LOL. See, there were Austrian books to be had which were not code for money, Fritz!
Haha. Maybe Seckendorf was just reading multiple copies of the Life of Prince Eugene. :P
Let me things straight, and I do mean STRAIGHT.
Truly, you are the best of all possible readers, Selena. I knew Zimmermann was hilarious, and I knew you would deliver.
Even I, reader, had my doubts when someone claiming to have been his lover told me there was guy on guy action until shortly before the 7 Years War.
So does he not specify who this unnamed lover is at all?
However, being a satirist himself, he knew there’d be major satire to fear from all those people envious of his manliness.
*literal choking*
It worked, too.
It really did! He was way more convincing than you're being, Zimmermann.
Our King even forbade anyone to look at his naked body after he died to protect his secret.
Per Blanning, the surgeon and medical officers who did look at the body when preparing it for burial said it all looked completely normal, in fact "indignantly asserted that the royal genitalia were as 'complete and perfect as those of any healthy man,'" and furthermore claims that "Frederick’s naked body lay for more than one and a half hours and was seen by at least a dozen people, none of whom noticed any genital deformity."
Also,
Although it does not necessarily invalidate his testimony, it needs to be recorded that Zimmermann was a long-standing and passionate admirer of Frederick, despite being Swiss by birth and Hanoverian by choice. After his first encounter with his hero in 1771 he left the room in floods of tears, exclaiming, "Oh, my love for the King of Prussia is beyond words!"
Not that I want to undermine Rococo emo by insinuating that *everyone* is gay, but homophobia in the closet is a thing...
Blanning continues,
However, there is so much error in his account—for example, he has the newlyweds moving to Rheinsberg immediately after their marriage, rather than three years later—that his reliability must be doubted.
Thank you so much, on behalf of all the gossipy sensationalists who sacrifice at your altar, for yet another golden write-up. I know the source material gave you a lot to work with. :D
So does he not specify who this unnamed lover is at all?
Taking another look, I see Zimmermann‘s source doesn‘t claim to have been the participant of the guy on guy action himself, though he might have been. The exact phrasing is thusly: (...) since one of Friedrich‘s favourites, the confidante and companion of his last years, told me in Potsdam, that Friedrich has loved shortly before the beginning of the Seven Years War as Socrates has loved Alcibiades.“.
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“? Anyway, Fritz, now you‘re in the Socrates role, it seems. I guess that makes Glasow the most likely candidate for Alcibiades in 1756.
Also, quickly browsed to what Zimmermann, in 1790, is writing before this chapter on how Fritz was utterly straight. 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, and she gave Fritz her jewelry for the big escape. (Since it‘s 1790, no one has read her memoirs yet, where no such thing is claimed. No idea where the jewelry story is from.)
Zimmerman‘s theory as to why Fritz tried to escape is pretty original, though. He says he doesn‘t buy the story of Fritz wanting to go to England and still pursuing the English marriage project. No, his own theory is that Fritz wanted to go to Austria and marry MT. He says he knows there is much indignation and scepticism about the Fritz/MT marriage plan story, but 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. Zimmermann furtherly argues this explains why Seckendorff and Vienna tried to save Fritz from execution subsequently. Seckendorff wasn‘t just against the English marriage, he was for the Fritz/MT marriage as the thing to make Austria and the HRE secure. And, says Zimmermann, it totally explains why Franz Stephan attended Fritz‘ engagement party. He was gloating over his rival having to tie the knot with MT‘s cousin.
Lastly, Zimmermann says the Fritz/MT marriage would have saved the HRE from the Seven Years War and saved thousands and thousands of lives and thus he‘s a shipper, err, he regrets Fritz didn‘t get away and got to do it. (For Europe, and since the only good thing the MT/Franz Stephan marriage produced was Joseph. )
I find this fascinating. I mean, it‘s all nonsense, of course, but it‘s a great reflection of what was and wasn‘t known in 1790, and 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. Also, he‘s the first contemporary Fritz fan I‘ve seen who regrets this marriage didn‘t happen.
(Gloating Franzl at the engagement party takes the cake, though. Zimmermann, you should have tried writing soap operas, you have a gift.)
