The Reign of Albert V of the House of Habsburg
The Year of our Lord 1411 to 1440
According to the will of His Noble Majesty, Archduke Frederick V of Habsburg, I now record the deeds of Albert V, the Duke of Austria and the King of Bohemia and Hungary, who reigned from the Year of our Lord 1411 to the Year of our Lord 1440.
From the Year of our Lord 1411, Albert took control of the administration of his estates and holdings within Austria and the Holy Roman Empire. He ruled with wisdom and skill, intending to correct the injustices prosecuted by others during his minority.
Until the Year of our Lord 1422, there was little notable instance worthing observing, as he reigned in peace and sirenity. However, by this time, a violent heretic doctrine had spread throughout Bohemia as a plague, and threatened the sanctity of our Roman Catholic faith. The perpetrators were known as Hussites, taking their name from the treasonous minister, John Huss.
In his piety and sense of duty, Albert came to the aid of Sigismund, who's daughter he took in marriage, and the two quenched the Hussite rebellion, at the applause of His Most Holy Father. Emperor Sigismund saw the faith and courage of Albert, and named him successor to the Crowns of Bohemia and Hungary.
During the remainder of this decade, Albert focused upon the internal affairs of the Habsburg estates, and sought to consolidate authority. He confiscated the landholdings of Baden, and saw the marriage of his son, Ladislus, unto the heiress of the Bavarian Wittlesbachs. Albert strengthened his influence within Kingdoms of Bohemia and Hungary, although the two were as of yet still under the rule of Emperor Sigismund. These events took place from the Year of our Lord 1423 unto 1435.
The German Princes were, for the most part, at peace during this period, and Albert had little warfare with which to concern himself. For this reason, he was able to focus of the promotion of tax collectors, the collection of tarriffs, and the exportation of goods to the Venecian markets.
The entirity of his holdings grew more prosperous and wealthy, and, by the Year of our Lord 1435, the Habsburgs seemed poised to assume the Imperial Crown upon the passing of Sigismund.
Politically, Albert struck a pact of alliance with the doge of Venice, and kept close ties to Emperor Sigismund of Bohemia and Hungary.
Albert feared an Ottoman incursion, and was concerned over increasing threats by the Sultan, because of Venecian aggression in the Eastern Mediterranean. Particularly notable among the Venecian conquests in the East was the capture of Alexandria in the summer of the Year of our Lord 1431.
Needless to say, the Sultan was angered by this Latin aggression, and warned Albert to forsake his pacts, in order to save himself.
Thus, towards the end of his life, Albert was distressed by a great moral dilemma. Should he defy the heathen, and stand aside his fellow Christians, or would it be best for his successors if a war with the Ottomans is avoided? This troubled him greatly, and Albert lost a good deal of sleep over these issues.
In 1437, Emperor Sigismund died, and Albert was greatly grieved. As was promised him by Sigismund, Albert inherited the Crowns of Bohemia and Hungary. This was wonderful news, and it seemed that, above all else, He would finally receive the Imperial title which he intensely desired, as the Electors had assured him of his election, years earlier. However, they betrayed Albert, and he was denied the crown of the Holy Roman Empire. This was because the Duke of Saxony, Margrave of Brandeburg, Count Palatine of the Rhine, and the Archbishop of Cologne were afraid of the Habsburgs becoming too powerful, and decided to elect a minor prince to the position, instead. Albert was greatly angered, and felt betrayed. From 1437 onwards, Albert attempted to garner support for his election, assuming that the aging usurper now on the throne would not long hold the crown.
However, the hopes of Albert V of Habsburg were unrealized, as he died in the Year of our Lord 1439. It was a great tragedy for Austria, as Albert had worked more than anyone to unite the Kingdom of Germany, and reform the Holy Roman Empire. However, he was betrayed by the German Princes, and was unable to achieve his goals within his own lifetime.
There was hope for the future, however, because Duke Albert V of Habsburg had acheived a good deal during his reign. He made the way for the rise of the Habsburgs to power, by securing the inheritance of Bavaria, by bringing the Crowns of Bohemia and Hungary into the Habsburg family, and by annexing the estates of Baden into the family lands. He also greatly increased the influx of taxes, and began long standing trade with Italy, which would serve his successors well.
(For my change, I want +150 ducats)
, AAR.
