Albert married the only daughter of Sigismond, and a very strong affection sprung up between the imperial father and his son-in-law.  They often visited each other, and cooperated very cordially in measures of state.  The wife of Sigismond was a worthless woman, described by an Austrian historian as “one who believed in neither God, angel nor devil; neither in heaven nor hell.”  Sigismond had set his heart upon bequeathing to Albert the crowns of both Hungary and Bohemia, which magnificent accessions to the Austrian domains would elevate that power to be one of the first in Europe.  But Barbara, his queen, wished to convey these crowns to the son of the pagan Jaghellon, who had received the crown of Poland as the dowry of his reluctant bride, Hedwige.  Sigismond, provoked by her intrigues for the accomplishment of this object, and detesting her for her licentiousness, put her under arrest.  Sigismond was sixty-three years of age, in very feeble health, and daily expecting to die.

He summoned a general convention of the nobles of Hungary and Bohemia to meet him at Znaim in Moravia, near the frontiers of Austria, and sent for Albert and his daughter to hasten to that place.  The infirm emperor, traveling by slow stages, succeeded in reaching Znaim.  He immediately summoned the nobles to his presence, and introducing to them Albert and Elizabeth, thus affectingly addressed them: 

“Loving friends, you know that since the commencement of my reign I have employed my utmost exertions to maintain public tranquillity.  Now, as I am about to die, my last act must be consistent with my former actions.  At this moment my only anxiety arises from a desire to prevent dissension and bloodshed after my decease.  It is praiseworthy in a prince to govern well; but it is not less praiseworthy to provide a successor who shall govern better than himself.  This fame I now seek, not from ambition, but from love to my subjects.  You all know Albert, Duke of Austria, to whom in preference to all other princes I gave my daughter in marriage, and whom I adopted as my son.  You know that he possesses experience and every virtue becoming a prince.  He found Austria in a state of disorder, and he has restored it to tranquillity.  He is now of an age in which judgment and experience attain their perfection, and he is sovereign of Austria, which, lying between Hungary and Bohemia, forms a connecting link between the two kingdoms.

“I recommend him to you as my successor.  I leave you a king, pious, honorable, wise and brave.  I give him my kingdom, or rather I give him to my kingdoms, to whom I can give or wish nothing better.  Truly you belong to him in consideration of his wife, the hereditary princess of Hungary and Bohemia.  Again I repeat that I do not act thus solely from love to Albert and my daughter, but from a desire in my last moments to promote the true welfare of my people.  Happy are those who are subject to Albert.  I am confident he is no less beloved by you than by me, and that even without my exhortations you would unanimously give him your votes.  But I beseech you by these tears, comfort my soul, which is departing to God, by confirming my choice and fulfilling my will.”