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. ;)
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."
The stones from the Saxon order thing is from the protocols quoted by Koser. I don't recall a chest mentioned, though.
Reading more Zimmermann brings more interesting info, as it turns out. Because Zimmermann mentions Henri de Catt gave someone named Laveaux various descriptions for Laveaux' Life Of Fritz (Vie de Frederic II, Roi de Prusse, 1789), which means many years before Catt's own memoirs were published, he was a source for various biographers. Zimmermann also mentions Catt telling him - Zimmermann himself, that is, they knew each other, of course - anecdotes, including Fritz' reaction to Hochkirch. OH, and about the suicide box. Is there anyone Catt hasn‘t told, one wonders at this point? BTW Zimmernann spells him "Cat". (Whereas Katte is Catt. Why make life easier for posterity?) Zimmermann has no idea why Catt was dismissed eventually but is sure Fritz loved him dearly.
Lucchessini does look like a good candidate for the "Sex just before the 7 Years War" Story, because Zimmermann assures us no one, but no one, looked sharper into Fritz' heart than "this witty, learned and amiable Italian". And "a famous prince" told Zimmermann that Fritz entrusted Lucchessini with ALL his secrets. Lucchessini also read German books and told Fritz all Fritz wasn't missing, so you know, that pamphlet was INFORMED. Lucchessini should totally have written Fritz' biography, not that hack Laveaux. But Lucchessini is now the Prussian Ambassador in Warsaw and into politics, much to Zimmermann's regret. And who knows, maybe he's afraid of certain people destroying his career if he writes the big Fritz tell all!
Glasow for 1756 Alcibiades: would also explain the lack of trial (again).
which means many years before Catt's own memoirs were published, he was a source for various biographers
This makes sense. Given that Catt did everything possible in his memoirs to make himself look like THE confidant of the king, there's no way he only cared about posterity maybe someday reading his as-yet-unpublished memoirs. He *must* have been blabbing during his lifetime. I'm getting a "le roi m'a dit" (reference to one of Fritz's other readers, Abbé de Prades, cahn) vibe here.
OH, and about the suicide box.
Which is now "parvula δόξα" in my head, lol. :P
Is there anyone Catt hasn‘t told, one wonders at this point?
Hahaha, with his vanity? Not bloody likely. Especially if he's disgruntled over his dismissal.
Lucchessini does look like a good candidate for the "Sex just before the 7 Years War" Story, because Zimmermann assures us no one, but no one, looked sharper into Fritz' heart than "this witty, learned and amiable Italian".
Yeah, if you say "confidant and favorite of his last years" to me, I think of Lucchesini.
Lucchessini also read German books and told Fritz all Fritz wasn't missing, so you know, that pamphlet was INFORMED.
TOTALLY INFORMED. Yes, I bet.
Lucchessini should totally have written Fritz' biography, not that hack Laveaux.
Can't wait to see his diary. If it isn't any more reliable than the most of the rest, hopefully it's at least as entertaining!
Glasow for 1756 Alcibiades: would also explain the lack of trial (again).
Yup. If Trenck didn't get one because he was sleeping with Amelia, and Glasow because he was sleeping with Fritz...
But Trenck was not sleeping with Fritz, or he would have talked.
Maybe Trenck got the extra special gravestone because he didn‘t sleep with Fritz. Not in the sense of him having turned a pass down, don‘t get me wrong, in the sense that Fritz might have had urges but didn‘t, wanting to be a good mentor like Suhm (this being the early 1740s, and Trenck still quite young), and then it turns out young, innocent Trenck has totally getting it on with Amalie behind his back.
