Not the successfulest of Markgraves, especially in later times.
Brandenburg was indeed steadily an Electorate, its Markgraf a
KURFURST, or Elector of the Empire; and always rather on the
increase than otherwise. But the Territories were apt to be much
split up to younger sons; two or more Markgraves at once, the
eldest for Elector, with other arrangements; which seldom answer.
They had also fallen into the habit of borrowing money; pawning,
redeeming, a good deal, with Teutsch Ritters and others. Then they
puddled considerably,--and to their loss, seldom choosing the side
that proved winner,--in the general broils of the Reich, which at
that time, as we have seen, was unusually anarchic. None of the
successfulest of Markgraves latterly. But they were regretted
beyond measure in comparison with the next set that came; as we
shall see.



Chapter IX.

BURGGRAF FRIEDRICH IV.

Brandenburg and the Hohenzollern Family of Nurnberg have hitherto
no mutual acquaintanceship whatever: they go, each its own course,
wide enough apart in the world;--little dreaming that they are
to meet by and by, and coalesce, wed for better and worse, and
become one flesh. As is the way in all romance. "Marriages," among
men, and other entities of importance, "are, evidently, made
in Heaven."