His son, but seventeen years of age, weak in body and in mind, at once yielded to all the demands of his imperial uncle.

Hardly a year, however, had elapsed ere this young prince, Wenceslaus III., was assassinated, leaving no issue.
Albert immediately resolved to transfer the crown of Bohemia to his own family, and thus to annex the powerful kingdom of Bohemia to his own limited Austrian territories.

Bohemia added to the Austrian provinces, would constitute quite a noble kingdom.

The crown was considered elective, though in fact the eldest son was almost always chosen during the lifetime of his father.

The death of Wenceslaus, childless, opened the throne to other claimants.