Incidentally, Zimmermann is totally indignant about a memoirist for publishing an „indelicate“ anecdote about Amalie and then of course he himself renders the entire story in a footnote. Which goes thusly: When Amalie became Abbess of Quedlinburg, X said to her: „You only have to obey three vows, poverty, humility and chastity. Considering you are a princess living in luxury, and you have a strong will and do not listen to anyone, will you be able to keep at least the third?“
Otherwise, Zimmermann continues to be bizarrely hilarious. And totally should have signed up for Yuletide. After going on about how Fritz was the best politician ever and saw through everyone, he reveals how Fritz got all his Austrian intel and always knew exactly what MT was planning. Because, see, Prussia trained handsome young men („Adonisses“) explicitly for the purpose of seducing Viennese maids of ladies-in-waiting who were confidants to MT. The idea being that MT tells her plans to her favourite ladies-in-waiting, the ladies blab to their maids, and the maids to their Prussian lovers. Now, this method was actually used by East German spy master Marcus „Mischa“ Wolf with West German secretaries of politicians (the infamous „Romeos“), though I doubt Wolf ever read Zimmermann. And the honeytrap is a tried and true spy method through the ages. But my problem here is that I‘ve read the letters MT wrote to her favourite (former) lady in waiting, whom she tells quite a lot about what‘s going on with her emotionally, but politics are severely lacking in that equation. I‘m also amused Zimmermann in the age of the Revolution (about which more in a moment) plays it safe by claiming the Prussian male honey traps went for the maids, not for the ladies-in-waiting, aka noble women who are still alive and could make trouble for him.
Continuing in the RPF vain: Zimmermann complains about that ungrateful bastard Voltaire - Fritz of course totally saw through him and would never ever have allowed him in his presence again post 1753, he only ever loved Voltaire the writer and had nothing but deserved contempt for Voltaire the person! And that burning of the pamphlet wasn‘t intolerant censorship with uncomfortable inquisition overtones, it was tender protection for poor, poor Maupertuis‘ feelings!“ Voltaire is the worst person ever with his gay slanders about Manly Fritz ; and then there’s that terrible guy Mirabeau with his more recent slanders, which included the observation that Fritz, Voltaire aside, with whom he couldn‘t live, surrounded himself only with second class intellectuals because the first class ones would never have stood for his endless Fritzplaining, and that Fritz actually had little idea about France and the French because all he knew were a few exiles and outdated literature. Lies! Roars Zimmermann. Don‘t the current (remember, publication date is 1790, not a year after the Bastille got stormed) events inFrance prove that Fritz saw the French national character clearly, that every criticism Fritz ever made of the French court was totally justified? Lest we think he has a good point with the later half of that statement, Zimmermann then goes on to provide us with several pages, written in first person, of what Fritz would have said about the French Revolution, if he‘d lived. Because Zimmermann can totally hear him say that, and he wants to share it with us. I kid you not. (If you‘re wondering, Fritz would have pointed out that the French always have to go over the top because they aren‘t the English or the Americans, both of whom already had their revolutions, but not as explosively. Among other things.)
In less bizarro and more familiar RPF-news, Zimmermann says that „Ritter Andreas von Mitchell“ was without a doubt Fritz‘ favourite ambassador and tells an anecdote about Fritz on one occasion where Mitchell came into firing range along with him told Mitchell „this is hardly an envoy‘s place“ , whereupon Mitchell supposedly replied that if this was Fritz‘ place to be thus exposed, his place was at Fritz‘ side. Zimmermann also also lives with the impression Mitchell burned all his papers during the 7 Years War lest they be captured by the enemy, which, well, not so much. In general, Zimmermann says Fritz treated the ambassadors as well or badly as his own ambassadors were treated in the respective other courts. Except, of course, he graced them with his wonderful wit and Fritzplaining, which no one else could rival. Der einzige König!
Conclusion: Zimmermann, go and play with (P)Russian Pete. He‘s your kind of fanboy.
Maybe Trenck got the extra special gravestone because he didn‘t sleep with Fritz.
Oooh, could be!
„You only have to obey three vows, poverty, humility and chastity. Considering you are a princess living in luxury, and you have a strong will and do not listen to anyone, will you be able to keep at least the third?“
Hahaha. Thanks for providing this anecdote, Zimmermann. :P
(You go, Amalia. Live it up!)
Otherwise, Zimmermann continues to be bizarrely hilarious. And totally should have signed up for Yuletide.
Indeed. All of these are awesome, and I guess I should have expected the rest of his work to live up to what I'd already heard about the STDs and penis operation, but I did not! Thank you so much for sharing all of these.
