Peter Csendes

A sweet account of a dark episode in Habsburg history when the burghers of Vienna and Albrecht VI besieged their Emperor and his brother Friedrich III in the Hofburg in Vienna. Both sides lacked the necessary military strength to resolve the matter and settled for an exhausting siege which was only resolved by the (diplomatic) intervention of the Bohemian King. Friedrich III relinquished control over Lower Austria and Vienna to his brother who could not cherish his triumph for long - he died a year later. The Viennese mayor later paid with his life for supporting Albrecht VI. Tortured and quartered, his body parts were exhibited on the ramparts of Vienna.

The event shows how dangerous cities were to emperors and kings, especially a weak one like Friedrich III. Their household troops were easily matched by local militia forces. Until help from more distant places arrived, the ruler was essentially a captive. Thus, the impulse to build castles and palaces located outside the cities.… (mais)