Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/343

 The Hohenstaufen Emperors and the Popes 307 III. STRUGGLE OVER THE THRONE BETWEEN PHILIP OTTO In the year of our Lord 1198 there arose among the German princes a great feud and a most terrific struggle over the throne. To begin with, the archbishops of Cologne and Treves claimed that the choice of a king belonged of right to them; and after taking counsel at Andernach with Duke Bernhard of Saxony and with other bishops, counts, and many nobles, they gave notice of an assembly to be held in Cologne, on Oculi Sunday, 1 to which was also sum- moned Duke Bertolf of Zahringen, whom they thought of choosing for king. So few came to the assembly that it was impossible to carry out their plan ; at the same time they received news that the eastern margraves, together with Duke Bernhard of Saxony, the archbishop of Magdeburg, and other princes of Upper Germany, had met at Erfurt to choose the new king. Thereupon they sent Bishop Hermann of Miinster and other men of note to the assembled princes to beg them not to make any choice in their absence but to meet with them at some place to be agreed upon, in order that they might together choose a worthy emperor and protector of the Church, acceptable to God. When the messengers arrived at the assembly, they learned that the princes had already agreed upon Duke Philip, the [late] emperor's brother, and chosen him as king. So they returned, and reported what had happened to their bishops, who were thereby highly incensed, for no king had ever before been chosen in Saxony, nor by these princes. . . . It is, nevertheless, certain that Duke Philip sent messen- gers to the archbishop of Cologne, offering him much and promising still more if he would ratify his election. This the bishop absolutely refused to do, for he felt that it would be neither safe for him nor honorable ; and, after holding 122. How the rivals, Philip and Otto, were elected. (Prom the Annals of Cologne.) Evidently no clearly defined col- lege of elect- ors existed at this time. Philip elected by the North German princes. The arch- bishop of Cologne chooses Otto as emperor. 1 Namely, March ist, the day on which a portion of the church service begins with the word oculi.