But then, historical Carlos wasn't anytihing to write home about, either, and Schiller didn't let that stop him from changing his character and inventing Posa for him.
I agree with all the reasons given, and would add that Schiller didn't invent rewriting Carlos' character out of whole cloth; the propaganda elements that would make him suitable for a more sympathetic treatment go back to the 16th century in countries with a strong Protestant demographic. And in the 17th century, there was a French version of Dom Carlos that inspired Schiller by giving Carlos and Elisabeth have a forbidden passion and making Carlos the ideal romantic knight, with an interest in freeing Flanders.
Peter famously and infamously dragged Russia into the modern world
Very apt way of putting it. Peter's history is full of anecdotes too. Though honestly, anyone called "the Great" probably has a bunch of entertaining anecdotes to their name. ;)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Re: Yuletide ideas and the Other Royal Murder Dad
Date: 2019-09-19 05:21 pm (UTC)I agree with all the reasons given, and would add that Schiller didn't invent rewriting Carlos' character out of whole cloth; the propaganda elements that would make him suitable for a more sympathetic treatment go back to the 16th century in countries with a strong Protestant demographic. And in the 17th century, there was a French version of Dom Carlos that inspired Schiller by giving Carlos and Elisabeth have a forbidden passion and making Carlos the ideal romantic knight, with an interest in freeing Flanders.
Peter famously and infamously dragged Russia into the modern world
Very apt way of putting it. Peter's history is full of anecdotes too. Though honestly, anyone called "the Great" probably has a bunch of entertaining anecdotes to their name. ;)