Albert immediately resolved to transfer the crown of Bohemia to his own family, and thus to annex the powerful kingdom of Bohemia to his own limited Austrian territories.  Bohemia added to the Austrian provinces, would constitute quite a noble kingdom.  The crown was considered elective, though in fact the eldest son was almost always chosen during the lifetime of his father.  The death of Wenceslaus, childless, opened the throne to other claimants.  No one could more imperiously demand the scepter than Albert.  He did demand it for his son Rhodolph in tones which were heard and obeyed.  The States assembled at Prague on the 1st of April, 1306.  Albert, surrounded by a magnificent retinue, conducted his son to Prague, and to confirm his authority married him to the widow of Wenceslaus, a second wife.  Rhodolph also, about a year before, had buried Blanche, his first wife.  Albert was exceedingly elated, for the acquisition of Bohemia was an accession to the power of his family which doubled their territory, and more than doubled their wealth and resources.

A mild government would have conciliated the Bohemians, but such a course was not consonant with the character of the imperious and despotic Albert.  He urged his son to measures of arbitrary power which exasperated the nobles, and led to a speedy revolt against his authority.  Rhodolph and the nobles were soon in the field with their contending armies, when Rhodolph suddenly died from the fatigues of the camp, aged but twenty-two years, having held the throne of Bohemia less than a year.

Albert, grievously disappointed, now demanded that his second son, Frederic, should receive the crown.  As soon as his name was mentioned to the States, the assembly with great unanimity exclaimed, “We will not again have an Austrian king.”  This led to a tumult.  Swords were drawn, and two of the partisans of Albert were slain.  Henry, Duke of Carinthia, was then almost unanimously chosen king.  But the haughty Albert was not to be thus easily thwarted in his plans.  He declared that his son Frederic was King of Bohemia, and raising an army, he exerted all the influence and military power which his position as emperor gave him, to enforce his claim.

But affairs in Switzerland for a season arrested the attention of Albert, and diverted his armies from the invasion of Bohemia.  Switzerland was then divided into small sovereignties, of various names, there being no less than fifty counts, one hundred and fifty barons, and one thousand noble families.  Both Rhodolph and Albert had greatly increased, by annexation, the territory and the power of the house of Hapsburg.  By purchase, intimidation, war, and diplomacy, Albert had for some time been making such rapid encroachments, that a general insurrection was secretly planned to resist his power.  All Switzerland seemed to unite as with one accord.  Albert was rejoiced at this insurrection, for, confident of superior power, he doubted not his ability speedily to quell it, and it would afford him the most favorable pretext for still greater aggrandizement.  Albert hastened to his domain at Hapsburg, where he was assassinated by conspirators led by his own nephew, whom he was defrauding of his estates.