The sole confidant and companion of Fritz‘ last years I can think of was George Keith, Lord Marischall, before his own death, and I don‘t think he‘d be refered as „a favourite“?
My guess would be Lucchesini (cahn, his reader from 1780 until his death in 1786, and reported as the person Fritz confided in most in his last years), but he's not exactly a good source on what was happening in 1756. Unless Fritz is talking, and I doubt Fritz is talking?
Aww, Lucchesini has a diary from 1780-1782, but I can't seem to get a copy for our library. I'm guessing because the publication date of 1926 means it missed the public domain cutoff date of 1923 and figuring out whether something is public domain after that is complicated. It also seems difficult to get a copy for purchase. Ooh, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek has a physical copy, though. I'll add it to the list of "things we'd like selenak to do/read when RL lets her." :D It was published in German, and I'm hoping that means it was translated into German. Given the date, probably?
I guess that makes Glasow the most likely candidate for Alcibiades in 1756.
Firstly, he spells Katte „Catt“ and has him hunted down and captured while escaping. He also has Wilhelmine thrown through a window, so clearly has read Voltaire.
Oh, interesting. Thiébault also spells it "Catt" (Voltaire "Kat"). I wonder if Thiébault was reading Zimmermann? Or if that was just a thing in the 1790s. [ETA: I've now seen my third 1790s "Catt" (Münchow), so I think it was just a thing. I can see how their portraits are getting confused.]
No idea where the jewelry story is from.
If it's not completely made up, it may be based on Fritz and Katte, because one of the ways in which Fritz raised money for the escape was taking something he owned (a banner? I forget) that had jewels, swapping out the jewels for glass, and selling the jewels. He entrusted this to Katte, along with the money (remember, Katte claimed in his interrogation he was hanging on to all the resources to keep Fritz from being able to flee), and I believe it was found in Katte's possessions when he was arrested. I could see Wilhelmine getting substituted in a version of this story 60 years later.
(ETA: Asprey's version: "[Fritz] also sent [Katte] a large chest of incriminating letters and a thousand ducats raised in part by his selling the semiprecious stones he had pried from the Order of the Saxon Eagle and replaced with glass.")
he himself thinks Fritz would have been utterly capable of it since a) he was truly indifferent to all religions, as opposed to being a hardcore Protestant, and b) marrying MT would have removed him from his father‘s power once and for all and made him his dad‘s social superior, which Fritz as Zimmermann knew him would have been totally into.
I am shocked to agree with Zimmermann on something!
I mean, it‘s all nonsense, of course, but it‘s a great reflection of what was and wasn‘t known in 1790
Agreed! Reading all these late 18th and early 19th century accounts that have been passed down by word of mouth has been fascinating. Münchow the son, Peter Keith's son, Thiébault, Zimmermann...
Zimmermann is actually a bit closer to reality in his opinion on the question as to whose idea the fabled Fritz/MT marriage plan was and whether the hero of the Protestant faith would have done it than most other people for another century
Well done, Zimmermann!
Also, he‘s the first contemporary Fritz fan I‘ve seen who regrets this marriage didn‘t happen.
Hahaha, I love that he ships them. cahn's gonna love this. :D
Zimmermann, you should have tried writing soap operas, you have a gift.
Gossipy sensationalist without the scholarly instincts. ;)
Re: Zimmermann sets the record straight
My guess would be Lucchesini (
Aww, Lucchesini has a diary from 1780-1782, but I can't seem to get a copy for our library. I'm guessing because the publication date of 1926 means it missed the public domain cutoff date of 1923 and figuring out whether something is public domain after that is complicated. It also seems difficult to get a copy for purchase. Ooh, the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek has a physical copy, though. I'll add it to the list of "things we'd like
I guess that makes Glasow the most likely candidate for Alcibiades in 1756.
Agreed. Assuming Lucchesini (if it's really him) knows what he's talking about.
Firstly, he spells Katte „Catt“ and has him hunted down and captured while escaping. He also has Wilhelmine thrown through a window, so clearly has read Voltaire.
Oh, interesting. Thiébault also spells it "Catt" (Voltaire "Kat"). I wonder if Thiébault was reading Zimmermann? Or if that was just a thing in the 1790s. [ETA: I've now seen my third 1790s "Catt" (Münchow), so I think it was just a thing. I can see how their portraits are getting confused.]
No idea where the jewelry story is from.
If it's not completely made up, it may be based on Fritz and Katte, because one of the ways in which Fritz raised money for the escape was taking something he owned (a banner? I forget) that had jewels, swapping out the jewels for glass, and selling the jewels. He entrusted this to Katte, along with the money (remember, Katte claimed in his interrogation he was hanging on to all the resources to keep Fritz from being able to flee), and I believe it was found in Katte's possessions when he was arrested. I could see Wilhelmine getting substituted in a version of this story 60 years later.
(ETA: Asprey's version: "[Fritz] also sent [Katte] a large chest of incriminating letters and a thousand ducats raised in part by his selling the semiprecious stones he had pried from the Order of the Saxon Eagle and replaced with glass.")
he himself thinks Fritz would have been utterly capable of it since a) he was truly indifferent to all religions, as opposed to being a hardcore Protestant, and b) marrying MT would have removed him from his father‘s power once and for all and made him his dad‘s social superior, which Fritz as Zimmermann knew him would have been totally into.
I am shocked to agree with Zimmermann on something!
I mean, it‘s all nonsense, of course, but it‘s a great reflection of what was and wasn‘t known in 1790
Agreed! Reading all these late 18th and early 19th century accounts that have been passed down by word of mouth has been fascinating. Münchow the son, Peter Keith's son, Thiébault, Zimmermann...
Zimmermann is actually a bit closer to reality in his opinion on the question as to whose idea the fabled Fritz/MT marriage plan was and whether the hero of the Protestant faith would have done it than most other people for another century
Well done, Zimmermann!
Also, he‘s the first contemporary Fritz fan I‘ve seen who regrets this marriage didn‘t happen.
Hahaha, I love that he ships them.
Zimmermann, you should have tried writing soap operas, you have a gift.
Gossipy sensationalist without the scholarly instincts. ;)