(A.D. 1319), and left only a young cousin for successor, who died
few months after: [September, 1320 (Pauli, i. 391). Michaelis, i.
260-277.] the Line of Albert the Bear went out in Brandenburg.
They had lasted there about two hundred years. They had not been,
in late times, the successfulest Markgraves: territories much
split up among younger sons, joint Markgraves reigning, which
seldom answers; yet to the last they always made stout fight for
themselves; walked the stage in a high manner; and surely might be
said to quit it creditably, leaving such a Brandenburg behind
them, chiefly of their making, during the Two Centuries that had
been given them before the night came.

There were plenty of Ascanier Cousins still extant in those parts,
Saxon dignitaries, Anhalt dignitaries, lineal descendants of
Albert the Bear; to some of whom, in usual times, Albert's
inheritance would naturally have been granted. But the times were
of battle, uncertainty, contested election: and the Ascaniers,
I perceive, had rather taken Friedrich of Austria's side, which
proved the losing one. Kaiser Ludwig DER BAIER would appoint none
of these; Anti-Kaiser Friedrich's appointments, if he made any,
could be only nominal, in those distant Northern parts. Ludwig,
after his victory of Muhldorf, preferred to consider the
Electorate of Brandenburg as lapsed, lying vacant, ungoverned
these three years; and now become the Kaiser's again. Kaiser, in
consequence, gave it to his Son; whose name also is Ludwig:
the date of the Investiture is 1323 (year after that victory of
Muhldorf); a date unfortunate to Brandenburg. We come now into a
Line of BAVARIAN Markgraves, and then of LUXEMBURG ones; both of
which are of fatal significance to Brandenburg.