Incidentally, all this talk of diplomacy via sex reminds me of:
"[The French] were appalled to learn in mid-December [1745] that their Prussian ally was about to desert them once again. The French ambassador in Berlin, Valori, mounted a last-ditch attempt to frustrate the negotiations underway at Dresden by sending off his secretary, Claude Etienne Darget.
"Why would a mere secretary be entrusted with such an important mission? The probable explanation is that Darget had already caught Frederick's roving eye, making such an impression, indeed, that his transfer to Prussian service had been requested. As we shall see, Darget was to feature as the antihero of Frederick's homoerotic poem Palladium. Alas, Frederick knew how to keep sex and politics separate. In the detailed report of their encounter sent back to Valori, Darget had to register total failure, in his diplomatic mission at least."
Footnote: "Darget moved to become Frederick's librarian the following month, January 1746."
Alas, Heinrich might be right. Don't let that stop you, though, Habsburgs!
Re: Crackfic
"[The French] were appalled to learn in mid-December [1745] that their Prussian ally was about to desert them once again. The French ambassador in Berlin, Valori, mounted a last-ditch attempt to frustrate the negotiations underway at Dresden by sending off his secretary, Claude Etienne Darget.
"Why would a mere secretary be entrusted with such an important mission? The probable explanation is that Darget had already caught Frederick's roving eye, making such an impression, indeed, that his transfer to Prussian service had been requested. As we shall see, Darget was to feature as the antihero of Frederick's homoerotic poem Palladium. Alas, Frederick knew how to keep sex and politics separate. In the detailed report of their encounter sent back to Valori, Darget had to register total failure, in his diplomatic mission at least."
Footnote: "Darget moved to become Frederick's librarian the following month, January 1746."
Alas, Heinrich might be right. Don't let that stop you, though, Habsburgs!