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look like THE confidant of the king, there's no way he only cared about posterity maybe someday reading his as-yet-unpublished memoirs.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
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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