I Am Louis XIV

  Chapter 571 Leopold I bids us farewell (below)

   "What Louis XIV could give his son, why can't I give it!?"

  Leopold I said this, which surprised everyone around his bed, including the dusty little Eugen.

  ——

Let's turn the time to ten days ago, when Leopold I's messenger came to Paris, in addition to intending to negotiate with France, for his successor Philip and Austria, he intends to send Eugen the young. Savoy took him back to Vienna, he would legally recognize the child, and then, according to tradition, the half-brother, who was 10 years older than the future Archduke of Austria, would become regent, just as the Duke of Don Juan of Spain had Carlos II.

Also for this reason - not one or two good returns, two or three mansions or forests, or a field and fields - this not only concerns Xiao Ougen himself, but also his descendants, so this decision , even the Sun King Louis XIV could not do it for him, not only could not do it for him, but also urged him to accept the request of the Austrians to go to Vienna to bid farewell to his biological father.

After little Eugen set off, Queen Teresa couldn't help complaining to Louis that she thought little Eugen would hesitate and refuse, and she considered many words to convince him, but he only thought about it for a few nights before agreeing . Louis told him that it was because little Eugen had deep feelings for them, Versailles, and France that he would make such a decision-people were fickle, and even little Eugen himself was not sure whether he would In the next few decades, he will be frustrated or neglected. If he is determined not to go to Vienna at this time, no one will dare to say that, he will not regret the decision now. After all, people say that what you don't get is the best, and once he raises the idea of ​​comparison, the result will never be in his or France's favor.

It would be better to let him go to Vienna to see for himself, to understand it, and to make a decision after weighing the pros and cons. At that time, whether he chooses to stay in France or is tempted by Leopold I, he will have nothing. Regret annoyed place.

  So, although Louis XIV still had to discuss with his ministers, generals and councillors how to negotiate - Leopold I's weakness was undoubtedly revealed in the treaty brought by the messenger, but would he still be merciful towards this enemy? Therefore, the real negotiation and signing may be delayed until a few weeks later, but Eugen can go to Vienna first with the French envoy team.

They had to pass through northern Italy, the battleground of the Spanish succession, and then most of Austria, to reach Vienna, the easternmost point. For little Eugen, he seemed to have passed through a tumultuous piece of music, first French Lorraine, The richness and prosperity of the Alsace region, and then the desolation and barrenness of the Milan region—the barrenness brought about by the war is terrible, in short, there is nothing, people, livestock, villages or towns, even woodlands and The stream, full of yellow-black scorched earth, swampy swamps, and now and then the stench and bones; but when they entered the pass of the Alps, they went east along the Drau from here. When the verdant color appeared in their field of vision again, the village also had lights, the town bell rang far away, and they saw the same rough cement brick and wood beside the renovated cement road. The hotel has food, drink, and fodder for the horses; when you arrive in an ancient city like Graz, you can still see rows of gas lamps, and there are roaring boiler factories outside the city, which makes little Eugen feel familiar.

The French embassy separated from Little Eugen in Baden, not far from Vienna, so that the first impression of the Viennese on Little Eugen was that he was from France and from an enemy country. As for what little Eugen will choose in the future, They weren't too worried—even if little Eugen was sure to stay in Vienna.

Leopold I was so urgent because his pockets were empty, and his subordinates were not incompetent ministers and generals, but compared with the young and promising young Eugen, they were older and did not possess such outstanding qualities as the latter. Military talent can only be regarded as a successful person. In contrast, Louis XIV did not have such troubles. He had the old and reliable Viscount Turenne and the Duke of Vendome, Vauban, Schaumberg and Lois, and the younger Eugene and Vera. Young people like Er and Joseph, Jean Bart, the Marquis of Lafayette... He once admired Cromwell, the British protector, but now it seems that God intends to make up for it, and there are as many credible people as stars.

Some people in the embassy also said that if he were little Eugen, he might choose to stay in Vienna. Austria and the Habsburgs can be described as internal and external troubles now. Compared with France, which has been stabilized and unshakable, if he becomes the regent, it will be more difficult. Able to let go and forge ahead. But some people say that even if he is given authority, he will be hindered by many such as electors, queen dowagers, important ministers and Ottoman Turks, not to mention Carlos II and Duke Don Juan to know that the regent will inevitably become the king A thorn in the eye, a weak one for a day, the result is either a guillotine or a gallows, and at best, life imprisonment, there is really nothing worth fighting for.

   What they said is not wrong. Whether it is to decide to stay in Vienna or return to France, Prince Conti thought to himself, little Eugene and His Majesty the King (Louis XIV) must have the same idea.

  ———

   It's just that even little Eugen did not expect that Leopold I would be so generous and willing to give a Hungarian crown.

It is often said that Austria was a wall between Europa and the pagans of Ottoman Turkey, and for this reason, once Vienna was invaded by the Ottomans, the church called the Catholic king of Europa, and the kings should raise troops to help , but we must also say that Austria is not the closest to the sphere of influence of the Ottoman Turks, and the most tragic battlefield is on the periphery of Austria - Hungary.

Hungary was originally part of the ancient Roman Empire. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, a large number of Germans and Slavs migrated here. From the sixth to the ninth century, the Avars (Rourans) who were expelled by the Turks to the west also came. Here, and became the new masters of this territory, from which they swept around and brought countless disasters - these terrible enemies finally ended in faith, they converted to Catholicism, and then became one of Catholicism against the Ottomans. chess pieces.

Later, the leader of the Avars was elected as the King of Hungary, and his descendants were forced to marry the daughter of the King of Bohemia because of the defeat, and thus were annexed by the King of Bohemia after he died without heirs. The king also did not end well. He made a deal with the then Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. If he died, the emperor would be eligible to inherit the throne of Hungary.

