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:( indeed. Also: the detail that Fritz at first wanted to give Heinrich AW's command reminds me unpleasantly of FW trying to split up Fritz and Wihelmine via Grumbkow.
For what it's worth: Heinrich had received his first autonomous command already on April 15th 1757, before AW got his - AW was still on of Fritz staff officers at this point - , though Heinrich's was on a smaller scale at first. Heinrich was supposed to go from Neustadt to Bohemia with a small corps to investigate the enemy positions there since Fritz wanted to occupy Bohemia as long as he was still "only" dealing with the Austrians there, and the Russians hadn't arrived yet. Heinrich accomplished the mission, reported as ordered and Fritz marched on to Prague, the battle thereof was also the first time Heinrich distinguished himself big time not just in terms of personal bravery but command, as part of the right wing (he managed to both get his men out of an unexpected Pandur firing line and later take (some, obviously, not all but those he could get at with the right wing) of the Austrian positions by a sneak attack through the mud. Fritz mentions it applaudingly in his letters to the sisters as you might recall. (AW got his first - and fatal - autonomous command only after the battle of Kollin in June.) So it's entirely possible the offer of AW's command to Heinrich was merit-based, but: we're talking Hohenzollern there.
For what it's worth: Heinrich had received his first autonomous command already on April 15th 1757, before AW got his - AW was still on of Fritz staff officers at this point - , though Heinrich's was on a smaller scale at first. Heinrich was supposed to go from Neustadt to Bohemia with a small corps to investigate the enemy positions there since Fritz wanted to occupy Bohemia as long as he was still "only" dealing with the Austrians there, and the Russians hadn't arrived yet. Heinrich accomplished the mission, reported as ordered and Fritz marched on to Prague, the battle thereof was also the first time Heinrich distinguished himself big time not just in terms of personal bravery but command, as part of the right wing (he managed to both get his men out of an unexpected Pandur firing line and later take (some, obviously, not all but those he could get at with the right wing) of the Austrian positions by a sneak attack through the mud. Fritz mentions it applaudingly in his letters to the sisters as you might recall. (AW got his first - and fatal - autonomous command only after the battle of Kollin in June.) So it's entirely possible the offer of AW's command to Heinrich was merit-based, but: we're talking Hohenzollern there.
it would make narrative sense, I suppose to have the love affair at the start of it so it can be one story, just as I can see the point of cutting Poniatowski out of a story that focuses on the Catherine/Peter drama and Catherine' ascension
I don't know if that's what they're doing, but I agree that such a decision would make narrative sense.
Their solution was to declare that it's likely that a) the men were haired beneath it, and b) they didn't wear their wigs on private occasions, so the number of times everyone wears periwigs is cut to the absolute necessary minimum.
Excellent!
I was short sighted in Kindergarten, too, but it hadn't progressed yet ot the point it did in third grade when my teacher noticed I was writing after what I heard because I couldn't read what was written on the board.
Hah. I was doing that from day one. (I skipped kindergarten, so went straight into first grade at age 5.) My teacher never noticed I was nearsighted, *but* the fact that I could only do what I heard did lead her to pick up on my ear infection quickly later in the year. I also had the problem in dance class at age 4 that I could only act based on what I heard plus what the students near me were doing. I had noticed that everyone else could see the teacher, but figured they were taller or better situated or something. That's how I know, in hindsight, that I was already very nearsighted.
It looks gorgeous, but not much like Louis XVIV at all.
If it helps me follow the plot, I endorse this particular historical inaccuracy!
I don't know if that's what they're doing, but I agree that such a decision would make narrative sense.
Their solution was to declare that it's likely that a) the men were haired beneath it, and b) they didn't wear their wigs on private occasions, so the number of times everyone wears periwigs is cut to the absolute necessary minimum.
Excellent!
I was short sighted in Kindergarten, too, but it hadn't progressed yet ot the point it did in third grade when my teacher noticed I was writing after what I heard because I couldn't read what was written on the board.
Hah. I was doing that from day one. (I skipped kindergarten, so went straight into first grade at age 5.) My teacher never noticed I was nearsighted, *but* the fact that I could only do what I heard did lead her to pick up on my ear infection quickly later in the year. I also had the problem in dance class at age 4 that I could only act based on what I heard plus what the students near me were doing. I had noticed that everyone else could see the teacher, but figured they were taller or better situated or something. That's how I know, in hindsight, that I was already very nearsighted.
It looks gorgeous, but not much like Louis XVIV at all.
