The emperor was so overcome with emotion that he could with difficulty pronounce these last words.  All were deeply moved; some wept aloud; others, seizing the hand of the emperor and bathing it in tears, vowed allegiance to Albert, and declared that while he lived they would recognize no other sovereign.

The very next day, November, 1437, Sigismond died.  Albert and Elizabeth accompanied his remains to Hungary.  The Hungarian diet of barons unanimously ratified the wishes of the late king in accepting Albert as his successor.  He then hastened to Bohemia, and, notwithstanding a few outbursts of disaffection, was received with great demonstrations of joy by the citizens of Prague, and was crowned in the cathedral.

CHAPTER IV.

ALBERT, LADISLAUS AND FREDERIC.

From 1440 to 1489.

Increasing Honors of Albert V.—­Encroachments of the Turks.—­The Christians Routed.—­Terror of the Hungarians.—­Death of Albert.—­Magnanimous Conduct of Albert of Bavaria.—­Internal Troubles.—­Precocity of Ladislaus.—­Fortifications raised by the Turks.—­John Capistrun.—­Rescue of Belgrade.—­The Turks dispersed.—­Exultation over the Victory.—­Death of Hunniades.—­Jealousy of Ladislaus.—­His Death.—­Brotherly Quarrels.—­Devastations by the Turks.—­Invasion of Austria.—­Repeal of the Compromise.—­The Emperor a Fugitive.

The kingdom of Bohemia thus attached to the duchies of Austria contained a population of some three millions, and embraced twenty thousand square miles of territory, being about three times as large as the State of Massachusetts.  Hungary was a still more magnificent realm in extent of territory, being nearly five times as large as Bohemia, but inhabited by about the same number of people, widely dispersed.  In addition to this sudden and vast accession of power, Albert was chosen Emperor of Germany.  This distinguished sovereign displayed as much wisdom and address in administering the affairs of the empire, as in governing his own kingdoms.

The Turks were at this time becoming the terror of Christendom.  Originating in a small tribe between the Caspian Sea and the Euxine, they had with bloody cimeters overrun all Asia Minor, and, crossing the Hellespont, had intrenched themselves firmly on the shores of Europe.  Crowding on in victorious hosts, armed with the most terrible fanaticism, they had already obtained possession of Bulgaria, Servia, and Bosnia, eastern dependencies of Hungary, and all Europe was trembling in view of their prowess, their ferocity and their apparently exhaustless legions.