Eh, though, occam's razor would suggest that it is simpler that Preuss-without-sources is wrong?
That's what I'm thinking.
I am not believing ANY charges of embezzlement until one explains to me how Lehndorff can write this
I suppose it's technically possible that it was hushed up so well because of Fredersdorf's position and the embarrassment to Fritz. But then Lehndorff has heard any number of embarrasing-to-Fritz stories. He's heard about Glasow, for starters, when Glasow falls from grace. He knows the Marwitz tale. (Which, granted, as Heinrich's friend he has a great source for, but the Marwitz entry gave me the impression that Lehndorff might actually originally have learned the tale from Marwitz himself.) When the Voltaire-Maupertuis debacle goes down, he notes the various stages - without any intimate details, of course, but he's alert enough to know about each step despite not being a member of the academy. And years later, when Elisabeth the first wife of future FW2 has her scandal, the shocked Lehndorff notes down all the rumors, even outrageous (and false) ones like her wanting to poison future FW2 to rule with a lover. And inofficial Prime Minister Fredersdorf is the only one about whose resignation there's no gossip other than "he was sick, he was exhausted, he wanted to enjoy the private life" plus "he was jealous of Glasow" (which as far as I know, and correct me if I'm wrong, Lehndorff is the only one to report? There's not even a little rumor that it might have been for financial reasons? At a court where most of the nobles would have been only too delighted to say "see, just proves you can't trust commoner upstarts"?
...maybe not impossible, but really really unlikely.
Incidentally, re: Fredersdorf was jealous of Glasow and "fading looks" - do we think Lehndorff is onto something there, or is he projecting (since there's that earlier entry about Fritz' incognito trip to the Netherlands and how he'd have loved to come along at the King's side (like Glasow), or at least to meet the King there (like Catt))? Having read all those letters from Fritz to Fredersdorf and how affectionate they sound till the end of them, I'm tempted to say no, Fritz might have had a soft spot for the pretty (especially when combined with the witty) but Fredersdorf knew that emotionally, Fritz would not trade him in just for aging. Then again, as Mildred pointed out, emotions (and jealousies) aren't logical. Of special interest - which came first, Fredersdorf's marriage plans or Fritz showing an interest in Glasow? Because there might be an answer.
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Re: Fredersdorf gossipy sensationalism
Date: 2020-01-07 05:58 pm (UTC)That's what I'm thinking.
I am not believing ANY charges of embezzlement until one explains to me how Lehndorff can write this
I suppose it's technically possible that it was hushed up so well because of Fredersdorf's position and the embarrassment to Fritz. But then Lehndorff has heard any number of embarrasing-to-Fritz stories. He's heard about Glasow, for starters, when Glasow falls from grace. He knows the Marwitz tale. (Which, granted, as Heinrich's friend he has a great source for, but the Marwitz entry gave me the impression that Lehndorff might actually originally have learned the tale from Marwitz himself.) When the Voltaire-Maupertuis debacle goes down, he notes the various stages - without any intimate details, of course, but he's alert enough to know about each step despite not being a member of the academy. And years later, when Elisabeth the first wife of future FW2 has her scandal, the shocked Lehndorff notes down all the rumors, even outrageous (and false) ones like her wanting to poison future FW2 to rule with a lover. And inofficial Prime Minister Fredersdorf is the only one about whose resignation there's no gossip other than "he was sick, he was exhausted, he wanted to enjoy the private life" plus "he was jealous of Glasow" (which as far as I know, and correct me if I'm wrong, Lehndorff is the only one to report? There's not even a little rumor that it might have been for financial reasons? At a court where most of the nobles would have been only too delighted to say "see, just proves you can't trust commoner upstarts"?
...maybe not impossible, but really really unlikely.
Incidentally, re: Fredersdorf was jealous of Glasow and "fading looks" - do we think Lehndorff is onto something there, or is he projecting (since there's that earlier entry about Fritz' incognito trip to the Netherlands and how he'd have loved to come along at the King's side (like Glasow), or at least to meet the King there (like Catt))? Having read all those letters from Fritz to Fredersdorf and how affectionate they sound till the end of them, I'm tempted to say no, Fritz might have had a soft spot for the pretty (especially when combined with the witty) but Fredersdorf knew that emotionally, Fritz would not trade him in just for aging. Then again, as Mildred pointed out, emotions (and jealousies) aren't logical. Of special interest - which came first, Fredersdorf's marriage plans or Fritz showing an interest in Glasow? Because there might be an answer.