Except, of course, he graced them with his wonderful wit and Fritzplaining, which no one else could rival. Der einzige König!
*spittake*
Conclusion: Zimmermann, go and play with (P)Russian Pete. He‘s your kind of fanboy.
Zimmermann would make an excellent addition to the Very Secret Transcripts, if not as a participant, then as one of the providers of content that gets an overview in the guide to fandom. :D
Fritz/MT, the AU that will not die! I feel validated in asking for it for Yuletide that everyone else seems to like this AU as well :P
...Of COURSE Zimmermann ships Fritz/MT, of course! I mean, he had HER portrait as well, IN HIS BEDROOM, what other explanation could there be!
Lastly, Zimmermann says the Fritz/MT marriage would have saved the HRE from the Seven Years War and saved thousands and thousands of lives and thus he‘s a shipper, err, he regrets Fritz didn‘t get away and got to do it. (For Europe, and since the only good thing the MT/Franz Stephan marriage produced was Joseph. )
Heh, that's interesting to me that he thinks that -- I mean, I guess it's certainly true to first approximation that Fritz/MT would have meant no Seven Years War -- but this is Fritz we're talking about here...
(Gloating Franzl at the engagement party takes the cake, though. Zimmermann, you should have tried writing soap operas, you have a gift.)
LOLOLOL gloating Franzl was the best part! I agree, Zimmermann should definitely have written soap operas. Or RPF fanfic. Wait, he already did that :D
Zimmermann might have been the very first Fritz/MT-shipper, come to think of it! In the 19th century, others joined, but in 1790 she and he were too recently dead, and both Prussia and Austria being humiliated by Napoleon, which led to Fritz and MT being recalled as national champions with hurt pride and fondness hadn‘t happened yet.
Meanwhile, everyone else in the 18th century was antishipping them („our Protestant hero would never!!!!“, and, of course, Eugene going „...that‘s one dangerous young man“ when Fritz first proposed the idea), so ZImmermann was a true pioneer.
ROTFL. And Katte (a lying liar who lies while under threat of torture, anyway) claimed to be trying to help Fritz *escape* from this Evil Catholic Plot...so truly a pioneer!
Although it does not necessarily invalidate his testimony, it needs to be recorded that Zimmermann was a long-standing and passionate admirer of Frederick, despite being Swiss by birth and Hanoverian by choice. After his first encounter with his hero in 1771 he left the room in floods of tears, exclaiming, "Oh, my love for the King of Prussia is beyond words!"
LOLOLOL. I mean, who am I to get in the way of Rococo emo, but STILL. Also, like, even if closet homophobia isn't a thing, I can sure tell Zimmerman can be trusted to be totally objective baout Fritz!
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Zimmermann sets the record straight
Haha. Maybe Seckendorf was just reading multiple copies of the Life of Prince Eugene. :P
Let me things straight, and I do mean STRAIGHT.
Truly, you are the best of all possible readers, Selena. I knew Zimmermann was hilarious, and I knew you would deliver.
Even I, reader, had my doubts when someone claiming to have been his lover told me there was guy on guy action until shortly before the 7 Years War.
So does he not specify who this unnamed lover is at all?
However, being a satirist himself, he knew there’d be major satire to fear from all those people envious of his manliness.
*literal choking*
It worked, too.
It really did! He was way more convincing than you're being, Zimmermann.
Our King even forbade anyone to look at his naked body after he died to protect his secret.
Per Blanning, the surgeon and medical officers who did look at the body when preparing it for burial said it all looked completely normal, in fact "indignantly asserted that the royal genitalia were as 'complete and perfect as those of any healthy man,'" and furthermore claims that "Frederick’s naked body lay for more than one and a half hours and was seen by at least a dozen people, none of whom noticed any genital deformity."
Also,
Although it does not necessarily invalidate his testimony, it needs to be recorded that Zimmermann was a long-standing and passionate admirer of Frederick, despite being Swiss by birth and Hanoverian by choice. After his first encounter with his hero in 1771 he left the room in floods of tears, exclaiming, "Oh, my love for the King of Prussia is beyond words!"
Not that I want to undermine Rococo emo by insinuating that *everyone* is gay, but homophobia in the closet is a thing...
