Bear in mind that what I have at my disposal in German are:
a) The audiobook version of their correspondance - which is a selection. b) Various quotes from their correspondance in various biographies c) The website with the travel correspondance.
This being said, the big big "reason you suck" letter from Fritz I have in mind is from April 16th - that's the one that lists all he thinks Wilhelmine did wrong. Also, the AW biography as well as the Wilhelmine biography point out that parallel to all the Fritz letters, she corresponded with AW - there's one letter either from her or Fritz which brings this up as well, see: ways Fritz shows his displeasure -, and the Wilhelmine/AW correspondance has never been published except in quotes in various biographies.
(Mind you: In one letter to Fritz dated May 9th 1744 (i.e. the previous year, when the trouble wasn't yet the MT meeting but mainly the Marwitz business), AW writes "Following your order I have written to my Bayreuth sister and as you have asked me to transmit you her reply, I add her letter to mine here", which you can read as either Fritz asking AW to run interference as a mediator or as Fritz using AW to distance himself from Wilhelmine as a punishment - perhaps it's also a bit of both.)
Among the quotes from Wilhelmine's letters to AW during the estrangement from Fritz era:
"Your tenderness is my one consolation in my distress caused by the King's harsh way. But I am sure in his heart of hearts, he cannot but feel ashamed for treating me thus."
This was written in 1744 and thus overly optimistic. By the time we're in early 1745, Wilhelmine to AW sounds thusly:
"Please make him return his friendship to me again, and tell him I can't go on living like this any longer, as all I've written to change his mind about me has been in vain. He is still angry with me. I am eternally grateful to you for all you're doing on my behalf."
And after Fritz finally signals he is mollified, she writes to AW:
"You were the only one who felt with me and understood how hurt I was, I shall never forget it. From this, I have learned to value your kind heart, and your good character, and if you'd been the only one drawn into these affairs, the misunderstandings would have been cleared up far sooner. I still write respectful and affectionate letters to the Queen Mother, but she demands too much of me and has never understood me."
Wilhelmine was as good as her word, too, and did plead for AW when he needed her in the last year of their lives.
W to F: I am convinced that my brother was not lacking in good will. The grace you've shown him in entrusting the leadership of the army to him was a mighty incentive to deserve it. Only you, my dearest brother, are free of flaws in this regard. You cannot demand of others what you ask from yourself. His despair (...) is a very harsh punishment for him. His mistake will teach him to be smarter, and he will make up for it, I am sure!
This was written after her letter from Fritz about the whole disaster but before AW's letter about his version arrived. Post receiving AW's letter, rites Ziebura: "In her letter from August 24th 1e747, the Margravine pointed out to Wilhelm that much of one said in the first flush of anger was soon repented. The King had gone too far, true, and Wilhelm's hurt reaction was understandable. But Friedrich's accusations had not yet been made public. (...) His reputation and honor thus had not yet been damaged in the eyes of the outside world, it was still a private matter between him and the King. He should make a generous gesture towards the King as he couldn't expect the King to make the first move."
As things instead go from bad to worse (and AW's disgrace does become public): "We cannot find a remedy in the past, only in the future. (...) At your hearts, both of you want things to be alright again!"
But unlike Wilhelmine's estrangement from Fritz in the 40s, this was to have no reconciliation ending....
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Re: Wilhelmine/Fritz letters
Date: 2019-11-22 11:21 am (UTC)a) The audiobook version of their correspondance - which is a selection.
b) Various quotes from their correspondance in various biographies
c) The website with the travel correspondance.
This being said, the big big "reason you suck" letter from Fritz I have in mind is from April 16th - that's the one that lists all he thinks Wilhelmine did wrong. Also, the AW biography as well as the Wilhelmine biography point out that parallel to all the Fritz letters, she corresponded with AW - there's one letter either from her or Fritz which brings this up as well, see: ways Fritz shows his displeasure -, and the Wilhelmine/AW correspondance has never been published except in quotes in various biographies.
(Mind you: In one letter to Fritz dated May 9th 1744 (i.e. the previous year, when the trouble wasn't yet the MT meeting but mainly the Marwitz business), AW writes "Following your order I have written to my Bayreuth sister and as you have asked me to transmit you her reply, I add her letter to mine here", which you can read as either Fritz asking AW to run interference as a mediator or as Fritz using AW to distance himself from Wilhelmine as a punishment - perhaps it's also a bit of both.)
Among the quotes from Wilhelmine's letters to AW during the estrangement from Fritz era:
"Your tenderness is my one consolation in my distress caused by the King's harsh way. But I am sure in his heart of hearts, he cannot but feel ashamed for treating me thus."
This was written in 1744 and thus overly optimistic. By the time we're in early 1745, Wilhelmine to AW sounds thusly:
"Please make him return his friendship to me again, and tell him I can't go on living like this any longer, as all I've written to change his mind about me has been in vain. He is still angry with me. I am eternally grateful to you for all you're doing on my behalf."
And after Fritz finally signals he is mollified, she writes to AW:
"You were the only one who felt with me and understood how hurt I was, I shall never forget it. From this, I have learned to value your kind heart, and your good character, and if you'd been the only one drawn into these affairs, the misunderstandings would have been cleared up far sooner. I still write respectful and affectionate letters to the Queen Mother, but she demands too much of me and has never understood me."
Wilhelmine was as good as her word, too, and did plead for AW when he needed her in the last year of their lives.
W to F: I am convinced that my brother was not lacking in good will. The grace you've shown him in entrusting the leadership of the army to him was a mighty incentive to deserve it. Only you, my dearest brother, are free of flaws in this regard. You cannot demand of others what you ask from yourself. His despair (...) is a very harsh punishment for him. His mistake will teach him to be smarter, and he will make up for it, I am sure!
This was written after her letter from Fritz about the whole disaster but before AW's letter about his version arrived. Post receiving AW's letter, rites Ziebura: "In her letter from August 24th 1e747, the Margravine pointed out to Wilhelm that much of one said in the first flush of anger was soon repented. The King had gone too far, true, and Wilhelm's hurt reaction was understandable. But Friedrich's accusations had not yet been made public. (...) His reputation and honor thus had not yet been damaged in the eyes of the outside world, it was still a private matter between him and the King. He should make a generous gesture towards the King as he couldn't expect the King to make the first move."
As things instead go from bad to worse (and AW's disgrace does become public): "We cannot find a remedy in the past, only in the future. (...) At your hearts, both of you want things to be alright again!"
But unlike Wilhelmine's estrangement from Fritz in the 40s, this was to have no reconciliation ending....