I Am Louis XIV

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

King Leopold I said this, surprising everyone around his bed, including the dusty little Eugen.

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Let us turn the time forward more than ten days ago, when King Leopold I's envoy came to Paris. In addition to intending to negotiate peace with France, he also intended to bring Eugen to the throne for the sake of his heir Philip the Younger and Austria. When Savoy took him back to Vienna, he would legally recognize the child, and then according to tradition, this half-brother who was more than ten years older than the future Archduke of Austria would become the regent, just like Duke Don Juan of Spain and Carlos II.

And for this reason - not one or two good profits, two or three mansions or forests, or a wilderness and fields - this is not only about little Eugen himself, but also about his descendants, so Even the Sun King Louis XIV could not make this decision for him. Not only could he not make it for him, but he also urged him to accept the Austrian's request and go to Vienna to bid farewell to his biological father.

Queen Theresa couldn't help complaining to Louis after little Eugen set off. She thought that little Eugen would hesitate or refuse, and she thought about many words to persuade him. Unexpectedly, he only agreed after thinking about it for a few nights. . Louis told him that it was precisely because little Eugen had deep feelings for them, Versailles, and France that he made such a decision. People are fickle, and even little Eugen himself was not sure whether he would make such a decision. He will suffer setbacks or neglect in the next few decades. If he insists not to go to Vienna now, no one will dare to tell him at that time, and he will not regret his current decision. After all, people say that what he did not get Things are the best. Once he thinks of comparing, the result will definitely not be beneficial to him or France.

It would be better for him to go to Vienna to see and understand for himself, and then make a decision after weighing the pros and cons. By then, whether he chooses to stay in France or is tempted by Leopold I, he will not have any problems. A place of regret and annoyance.

Therefore, although Louis XIV still had to discuss with ministers, generals and parliamentarians how to conduct negotiations - the weakness of Leopold I was clearly exposed in the treaty brought by the envoys, but should he still be merciful and soft towards this enemy? Therefore, the actual negotiations and signing may have to be delayed until a few weeks later, but little Eugen can head to Vienna together with the French envoy team.

They had to pass through northern Italy, the battlefield of the Spanish throne, and then most of Austria before reaching the easternmost Vienna. For little Eugen, it seemed as if he had passed through an ups and downs of music, starting with Lorraine. , the wealth and prosperity of the Alsace region, and then the desolation and barrenness of the Milan region - the barrenness caused by the war is terrible. To put it simply, there is nothing, people, livestock, villages or towns, or even The woodlands and streams were filled with patches of yellow-black scorched earth, bubbling swamps, and the occasional stench and white bones; but when they entered the Alpine pass, from here they followed the Drau River to the As they walked east, the verdant colors appeared in their field of vision again, and there were lights in the villages. The bells of the towns could be heard far away. They saw the same rough cement bricks and wood on the renovated concrete roadside. The built hotel provided food, drink, and feed for the horses; when we arrived in an ancient city like Graz, we could still see rows of gas lamps and a roaring boiler factory outside the city. Root feels familiar.

The French mission separated from Eugen in Baden, not far from Vienna, so that the Viennese people's first impression of Eugen would be that he was from France and from an enemy country. As for what Eugen would choose in the future, They were not too worried - even if little Eugen was determined to stay in Vienna.

The reason why Leopold I was so urgent was because he had an empty pocket. It was not that he did not have capable ministers and generals under his command, but compared with the young and promising Eugen, they were older and did not have the outstanding ability of the latter. Military talent can only be regarded as a person who maintains success. On the contrary, Louis XIV did not have such troubles. He had the older and more reliable Viscount Turenne and the Duke of Vendôme above him. In the middle, there were Vauban, Schaumberg and Lovas, and below him there were young Eugen and Vera. You and young people like Joseph, Jean Bart, and the Marquis de Lafayette... He once envied Britain's Lord Protector Cromwell, but now it seems that God intends to make up for it, and he can use trustworthy manpower as numerous as the stars.

Some people in the mission also said that if he were little Eugen, he might choose to stay in Vienna. Austria and Habsburg are now suffering from internal and external troubles. Compared with France, which is already stable and unshakable, if he becomes the regent, it will be even worse. Able to let go and make progress with determination. But some people say that even if he is given power, he will still be subject to many constraints from the elector, the queen mother, important ministers and the Ottoman Turks. What's more, just look at Carlos II and Duke Don Juan to know that the regent will inevitably become the king. A thorn in one's side and a thorn in one's flesh. If one day becomes weak, the result will be either the guillotine or the gallows. The best is life imprisonment. There is really nothing worth fighting for.

What they said was not wrong. Whether they decided to stay in Vienna or return to France, Prince Conti thought in his heart, little Eugen and His Majesty the King (Louis XIV) must also have such thoughts.

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But even little Eugen didn't expect that Leopold I would be so generous and willing to give him a Hungarian crown.

People often say that Austria is a wall between Europe and the pagans of Ottoman Turkey. For this reason, once Vienna was invaded by the Ottomans, the church issued a call to the Catholic kings of Europe, and the kings should send troops to help. , but we also have to say that Austria is not closest to the sphere of influence of the Ottoman Turks. 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 (Rouran people) who were expelled to the west by the Turks also came. Here, and became the new owner of this territory, used it as a starting point to conquer the surrounding areas, bringing countless disasters - these terrible enemies finally ended up in their faith, they converted to Catholicism, and then became the Catholic faith against the Ottomans. A chess piece.