Blanning continues,
However, there is so much error in his account—for example, he has the newlyweds moving to Rheinsberg immediately after their marriage, rather than three years later—that his reliability must be doubted.
Thank you so much, on behalf of all the gossipy sensationalists who sacrifice at your altar, for yet another golden write-up. I know the source material gave you a lot to work with. :D
Re: Zimmermann sets the record straight
Taking another look, I see Zimmermann‘s source doesn‘t claim to have been the participant of the guy on guy action himself, though he might have been. The exact phrasing is thusly: (...) since one of Friedrich‘s favourites, the confidante and companion of his last years, told me in Potsdam, that Friedrich has loved shortly before the beginning of the Seven Years War as Socrates has loved Alcibiades.“.
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“? Anyway, Fritz, now you‘re in the Socrates role, it seems. I guess that makes Glasow the most likely candidate for Alcibiades in 1756.
Also, quickly browsed to what Zimmermann, in 1790, is writing before this chapter on how Fritz was utterly straight. 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, and she gave Fritz her jewelry for the big escape. (Since it‘s 1790, no one has read her memoirs yet, where no such thing is claimed. No idea where the jewelry story is from.)
Zimmerman‘s theory as to why Fritz tried to escape is pretty original, though. He says he doesn‘t buy the story of Fritz wanting to go to England and still pursuing the English marriage project. No, his own theory is that Fritz wanted to go to Austria and marry MT. He says he knows there is much indignation and scepticism about the Fritz/MT marriage plan story, but 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. Zimmermann furtherly argues this explains why Seckendorff and Vienna tried to save Fritz from execution subsequently. Seckendorff wasn‘t just against the English marriage, he was for the Fritz/MT marriage as the thing to make Austria and the HRE secure. And, says Zimmermann, it totally explains why Franz Stephan attended Fritz‘ engagement party. He was gloating over his rival having to tie the knot with MT‘s cousin.
Lastly, Zimmermann says the Fritz/MT marriage would have saved the HRE from the Seven Years War and saved thousands and thousands of lives and thus he‘s a shipper, err, he regrets Fritz didn‘t get away and got to do it. (For Europe, and since the only good thing the MT/Franz Stephan marriage produced was Joseph. )
I find this fascinating. I mean, it‘s all nonsense, of course, but it‘s a great reflection of what was and wasn‘t known in 1790, and 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. Also, he‘s the first contemporary Fritz fan I‘ve seen who regrets this marriage didn‘t happen.
(Gloating Franzl at the engagement party takes the cake, though. Zimmermann, you should have tried writing soap operas, you have a gift.)
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. ;)
Re: Zimmermann sets the record straight
The stones from the Saxon order thing is from the protocols quoted by Koser. I don't recall a chest mentioned, though.
Reading more Zimmermann brings more interesting info, as it turns out. Because Zimmermann mentions Henri de Catt gave someone named Laveaux various descriptions for Laveaux' Life Of Fritz (Vie de Frederic II, Roi de Prusse, 1789), which means many years before Catt's own memoirs were published, he was a source for various biographers. Zimmermann also mentions Catt telling him - Zimmermann himself, that is, they knew each other, of course - anecdotes, including Fritz' reaction to Hochkirch. OH, and about the suicide box. Is there anyone Catt hasn‘t told, one wonders at this point? BTW Zimmernann spells him "Cat". (Whereas Katte is Catt. Why make life easier for posterity?) Zimmermann has no idea why Catt was dismissed eventually but is sure Fritz loved him dearly.
Lucchessini does look like a good candidate for the "Sex just before the 7 Years War" Story, because Zimmermann assures us no one, but no one, looked sharper into Fritz' heart than "this witty, learned and amiable Italian". And "a famous prince" told Zimmermann that Fritz entrusted Lucchessini with ALL his secrets. Lucchessini also read German books and told Fritz all Fritz wasn't missing, so you know, that pamphlet was INFORMED. Lucchessini should totally have written Fritz' biography, not that hack Laveaux. But Lucchessini is now the Prussian Ambassador in Warsaw and into politics, much to Zimmermann's regret. And who knows, maybe he's afraid of certain people destroying his career if he writes the big Fritz tell all!
