Encyclopedia: Maximilians quest for control 1493-1516
When Maximilian took power of the Habsburg lands in 1493, he began planning for his idea to centralize the Empire and Habsburg states. In theory this was a great idea, however the Emperor underestimated the desire of German Princes and his nobility to control their own policy and people. The creation of the Reichstag in 1495 was met with initial enthusiasm. Then after only a year or two, it was either ignored or met with hostility as Nobles and Princes resisted the Emperors grasp for more power over them.
This internal feud resulted in revolts all over Habsburg territory and for many German princes to doubt the authority and intentions of Maximilian. From 1496-99 Maximilian wrestled to regain stability of his nobility. Though he did gain some more control, the Reichstag original purpose became only words and was largely disregarded.
While Maximilian struggled with internal affairs, France had taken this opportunity to take territory in the Empire. Also, the Ottoman Turks began to annex more of the Balkan states. The power hungry Maximilian’s greatest struggle was about to begin, fighting off power hungry neighbors.
In 1498 the Turks invaded Moldavia. Hungary wanted Moldavia for themselves so they also attacked the small state hoping to take it before the Turks, Maximilian moved to help his ally. What happened was a massive collection of siege armies surrounding one castle. From Germany came General Frundsberg. This one General was so skilled with siege tactics that he went to Moldavia and with a much smaller Austrian army managed to breech the walls and take the castle for the Habsburgs. The Turks were furious but did not attack the Austrians for fear of starting a war. The cost in life was tremendous. Over 70,000 men died on top of the thousands of civilians inside the walls who died of starvation and disease. The Turks eventually abandoned Moldavia.
Maximilian launched an attack on France in 1501. With Generals Von Frundsburg and Ferdinand, the Habsburgs led a crushing assault on French armies. The French surrendered all German lands just before Frundsburg began his march to Paris. The victory for Maximilian helped make him very popular among the German Princes. Though he didn’t have full control of the Princes, he has their respect and allegiance.
The Habsburgs became the most prestigious power in Europe, even more than Aragon and Spain. When Aragon and Austria became allies in 1505, there was thought to be no other nation who could stand against them, Ferdinand of Aragon thought so but he was to find out how wrong he was.
1505 saw the beginning of the Partition of Aragon. France and Spain together invaded Aragon while Austria was busy defending Hungary against the Ottomans. The result was Aragon losing half its lands and becoming a vassal power to Spain. The war was the largest in European history. Austria-Hungary-Aragon alliance fielded 227,000 men while Spain and Frances combined alliances fielded 230,000 and the Ottomans 140,000. Though Aragon lost so much land, Maximilian successfully fought off the Turks to protect Hungary.
Relations between Aragon and Vienna began to sour at this point. In 1513 Maximilian pressured Aragon to release Rome. The Papacy was recreated as a Habsburg Vassal. This angered Sienna who invaded Rome. Maximilian defeated Sienna and then forced Aragon out of the alliance when Aragon brutally ended Sicilian moves for independence.
In 1514 Hungary annexed Moldavia, another victory over the Turks. Maximilian greatest success in winning over nobility came when Bohemia’s King became part of the Habsburg Empire. This resulted in a civil war in Bohemia for the next twelve years as many nobles resisted the Habsburg takeover.
In 1516 Maximilian’s grandson Karl became King of Spain and Germany. This set the stage for one man to control the greatest Empire the continent had seen since the Romans.