The naked facts alone retain vital interest, and of these facts the prominent one was the assertion of the Emperor that the duchies, constituting a fief masculine, could descend to none of the pretenders, but were at his disposal as sovereign of Germany.
On the other hand nearly all the important princes of that country sent their agents into the duchies to look after the interests real or imaginary which they claimed.
There were but four candidates who in reality could be considered serious ones.
Mary Eleanor, eldest sister of the Duke, had been married in the lifetime of their father to Albert Frederic of Brandenburg, Duke of Prussia.

To the children of this marriage was reserved the succession of the whole property in case of the masculine line becoming extinct.

Two years afterwards the second sister, Anne, was married to Duke Philip Lewis, Count-Palatine of Neuburg; the children of which marriage stood next in succession to those of the eldest sister, should that become extinguished.

Four years later the third sister, Magdalen, espoused the Duke John, Count-Palatine of Deux-Ponts; who, like Neuburg, made resignation of rights of succession in favour of the descendants of the Brandenburg marriage.

The marriage of the youngest sister, Sibylla, with the Margrave of Burgau has been already mentioned.