Thank you for the synopsis! I apparently am completely incapable of listening to a podcast more than a few episodes -- something in my brain just gets overexposed and then it just refuses to take any more. (This isn't the first podcast that I've enjoyed but then hit a wall and couldn't listen any more -- it's not the podcast's fault, it's that it's a podcast. Ugh.)

Meanwhile, the German Dukes, having helped themselves to as much territory and privileges as possible, did not want a guy among their ranks with money and soldiers enough to actually boss them around and, shock horror, tell them what to do.

Oh, hee!

He even had a golden armour.

For some reason I find that absolutely hilarious. He was prepared for the job!

Bohemia he let Ottokar's son keep, but made sure said son married his, Rudolf's daughter. You know. Just in case.

This guy knows what's up! Heh, Rudolf does sound rather magnificently conniving :D

Evidently the Austrian censor thought this was an ever so subtle allusion to Napoleon, Josephine and none other than Habsburg princess Marie Louise, Napoleon's second wife, who by now was happy (if not married to) with her man of choice, Count Neipperg

Oh wow! That's... something.