Later, the leader of the Avars was elected as the King of Hungary. His descendants were forced to marry the daughter of the King of Bohemia due to their defeat. As a result, they died without heirs and were annexed by the King of Bohemia. However, this The king 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.

In this way, the Habsburgs obtained Hungary through transactions and threats. Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. Taking advantage of the transition between the old and the new, the Ottoman Turks took the opportunity to attack Hungary, resulting in three parts of Hungary. The central and southern parts belonged to the Ottomans, and the eastern part belonged to the Trans. Sylvania, west and north belongs to Austria.

Leopold I's approach was almost the same as that of Alfonso V. He handed over a less stable and complete territory to his illegitimate son, which was also somewhat similar to Louis XIV's imagination. In this way, the illegitimate son's shortcomings in orthodoxy were eliminated. It can be compensated by personal bravery and wisdom, "I made an agreement with the Grand Duke of Transylvania. He is willing to enter into a marriage contract with Austria as long as you are willing. He has a daughter who is five years older than you, but Born very beautiful, docile and charming, and a devout Catholic." Louis XIV had no problem calling Tekei the Prince of Transylvania, although this title came from the canonization of the Ottoman Sultan. Leopold I could not.

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

"A Hungarian," little Eugen finally couldn't help but spoke before getting permission: "Your Majesty, do you remember that it was you who signed his father's death sentence?"

"So what?" Leopold I coughed twice, and his face turned crimson: "You have been with Louis XIV for so many years, and you still don't know how charming the scepter and crown are? Even if it's special Key has no ambitions. As a Hungarian noble, how could he easily give up this opportunity to unify Hungary? Do you still naively think that he led the way to the Ottoman Sultan for faith or a few clanking words? Gold coins?”

"You always have to give up something in order to gain something." Leopold I said, and then he fell back and stopped talking. Little Eugen was also 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 in his mouth - Since Louis XIV began to set up a military rank system and use collared epaulettes, the encouragement brought to officers and soldiers only has Anyone with eyes can see it. Little Eugen was not surprised to see the familiar but dissimilar heraldic symbol here. His eyes slid down and he saw the brooch worn by the other party on his chest. Nowadays, nobles almost He no longer embroidered the family coat of arms on his chest, but instead used brooches, hatpins and even buttons to show his noble bloodline and long history - he saw a white horse and a blue lion, "Duke Lunenburg?"

"Just call me Braunschweich," the other party said enthusiastically: "Sir, you and I are of the same age and we both serve in the army, so there is no need to be so reserved."

Only then did little Eugen pay attention to him. He was upset all the way and was almost ready to refuse all Leopold I's requests. Even though the other party had arranged for the Hungarian crown, Leopold I said That's right. He grew up next to Louis XIV. How could he not understand that honey must be packed with poison? If he followed the arrangement of Leopold I and went to Hungary, he would really become a Habsburg casualty. The doll is manipulated.

How could the current owner of Transylvania, Tekoi, give up his hatred so easily and leave the country and its people in the hands of a Habsburg illegitimate son? There must be many unknown conspiracies and plots involved. If he was easily dazzled by the immediate interests, betrayed Louis XIV's trust in him, and also lost France's support for him, then he would still be able to rely on Hungary in a crisis-ridden Hungary that was troubled by Geneva. who?

Of course, there is only the Archduke of Austria, his half-brother Philip the Younger. Leopold I gave him a crown of Hungary, and he had to give Philip the Crown of the Holy Roman Empire in return, and it can be seen that , in the coming decades, he will maintain a friendly and close relationship with the Holy Roman Empire.

But even if you can see it clearly, there should be countless people willing to pay everything for it.

Little Eugen was silent and looked at the portrait with Duke Lunenburg that was said to have been sent personally by the Transylvanian ambassador. This was also a necessary procedure. The young lady in the painting was indeed beautiful, with a bit of oriental softness. And humility, this kind of temperament is quite rare in Europe today, especially in France.

Little Eugen just shook his head. When Bruntwig saw him, he couldn't say anything. He could only take him back to the suite specially opened by Leopold I on the same floor. Its size, decoration and number of attendants, He was almost the same as his legitimate son Philip the Younger.

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"Do you really want to arrange such a marriage for him?"

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

Not only were they uncles and nephews of Leopold I, but Queen Margrethe, who was eleven years younger, would certainly not care about little Eugen's origins. She had been married to Leopold I for many years, so how could she not know that the other was the same person? A cold-tempered guy, he had ignored this illegitimate child for nearly twenty years - if it weren't for the fact that the other party was in the bag and his sharp edge was revealed, and he happened to encounter the repeated setbacks of the Habsburg family, let alone the Spanish throne, he would have Even the throne of Holy Roman Emperor may not be preserved. The ambitious Leopold I became seriously ill again. After rejecting the wizard's "treatment", he may not survive next year's Lent - and he will not remember to return. There is such a child...

Apart from anything else, has he mentioned the eldest princess Antonia in the past few years? No, it's like he doesn't have this daughter.

"You are lying," said Queen Margaret boldly. Although she was a Spanish princess, she was also the daughter of Habsburg. She could not be regarded as a pure outsider in Austria. Even though Leopold I was always very wary of her, one had to know whether any Transylvanian ambassador had arrived. Even if she visits, brings portraits, and discusses marriage, she can still know.

"Yes," said Leopold I: "To keep him."

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

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

Queen Margaret looked puzzled, but Leopold I did not continue and just closed his eyes.