fil of the Roman XI. The power of the Weywoods in Poland, was ex" changed for that of a King, A. D. 700. Jul. Per. 5413. Cyc.O. 9. D. 17. Ind. 13. 2.Thefe Kings were declar'd Independent of the Empire, A. D. 999. Jul. Per. 5712. Cyc. Q. 28. D. 12. Ind. 12. The down- §. 1. A Fter Conftantine the Great had removed the Imperial Seat from Rome to Conftantinople; and recalled the Veterane Troops that guarded the Empire. Frontiers of the Roman Empire, along the Danube and the Rhine, the Weltern parts of that Empire became a prey to the Germans and Goths, which they obtained by an eafie purchase, upon Theodofius his dividing the Empire into the Eastern and Western, and bequeathing the former to his Son Arcadius, and the latter to his Son Honorius: for about that time the Northern Nations invaded the Western Empire in prodigious Swarms, and exchang'd their poor habitations for the pleasant and rich Provinces of the Romans. These Incurfions of the Northern Nations gave rife by degrees to moft of the prefent European Monarchies, the Epocha's of which are pursued in the following Paragraphs. Empire §. 2. In ancient times, Germany, (and indeed most of Germa- other Countries of Europe) was a compofition of fey trans veral independent Democracies, till Charles the Great ferr'd from reduced the whole under his jurifdiction, being at the Caro the fame time Mafter of France, Italy, Rome and part lingian Fa- of Spain. Lewis the Son of Charles, made Germany mily to the an independent Kingdom, by dividing the Empire of Saxons. the Francks among his three Sons, one of whom named Lewis had Germany for his fhare. Carolemannus the Son of this Lewis conquer'd Italy and affumed the Title of Emperour of the Romans A. D. 878. notwithstanding the King of France laid claim to it. In the year of Chrift 919, Cunrad the laft of the Caroling an Family died, and fo the Empire of Germany The Siccef was transfered to the Saxons. fions of th Saxon, Suabian D. §. 3. Henry Duke of Saxony being then made Emperour, the Imperial Dignity continued in his Family and Auttri- till the Death of Henry 11. which happened A Ď an Families 1024. for Henry II. (who was likewife D. of Bavaria to the Em- and fprung from the Saxon Race) dying without If hire. fue. fue, Conrad H. D. of Franconia was elected Emperour; and his Pofterity fucceeded in order, (tho' not without frequent difturbances from the Saxons and the Popes of Rome) till Henry V. dy'd without iffue, and was fucceeded by Lotharius D. of Saxony, A. D. 1125. Upon the death of Lotharius, the Imperial Crown was lodg'd in the Swabian Family, Conrad III. D. of Suabia being elected Emperour 4, D. 1138. and his Pofterity enjoying the fame Title till the year 1198, in which Henry VI. died, and Germany was thereupon miferably divided betwixt Qtho VI. D. of Saxony, and Philip Uncle and Guardian to the Son of Henry VI. However, Otho being forc'd to furrender the Title to Frederick II. the Son of Henry VI. the Suabian Family retrieved their right A. D. 1212. And after much frugling and oppofition from feveral quarters, the Race of the Dukes of Suabia was at laft extinguifh'd in the executing of Conradin his Grandfon. By this means Germany was reduc'd ito Anarchy and Confufion, and continued in that miferable ftate till the year 127, in which Rodolph Earl of Hadsburg and Landgrave of Alface was unanimously chofen Emperour. The prefent Dukes of Auftria are defcended of this Prince, and their Family has enjoyed the Imperial Dignity in a continued Series ever fince the Coronation of Frederick III. D. of Austria, which happened A. D. 1490. §. 4. The following Lift of the Emperors of Ger A Lift of many, commences from Rodolphus E. of Hadfourg, of the Empewhom the Austrian Family is defcended. vors of Vulg. Ful. Cre. Cyc Cyc. Germany. Ep.of Per... Ind. Chr. 12916004 12 19| 4 13476060 12 18 15 13786091 15 II I 7 Wenceslaus depos'd 13996112 8 13 7 8 Rupert 1410123 19 51 3 9 Sigifmond 14376150 18 13 15 10 Albert II. 14396152 20 15 2 11. Frederick III. 14936206 18 12 19 rescued out of the bands of the Mores. 19 Ferdinand III, 20 Leopold ftill alive. 16376350 22 4 S 1657637 14 510 The Con- §. 4. Spain being anciently compofed of feveral indition of dependent States, and deftitute of skilful Generals, Spain be was frequently over-run and conquer'd by Foreignfore 'twas ers, particularly the Gallick Celts, the Rhodians, Pha-, nicians,Cantabrigians and Carthaginians, and at laft the Carthaginians being difpoffeffed of it by the Romans, the whole Country became a Roman Province, in the time of Auguftus Cafar; and continued fo till the declenfion of the Western Empire, upon which it was over-run first by the Vandals, afterwards by the Swevians, and at laft by the Weft-Goths, A. D. 410. From that time the Gothick Empire grew in Spain by degrees, and arrivd at its highest pitch in the Reign of Recared, about the 586 year of Chrift. But in the year 713, Roderic being then King, the Goths were difpoffeffed of Spain, or at leaft difperfed and fubduby the African Saracens. This Kingdom of the Mores in Spain continued for above 700 years, viz- to the year 1492, in which they were totally extirpated by Ferdinand the Catholick, whofe Predeceffors from Pelagins downward pretended to be of the Gothick Race, and rescued several parts of Spain by degrees, out of the hands of the Mores. The Suc fion of §. 6. The first that attempted to free Spain of the Tyranny of the Mores, was Pelagius, from whom we commence the following Lift of the Spanish Kings,conthick Race tinuing it down to our times. tn Spain the Go Pelagins 46 Philip 1. tugal came to be a Kingdom. 47 Charles V. Emp. refign'd 48 Philip 11. 49 Philip III. 50 Philip IV. 51 Charles II. 5. 7. Portugal having continued a Roman Province How and till the declension of the Western Empire, and being when Por- thereupon poffeffed by the Goths, fell with the rest of Spain into the hands of the Mores, A. D. 713. In which condition it continued till the year 1093, that it was recovered by Alfonfus VI. King of Caftile and Leon, and by him bestowed, under the Title of a tributary Earldom, upon a valiant Perfon named Henry; whofe Pedigree fome derive from the Houfe of Burgundy, and others from that of Lorrain. Alfonso I. the Son of this Henry having defeated the Caftilians, fhook off the Spanifn Yoak,and was proclaimed King of Portugal, A. D. 1139. The true Portu guese Kings extind. S. 8. The true Race of the Kings of Portugal deRice of the rived from the above-mentioned Henry was extinct in the Death of K. Ferdinand, A. D. 1383. Upon which an Interregnum commenc'd; and continued to the year 1385, that fohn the Natural Son of Peter (Ferdinand's. Predeceffor) was proclaimed K. of Portugal. The Pofterity of this K. John continued to poffefs the Crown till the year 1980, in which Philip II. K of Spain united Portugal to Spain. Portugal 5. 9. Portugal continued united to Spain till the difunited year 1640 in which the Portuguese fhook off the Spafrom Spain nifh Yoak, and proclaimed for their King the D. of Braganza, under the Name of John IV. whofe Pofte rity enjoys the Crown to this day. The following Liit gives the feries of the Kings of Portugal from Alfonfol. (who firft affumed the Regal Title) to the prefent Monarch. |