Kings & rulers > History of the reign of the Emperor Charles V. > Volume 1

A VIEW OF THE
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well as the high dignity of which he had the
profpect, rendered the alliance honourable for
Mary, while, from the diftance of his hereditary
territories, and the fcantinefs of his revenues, his
power was fo inconfiderable, as did not excite
the jealoufy or fear of the Flemings.
Thus Louis, by the caprice of his temper, and
the excefs of his refinements, put the houfe of
Auftria in poffeffion of this noble inheritance.
By this acquifition, the foundation of the future
grandeur of Charles V. was laid; and he be¬
came mafter of thofe territories, which enabled
him to carry on his moft formidable and decifive
operations againft France. Thus, too, the
fame monarch who firfl united the interior force
of France, and eftablifhed it on fuch a footing,
as to render it formidable to the reft of Europe,
contributed, far contrary to his intention, to
raife up a rival power, which, during two
centuries, has thwarted the meafures, oppofed
the arms, and checked the progrefs of his fuc-
ceffors.
The next event of confequence in the fif¬
teenth century, was the expedition of Charles
VIII. into Italy [A. D. 1494]. This occa-
fioned revolutions no lefs memorable; pro¬
duced alterations, both in the military and po¬
litical fyftem, which were more immediately
perceived ; roufed the ftates of Europe to bolder
efforts; and blended their affairs and interefts
more clofely together. The mild adminiftration
of Charles, a weak but generous prince, feems to
have revived the fpirit and genius of the French
nation, which the rigid defpotifm of Louis XL
his father, had depreued, and almoft extinguilhed.