The Emperor Wenzel
In the middle of a beautiful meadow at Rhense near Coblentz
stands the famous historical "king's chair". Here, where the lands of
the
three great prelates of Cologne, Mayence and Treves join together, the
princely
Seven met to choose the new ruler who was to direct the destiny of the
Holy
Roman Empire.
Here Charles IV. was chosen by the free will of
the Electors;
here also the Seven elected Wenzeslaus of the house of Luxembourg,
Charles'
son, emperor. During his life-time Charles had exerted himself very
much
over the election of his first-born son, and he even made a pilgrimage
with
him to Rhense on the Rhine where, at the renowned
"Königsstuhl," the
chancellor of the kingdom, Archbishop of Mayence, often held important
conferences with their Graces of Treves and Cologne, and the Count
Palatine.
This Wenzeslaus of Bohemia had a great
predilection for
the Rhine and its wines, and later on, when, less by his own merits,
than
by the exertions of his father and the favour of the electors, he
became
German emperor, his brother inheriting the sandy country of
Brandenburg,
he had even then paid more honours to the Rhine wine than any other of
its
lovers, it afforded him a greater pleasure than the enjoyment of
wearing
a crown. Finding that a good drink tasted better at the place of its
origin,
he often visited the brave Count Palatine of the Rhine who dwelt in
this
blissful country, and who had more casks in his cellar than there are
saints'
days in a year.
This proof of imperial confidence was by no means
disagreeable to the very noble Elector Ruprecht of the Palatinate, and
he
neglected no opportunity of striving to ingratiate himself more and
more
in the emperor's favour.
Gallant Ruprecht would not unwillingly have
exchanged
his little Palatinate crown for an imperial one. Sometimes when his
royal
guest, becoming very jovial from the wine he had taken, confessed that
the
high dignity of emperor was becoming troublesome to him, the count
agreed
with him frankly, and never failed to let his imperial master know that
the
electors were discontented at his careless administration, and would be
well
pleased if he retired. Emperor Wenzel listened to all he said with
perfect
indifference, continuing in the meantime to revel in his wine.
One day the emperor was sitting with his gay
companions
at the Königsstuhl in Rhense. They were all very merry, as the
cup.
of Assmannshäuser wine had already been passed round many
times. This
delicious vintage was very pleasing to Wenzel, and the other drinkers
could
not find words enough to praise it.
While the goblets were being handed round, and sounds of
joviality
filled the royal hall, the emperor stood Up suddenly and, addressing
himself
to the count, said in a very light-hearted tone.
"I think the crown which was set on my head would
not
be very unsuitable to you. Well, I offer it to you, if you are able to
place
before me and my companions here, a wine which tastes better than this
Assmannshäuser."
There was a cunning twinkle in the count's eyes as
he
beckoned to his page. After a while a servant roiled in a great cask,
from
which the cups were at once filled. The count stood up and presented
the
first goblet to the emperor.
"That is my Bacharacher wine, noble lords. Taste
it;
I can wait for your judgment without fear."
They all drank, and every face beamed with
pleasure.
The opinions were undivided in favour of the fiery Bacharacher. The
emperor
rose and loudly declared he preferred it to the
Assmannshäuser. He could
not praise it too highly, nor drink enough of it.
"This wine is worth more than a thousand crowns!"
said
he, enthusiastically. Wenzel kept his word and ceded his crown to
Ruprecht
of the Palatinate who, in his turn, made the emperor a present of six
waggon-loads of Bacharacher wine.
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