The Habsburgs got Hungary through trading and threats. Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. When the old and new were replaced, the Ottoman Turks took the opportunity to attack Hungary, resulting in three points in Hungary. The central and southern parts belonged to the Ottomans, and the east belonged to Tran. Sylvania, west and north are owned by Austria.

The approach of Leopold I was almost the same as that of Alfonso V, who handed over a less stable and complete territory to his illegitimate son, which was also somewhat imaginative with Louis XIV. Can be compensated by personal bravery and wisdom, "I made a pact with the Grand Duke of Transylvania ... he is willing to marry Austria if you want - he has a daughter, five years older than you, but born very Beautiful, docile and charming, and a devout Catholic." Louis XIV could without hindrance call Tekei Prince of Transylvania, although the title comes from the canonization of the Ottoman sultan, Leo Pod I could not.

He waved his hand without waiting for little Eugen to answer. He was still a king after all, and little Eugen's words were suppressed: "Someone will take you to see the portrait." Leopold I said: "As for the dowry and dowry, Dowry, I think one Hungary is enough."

   "A Hungarian," little Eugen finally couldn't help but speak before he was allowed to say: "Your Majesty, do you remember that it was you who signed his father's death sentence?"

"So what?" Leopold I coughed twice, his face flushed crimson: "You have been by Louis XIV's side for so many years, don't you know how charming a scepter and a crown are? Kei has no ambition. As a Hungarian nobleman, how could he easily give up this opportunity to unify Hungary? Do you still naively think that he led the way for the Ottoman sultans for faith or a few jingles? Gold coins?"

"You have to give up something to get something." Leopold I said, and then he fell back and did not speak, and little Eugen was taken out of the emperor's bedroom by the people around him- The person who took him away was also an officer, with a solid gold beak on his shoulders and a tassel of the same color on his shoulders-since Louis XIV began to set up the military rank system, the use of collared epaulettes has encouraged officers and soldiers as long as they have eyes. Everyone can see it, and it is not surprising to see the familiar and dissimilar heraldic symbol Xiao Eugen. His eyes slid down and he saw the brooch that the other party was wearing on his chest. Today's nobles almost don't know it anymore. Embroidered the family coat of arms on the chest, and instead used brooches, hat pins and even buttons to show the noble blood and long history - he saw a white horse and a blue lion, "Duke Lunenberg?"

   "You can just call me Brownschweig," the other party said enthusiastically: "Sir, I'm about the same age as you and serve in the military, so there's no need to be so restrained."

Only then did little Eugen pay attention to him. He was distraught all the way, and he was almost ready to refuse all the demands of Leopold I, even if the other party arranged the crown of Hungary, but Leopold I said Quite right, he grew up beside Louis XIV, how could he not understand that honey must be wrapped in poison, if he followed the arrangement of Leopold I and went to Hungary, he would really become a Habsburg random A doll at the mercy.

How could the current owner of Transylvania, Tekei, easily give up hatred and hand over the country and the people to a Habsburg illegitimate child? If he is easily dazed by the immediate interests, betrays the trust of Louis XIV in him, and loses the support of France for him, then he can still rely on Hungary in a crisis-ridden, Neeva trapped Hungary. who?

Of course only the Archduke of Austria, his half-brother Philip the Younger, who Leopold I gave him a Hungarian crown, was about to give back to Philip the Younger a Holy Roman Emperor, and it can be seen that Yes, he will maintain a friendly and close relationship with the Holy Roman Empire for decades to come.

   It’s just that even if you can see it clearly, there should be countless people who are willing to give everything for it.

Little Eugen and the Duke of Lunenberg went to see the portrait that was said to have been sent by the ambassador of Transylvania in silence. And humility, this kind of temperament is quite rare in Europe today, especially in France.

Little Eugen just shook his head. When Brontwig saw it, he couldn't say anything. He could only take him back to the suite that Leopold I specially opened on the same floor. Its size, decoration, and the number of attendants, It is almost the same as his wedlock son Philip.

  ————

   "Are you really going to arrange such a marriage for him?"

  Leopold I stared strangely at his queen and niece Margaret: "What do you want to say?"

Not only is she a nephew and nephew with Leopold I, but Queen Margaret, who is eleven years younger, certainly doesn't care about little Eugen's origin. She has been married to Leopold I for many years, how could she not know that the other is the same one? A guy with a cold temperament, he has ignored this illegitimate child for nearly 20 years - if it is not for the other party who is in his pocket, his sharp-edgedness, and happens to meet the repeated setbacks of the Habsburg family, let alone the Spanish throne, Even the Holy Roman Emperor may not be preserved, and the ambitious Leopold I is seriously ill again, and may not survive next year's Lent after refusing the "treatment" of the wizard - he will not remember that there is such a thing. a child…

   Not to mention, has he mentioned the princess Antonia in the past few years? No, it's like he doesn't have the daughter.

   "You are lying," said Queen Margaret boldly. Although she is a Spanish princess, she is also the daughter of the Habsburgs. She cannot be regarded as a pure outsider in Austria. Even if Leopold I was always very wary of her, you must know if there are any Transylvanian ambassadors here. She can still know about interviews, bringing pictures, and discussing marriage.

   "Yes," said Leopold I, "to keep him."

   "But this will only invite hatred." Queen Margaret said worriedly.

   "Don't worry," said Leopold I. "He will reject me."

  Queen Margaret was puzzled, but Leopold I didn't continue talking, just closed his eyes.

   (end of this chapter)