Re: Glasow

Date: 2020-01-06 12:03 pm (UTC)
mildred_of_midgard: (Default)
Funny timing! I had just finished hunting for Fredersdorf's dismissal in Preuss when I checked my email and saw your notification. In short, I found *nothing*. He says that Fredersdorf was one of the few to retain favor until the end of his life, and that he fell sick shortly before the Seven Years' War. I too am increasingly skeptical. Fredersdorf died on good terms with Fritz; that's my headcanon and I'm sticking to it!

While talking about Fredersdorf, Preuss talks about Fritz's relationships with his valets in general. One, he claims Fritz was verbally *and* physically abusive toward them. Sadly, I'm accumulating enough reports of Fritz being physically abusive that I believe it, and it seems the best one can say is that he was *less* physically abusive than FW.

Two, Preuss enumerates the valets/batmen/lackeys that got dismissed for stealing from Fritz. Glasow is mentioned, of course (in a "more on him later" kind of way), and so are a couple others. Including a Deesen, who was accused of stealing from Fritz, was ordered to become a drum-beater in the army as part of his punishment. Well, evidently he couldn't take the humiliation, and on July 23, 1775, shot himself at Sanssouci.

I can't find any more on this guy, but I was reminded of something you found in Burgdorf: "'The King's love could be deadly. Katte wasn't the only one who lost his life. A young officer, Gregorii, shot himself when Friedrich turned towards a new favourite.' Again, no footnote indicating where this story is from."

Well, I still have no footnote indicating where this story is from, but Preuss, in my experience, is pretty good about at least having sources (he's the one who compiled and published Fritz's correspondence, and his 4 volume bio of Fritz has 5 accompanying volumes of source material), so I wonder if Deesen's first name might be Gregorii, or if Burgdorf might otherwise be reporting the same story under a different name.

Also, "turned towards a new favourite" is completely different from "accused of stealing and dishonored," Burgdorf. Though I agree one might well be the cause of the other (in either direction).

Anyway, I'm going to ask our royal patron for the 9 volumes of Preuss and will get them uploaded. Not that I expect you to read them cover-to-cover! But you'll be able to look things up in them at will.
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