Glasow for 1756 Alcibiades: would also explain the lack of trial (again).
Re: Zimmermann sets the record straight
This makes sense. Given that Catt did everything possible in his memoirs to make himself look like THE confidant of the king, there's no way he only cared about posterity maybe someday reading his as-yet-unpublished memoirs. He *must* have been blabbing during his lifetime. I'm getting a "le roi m'a dit" (reference to one of Fritz's other readers, Abbé de Prades,
OH, and about the suicide box.
Which is now "parvula δόξα" in my head, lol. :P
Is there anyone Catt hasn‘t told, one wonders at this point?
Hahaha, with his vanity? Not bloody likely. Especially if he's disgruntled over his dismissal.
Lucchessini does look like a good candidate for the "Sex just before the 7 Years War" Story, because Zimmermann assures us no one, but no one, looked sharper into Fritz' heart than "this witty, learned and amiable Italian".
Yeah, if you say "confidant and favorite of his last years" to me, I think of Lucchesini.
Lucchessini also read German books and told Fritz all Fritz wasn't missing, so you know, that pamphlet was INFORMED.
TOTALLY INFORMED. Yes, I bet.
Lucchessini should totally have written Fritz' biography, not that hack Laveaux.
Can't wait to see his diary. If it isn't any more reliable than the most of the rest, hopefully it's at least as entertaining!
Glasow for 1756 Alcibiades: would also explain the lack of trial (again).
Yup. If Trenck didn't get one because he was sleeping with Amelia, and Glasow because he was sleeping with Fritz...
But Trenck was not sleeping with Fritz, or he would have talked.
Re: Zimmermann sets the record straight
Incidentally, Zimmermann is totally indignant about a memoirist for publishing an „indelicate“ anecdote about Amalie and then of course he himself renders the entire story in a footnote. Which goes thusly: When Amalie became Abbess of Quedlinburg, X said to her: „You only have to obey three vows, poverty, humility and chastity. Considering you are a princess living in luxury, and you have a strong will and do not listen to anyone, will you be able to keep at least the third?“
Otherwise, Zimmermann continues to be bizarrely hilarious. And totally should have signed up for Yuletide. After going on about how Fritz was the best politician ever and saw through everyone, he reveals how Fritz got all his Austrian intel and always knew exactly what MT was planning. Because, see, Prussia trained handsome young men („Adonisses“) explicitly for the purpose of seducing Viennese maids of ladies-in-waiting who were confidants to MT. The idea being that MT tells her plans to her favourite ladies-in-waiting, the ladies blab to their maids, and the maids to their Prussian lovers. Now, this method was actually used by East German spy master Marcus „Mischa“ Wolf with West German secretaries of politicians (the infamous „Romeos“), though I doubt Wolf ever read Zimmermann. And the honeytrap is a tried and true spy method through the ages. But my problem here is that I‘ve read the letters MT wrote to her favourite (former) lady in waiting, whom she tells quite a lot about what‘s going on with her emotionally, but politics are severely lacking in that equation. I‘m also amused Zimmermann in the age of the Revolution (about which more in a moment) plays it safe by claiming the Prussian male honey traps went for the maids, not for the ladies-in-waiting, aka noble women who are still alive and could make trouble for him.
Continuing in the RPF vain: Zimmermann complains about that ungrateful bastard Voltaire - Fritz of course totally saw through him and would never ever have allowed him in his presence again post 1753, he only ever loved Voltaire the writer and had nothing but deserved contempt for Voltaire the person! And that burning of the pamphlet wasn‘t intolerant censorship with uncomfortable inquisition overtones, it was tender protection for poor, poor Maupertuis‘ feelings!“ Voltaire is the worst person ever with his gay slanders about Manly Fritz ; and then there’s that terrible guy Mirabeau with his more recent slanders, which included the observation that Fritz, Voltaire aside, with whom he couldn‘t live, surrounded himself only with second class intellectuals because the first class ones would never have stood for his endless Fritzplaining, and that Fritz actually had little idea about France and the French because all he knew were a few exiles and outdated literature. Lies! Roars Zimmermann. Don‘t the current (remember, publication date is 1790, not a year after the Bastille got stormed) events inFrance prove that Fritz saw the French national character clearly, that every criticism Fritz ever made of the French court was totally justified? Lest we think he has a good point with the later half of that statement, Zimmermann then goes on to provide us with several pages, written in first person, of what Fritz would have said about the French Revolution, if he‘d lived. Because Zimmermann can totally hear him say that, and he wants to share it with us. I kid you not. (If you‘re wondering, Fritz would have pointed out that the French always have to go over the top because they aren‘t the English or the Americans, both of whom already had their revolutions, but not as explosively. Among other things.)
