Charles, who for some time had been very jealous of the rapid encroachments of Austria, rubbed his hands with delight.
"We have long," said he, "labored in vain to humble the house of Austria, and now the dukes of Austria have humbled themselves." Leopold the First inherited all the ambition and energy of the house of Hapsburg, and was ever watching with an eagle eye to extend his dominions, and to magnify his power.

By money, war, and diplomacy, in a few years he obtained Friburg and the little town of Basle; attached to his dominions the counties of Feldkirch, Pludenz, Surgans and the Rienthal, which he wrested from the feeble counts who held them, and obtained the baillages of Upper and Lower Suabia, and the towns of Augsburg and Gingen.

But a bitter disappointment was now encountered by this ambitious prince.
Louis, the renowned King of Hungary and Poland, had two daughters, Maria and Hedwige, but no sons.

To Maria he promised the crown of Hungary as her portion, and among the many claimants for her hand, and the glittering crown she held in it, Sigismond, son of the Emperor Charles, King of Bohemia, received the prize.

Leopold, whose heart throbbed in view of so splendid an alliance, was overjoyed when he secured the pledge of the hand of Hedwige, with the crown of Poland, for William, his eldest son.