I must say I’m quite partial to the theory that Fritz’s letters to Heinrich were so critical of Marwitz because it was Fritz himself whom Marwitz was banging/cheating on Heinrich with
That's certainly what I'm tentatively eyeing as the reason for Heinrich's original break up with Marwitz. In two variations: 1) it's true, and 2) it's what Heinrich thinks is true. But it comes about the same way. The series of events being: after these letters - which were clearly written when Marwitz is still serving as page with Fritz in Potsdam - Marwitz gets fired as a page, as reported by Lehndorff years later, then, after Heinrich's pleadings, re-hired, but as a guardsman. And then Heinrich finds out Marwitz does, in fact, have STD. (BTW: historically we have no idea whether or not he did. Lehndorff doesn't mention it, and he's the only source other than the letters themselves we have on this particular mystery.) How did Fritz know this? Clearly, to Heinrich's mind, there can be only one explanation - Marwitz was cheating on him with Fritz.
Now, I'm not married to the low sex drive assumption, though most of the time it works for me. Hence me seeing two possibilities.
a) Fritz had sex with the guy. Though probably limited, if the gonorhea is real, since he doesn't want to get infected. (BTW, this means Marwitz got the STD from a third party.) He can't afford to do what, say, James Boswell does in such cases and retreat for some years with lots of mercury till he's "cured". Maybe he does have a low sex drive and maybe he doesn't, but since it's his page Heinrich has just pulled, and Heinrich shows signs of being a backmouthing uncomfortably familiar trouble maker, he needs to demonstrate territory here. Also, Marwitz, attractive, witty and somewhat on the malicious side, is his type.
or
b) Fritz doesn't have sex with Marwitz, but he is a sharp observer, and has correctly deduced Marwitz has STD (from whoever). Because this is rapidly becoming a mind messing game, and he's annoyed that Younger Brother has all the open sex life he himself never got to have at that age and isn't even properly grateful to him for that, he uses the information in his letters and gives every impression that him/Marwitz are a thing. Besides, it's for Heinrich's own good. He needs to both learn his place and not get sick.
Since 19 years old Heinrich was actually in love with Marwitz, not just in lust, he takes this more serious than Fritz ever intended, hence six months of silence. He falls out of love rather rapidly, because he's 19, and cheating is still a big deal for him (less so in the future, since he's not exactly known for his monogamy then, but that's yet to come). Also because Marwitz, who forms the prototype for those many charismatic expensive bad boys to come, turns out to know on which side his bread is buttered isntead of being a romantic hero. Years later, he has a somewhat different perspective (and way more experience), and then it's also a matter of annoying Fritz with the insinuation that welll, you're his sovereign, he pretty much has to give you what ever you want, but guess what, he's with me because he wants to be, so which of us is really winning here?
Which is, of course, also the reason why Fritz keeps reinstalling and dismissing Marwitz. I mean, witty pretties are not exactly rare at his court, and he's not in love with the guy, but it's a matter of not giving up first. (Marwith isn't Silesia, but...) So the whole rigmarole ends when finally one of the brothers Shows no more interest at all, not even intermittently, which means the other one doesn't, either.
Re: Toppings of all types, continued - the Curious Case of the Recurring Favourite
That's certainly what I'm tentatively eyeing as the reason for Heinrich's original break up with Marwitz. In two variations: 1) it's true, and 2) it's what Heinrich thinks is true. But it comes about the same way.
The series of events being: after these letters - which were clearly written when Marwitz is still serving as page with Fritz in Potsdam - Marwitz gets fired as a page, as reported by Lehndorff years later, then, after Heinrich's pleadings, re-hired, but as a guardsman. And then Heinrich finds out Marwitz does, in fact, have STD. (BTW: historically we have no idea whether or not he did. Lehndorff doesn't mention it, and he's the only source other than the letters themselves we have on this particular mystery.) How did Fritz know this? Clearly, to Heinrich's mind, there can be only one explanation - Marwitz was cheating on him with Fritz.
Now, I'm not married to the low sex drive assumption, though most of the time it works for me. Hence me seeing two possibilities.
a) Fritz had sex with the guy. Though probably limited, if the gonorhea is real, since he doesn't want to get infected. (BTW, this means Marwitz got the STD from a third party.) He can't afford to do what, say, James Boswell does in such cases and retreat for some years with lots of mercury till he's "cured". Maybe he does have a low sex drive and maybe he doesn't, but since it's his page Heinrich has just pulled, and Heinrich shows signs of being a backmouthing uncomfortably familiar trouble maker, he needs to demonstrate territory here. Also, Marwitz, attractive, witty and somewhat on the malicious side, is his type.
or
b) Fritz doesn't have sex with Marwitz, but he is a sharp observer, and has correctly deduced Marwitz has STD (from whoever). Because this is rapidly becoming a mind messing game, and he's annoyed that Younger Brother has all the open sex life he himself never got to have at that age and isn't even properly grateful to him for that, he uses the information in his letters and gives every impression that him/Marwitz are a thing. Besides, it's for Heinrich's own good. He needs to both learn his place and not get sick.
Since 19 years old Heinrich was actually in love with Marwitz, not just in lust, he takes this more serious than Fritz ever intended, hence six months of silence. He falls out of love rather rapidly, because he's 19, and cheating is still a big deal for him (less so in the future, since he's not exactly known for his monogamy then, but that's yet to come). Also because Marwitz, who forms the prototype for those many charismatic expensive bad boys to come, turns out to know on which side his bread is buttered isntead of being a romantic hero. Years later, he has a somewhat different perspective (and way more experience), and then it's also a matter of annoying Fritz with the insinuation that welll, you're his sovereign, he pretty much has to give you what ever you want, but guess what, he's with me because he wants to be, so which of us is really winning here?
Which is, of course, also the reason why Fritz keeps reinstalling and dismissing Marwitz. I mean, witty pretties are not exactly rare at his court, and he's not in love with the guy, but it's a matter of not giving up first. (Marwith isn't Silesia, but...) So the whole rigmarole ends when finally one of the brothers Shows no more interest at all, not even intermittently, which means the other one doesn't, either.