In less bizarro and more familiar RPF-news, Zimmermann says that „Ritter Andreas von Mitchell“ was without a doubt Fritz‘ favourite ambassador and tells an anecdote about Fritz on one occasion where Mitchell came into firing range along with him told Mitchell „this is hardly an envoy‘s place“ , whereupon Mitchell supposedly replied that if this was Fritz‘ place to be thus exposed, his place was at Fritz‘ side. Zimmermann also also lives with the impression Mitchell burned all his papers during the 7 Years War lest they be captured by the enemy, which, well, not so much. In general, Zimmermann says Fritz treated the ambassadors as well or badly as his own ambassadors were treated in the respective other courts. Except, of course, he graced them with his wonderful wit and Fritzplaining, which no one else could rival. Der einzige König!
Conclusion: Zimmermann, go and play with (P)Russian Pete. He‘s your kind of fanboy.
Re: Zimmermann sets the record straight
Oooh, could be!
„You only have to obey three vows, poverty, humility and chastity. Considering you are a princess living in luxury, and you have a strong will and do not listen to anyone, will you be able to keep at least the third?“
Hahaha. Thanks for providing this anecdote, Zimmermann. :P
(You go, Amalia. Live it up!)
Otherwise, Zimmermann continues to be bizarrely hilarious. And totally should have signed up for Yuletide.
Indeed. All of these are awesome, and I guess I should have expected the rest of his work to live up to what I'd already heard about the STDs and penis operation, but I did not! Thank you so much for sharing all of these.
Except, of course, he graced them with his wonderful wit and Fritzplaining, which no one else could rival. Der einzige König!
*spittake*
Conclusion: Zimmermann, go and play with (P)Russian Pete. He‘s your kind of fanboy.
Zimmermann would make an excellent addition to the Very Secret Transcripts, if not as a participant, then as one of the providers of content that gets an overview in the guide to fandom. :D
Re: Zimmermann sets the record straight
...Of COURSE Zimmermann ships Fritz/MT, of course! I mean, he had HER portrait as well, IN HIS BEDROOM, what other explanation could there be!
Lastly, Zimmermann says the Fritz/MT marriage would have saved the HRE from the Seven Years War and saved thousands and thousands of lives and thus he‘s a shipper, err, he regrets Fritz didn‘t get away and got to do it. (For Europe, and since the only good thing the MT/Franz Stephan marriage produced was Joseph. )
Heh, that's interesting to me that he thinks that -- I mean, I guess it's certainly true to first approximation that Fritz/MT would have meant no Seven Years War -- but this is Fritz we're talking about here...
(Gloating Franzl at the engagement party takes the cake, though. Zimmermann, you should have tried writing soap operas, you have a gift.)
LOLOLOL gloating Franzl was the best part! I agree, Zimmermann should definitely have written soap operas. Or RPF fanfic. Wait, he already did that :D
Re: Zimmermann sets the record straight
Re: Zimmermann sets the record straight
Meanwhile, everyone else in the 18th century was antishipping them („our Protestant hero would never!!!!“, and, of course, Eugene going „...that‘s one dangerous young man“ when Fritz first proposed the idea), so ZImmermann was a true pioneer.
Re: Zimmermann sets the record straight
Re: Zimmermann sets the record straight
LOLOLOL. I mean, who am I to get in the way of Rococo emo, but STILL. Also, like, even if closet homophobia isn't a thing, I can sure tell Zimmerman can be trusted to be totally objective baout Fritz!