Albert left two daughters, but his queen Elizabeth was expecting, in a few months, to give birth to another child.  Every thing was thus involved in confusion, and for a time intrigue and violence ran riot.  There were many diverse parties, the rush of armed bands, skirmishes and battles, and all the great matters of state were involved in an inextricable labyrinth of confusion.  The queen gave birth to a son, who was baptized by the name of Ladislaus.  Elizabeth, anxious to secure the crown of Hungary for her infant, had him solemnly crowned at Alba Regia, by the Archbishop of Gran when the child was but four months old.

But a powerful party arose, opposed to the claims of the infant, and strove by force of arms to place upon the throne Uladislaus, King of Poland and Lithuania, and son of the pagan Jaghellon and the unhappy Hedwige.  For two years war between the rival parties desolated the kingdom, when Elizabeth died.  Uladislaus now redoubled his endeavors, and finally succeeded in driving the unconscious infant from his hereditary domain, and established himself firmly on the throne of Hungary.

The infant prince was taken to Bohemia.  There also he encountered violent opposition.  “A child,” said his opponents, “can not govern.  It will be long before Ladislaus will be capable of assuming the reins of government.  Let us choose another sovereign, and when Ladislaus has attained the age of twenty-four we shall see whether he deserves the crown.”

This very sensible advice was adopted, and thirteen electors were appointed to choose a sovereign.  Their choice fell upon Albert of Bavaria.  But he, with a spirit of magnanimity very rare in that age, declared that the crown, of right, belonged to Ladislaus, and that he would not take it from him.  They then chose Frederic, Duke of Styria, who, upon the death of Albert, had been chosen emperor.  Frederic, incited by the example of Albert, also declined, saying, “I will not rob my relation of his right.”  But anxious for the peace of the empire, he recommended that they should choose some illustrious Bohemian, to whom they should intrust the regency until Ladislaus became of age, offering himself to assume the guardianship of the young prince.

This judicious advice was accepted, and the Bohemian nobles chose the infant Ladislaus their king.  They, however, appointed two regents instead of one.  The regents quarreled and headed two hostile parties.  Anarchy and civil war desolated the kingdom, with fluctuations of success and discomfiture attending the movements of either party.  Thus several years of violence and blood passed on.  One of the regents, George Podiebrad, drove his opponent from the realm and assumed regal authority.  To legitimate its usurped power he summoned a diet at Pilgram, in 1447, and submitted the following question: 

“Is it advantageous to the kingdom that Ladislaus should retain the crown, or would it not be more beneficial to choose a monarch acquainted with our language and customs, and inspired with love of our country?”