couple sleep in tiny room, which is the
only bedroom safe from the intrusion of
the rain.
Nowhere in the world Is there such an
extraordinary anomaly as this penniless
owner of this priceless treasure which the
Austrian Republic is holding onto while
the exiled Emperor and his wife are de-
pendant upon charity for the roof over
their heads and their three frugal meals
day.
The Order of the Golden Fleece is one
of the Oldest orders of knighthood in
Europe, having been founded by Duke
Philip the Good of Burgundy in 1880 In
age it ranks after the English Order of
the Garter and Order Of the Bath, but in
preservation of its original treasures and
its original medieval ceremonial the
Golden Fleece surpassed all others.
Most Of the famous kings and princes Of
Europe for the last five hundred years
have been Knights Of the Golden Fleece.
Such famous historical characters as the
Emperor Charles w., Charles the Bold of
Burgundy, King Philip II. of Spain the
cruel Duke Of Alva, King Louis XIV. Of
France. Caesar Borgia and scores of
others have worn its badge.
The Duke Philip the Good Of Burgundy
who founded the order, was a great SOW
ereign whose territories included Bur-
gundy and the Low Countries-Belgium
and Holland. He ordained that the office
of Grand Master Of the Order of the Gold
en- Fleece should be hereditary in his de-
scendants. With the death of Charles the
Bold, Duke Of Burgundy, in 1477, the male
line of Burgundy came to an end. His
heiress. Mary, married the Emperor Maxi
milan OF Austria and Germany, and with
her passed the possession Of Belgium and
Holland and the Office Of Grand Master OF
the Order of the Golden Fleece. But at
this time the treasure Of the Golden Fleece
remained in Belgium.
The order was the most priced decors.
tion Of the richest civilization in Europe
at that time. All the wonderful art Of
Flanders and the Low Countries In the
period OF the Renaissance were employed
in enriching the badges, insignia, emblems
and chapter house Of the order. Thus It
was that the so-cslled treasure of the
order became the richest collection of it's
kind in therworld and remains so to-day.
The Emperor Msximilian's crown, and
with 1t the Order Of the Golden Fleece
passed to his grandson. the famous EN-
peror Charles ", who ruled over more
territory than any man In history. His
possessions included Germany. Spain. the
Netherlands, all OF North and South Amer.
Tea and all OF Asia.
The chapter house Of the Golden Fleece
still remained at Bruges In Belgium.
When the young Emperor, after his coro-
nation, entered Antwerp and other cities
OF the Netherlands, with ceremonies Of In
describable splendor, he wore the collar Of
the Golden Fleece upon his armor and the
knights and their banners formed the rich
est feature Of the public professions, al