They came to the court of the powerful Duke of Burgundy.
The dukedom extended over wide realms, populous and opulent, and the duke had the power of a sovereign but not the regal title.

He was ambitious of elevating his dukedom into a kingdom and of being crowned king; and he agreed to give his only daughter and heiress, Mary, a beautiful and accomplished girl, to the emperor's son Maximilian, if Frederic would confer upon his estates the regal dignity and crown him king.

The bargain was made, and Maximilian and Mary both were delighted, for they regarded each other with all the warmth of young lovers.

Mary, heiress to the dukedom of Burgundy, was a prize which any monarch might covet; and half the princes of Europe were striving for her hand.
But now came a new difficulty.

Neither the emperor nor duke had the slightest confidence in each other.