If it helps me follow the plot, I endorse this particular historical inaccuracy!
the bit where she goes " I could tell you things in this regard which would greatly surprise you." kills me
I forgot to add that this line gave me the shivers too. :(
Also, Ulrike, omg. I always imagine her as an ~evil drama queen~, and this letter does not exactly change my assessment of her :P
Obnoxiously Right Fritz: I told you Amalie was the nice one, Sweden!
It's also kind of an Experience reading this right after "My Brother Narcissus." :(
You said it.
I forgot to add that this line gave me the shivers too. :(
Also, Ulrike, omg. I always imagine her as an ~evil drama queen~, and this letter does not exactly change my assessment of her :P
Obnoxiously Right Fritz: I told you Amalie was the nice one, Sweden!
It's also kind of an Experience reading this right after "My Brother Narcissus." :(
You said it.
:( indeed. Also: the detail that Fritz at first wanted to give Heinrich AW's command reminds me unpleasantly of FW trying to split up Fritz and Wihelmine via Grumbkow.
OMG, you're right. :( :(
OMG, you're right. :( :(
I can see that if those nuclear Fritz letters hadn't been quoted, it gives a veeeeery different picture of AW.
Yes, and it's the one Pangels (and Hamilton, and others) are following when saying that Fritz was at best harsh (yet fair) in his initial reaction and it was AW's stubbornness that prevented a happy ending and turned into a year long mental suicide instead. *does my best Jean-Luc Picard imitation* A lie of omission is still a lie.*
Re: Ulrike, to be fair, she actually doesn't express much different opinions than Wilhelmine - sympathy in the first one and in the second one that AW needs to make the first step because Fritz is the King and it's damaging AW's reputation not to fight in this war. Also "this is our family flaw" is ruefully self aware and doesn't exclude herself. However, Wilhelmine has a different kind of urgency in her phrasing, and then there's the fact that according to Ziebura Wilhelmine was the only sister who actually dared to plead AW's cause to Fritz in her letters, for all that the others expressed their sympathy to AW. Granted, Wilhelmine had a different type of relationship with Fritz than the others, but still, she didn't just talk the talk, she walked the walk, and she really did spend what little life time she had left devoted to her brothers, betweeen trying for backchannel diplomacy to negotiate a separate peace with the French, keeping Fritz from committing suicide when depressed, and trying to reconcile her brothers. Now Amalie was entirely dependent on Fritz, abbess or not. But Ulrike, in far off Sweden (which was btw at war with Prussia, which hadn't been her fault, mind - remember, there was in 1756 a growling letter to AW on the notes of "and pray remind Fritz this would never have happened if he'd given me my goddamm inheritance money so I could overthrow parliament and reintroduce absolute monarchy!" -) had nothing to fear in terms of fraternal retaliations, and she could have written to Fritz for all the good it would have done.
It's also kind of an Experience reading this right after "My Brother Narcissus." :(
Well, in my initial write up I had used the 1749 events that form the core of "My Brother Narcissus" as the farcical prelude of the main tragedy from 1757-1758. But if you want Ulrike in Evil Queen mode, remember that she in the 1740s writes to Fritz: My brother Heinrich must be very sensitive to the honor that your majesty does him. How happy we are all together to live under the laws of a brother who is a true father to us!
Well, he's defintely following the paternal role model...
ETA: I have now edited in these new letter quotes into my original write up.
Yes, and it's the one Pangels (and Hamilton, and others) are following when saying that Fritz was at best harsh (yet fair) in his initial reaction and it was AW's stubbornness that prevented a happy ending and turned into a year long mental suicide instead. *does my best Jean-Luc Picard imitation* A lie of omission is still a lie.*
Re: Ulrike, to be fair, she actually doesn't express much different opinions than Wilhelmine - sympathy in the first one and in the second one that AW needs to make the first step because Fritz is the King and it's damaging AW's reputation not to fight in this war. Also "this is our family flaw" is ruefully self aware and doesn't exclude herself. However, Wilhelmine has a different kind of urgency in her phrasing, and then there's the fact that according to Ziebura Wilhelmine was the only sister who actually dared to plead AW's cause to Fritz in her letters, for all that the others expressed their sympathy to AW. Granted, Wilhelmine had a different type of relationship with Fritz than the others, but still, she didn't just talk the talk, she walked the walk, and she really did spend what little life time she had left devoted to her brothers, betweeen trying for backchannel diplomacy to negotiate a separate peace with the French, keeping Fritz from committing suicide when depressed, and trying to reconcile her brothers. Now Amalie was entirely dependent on Fritz, abbess or not. But Ulrike, in far off Sweden (which was btw at war with Prussia, which hadn't been her fault, mind - remember, there was in 1756 a growling letter to AW on the notes of "and pray remind Fritz this would never have happened if he'd given me my goddamm inheritance money so I could overthrow parliament and reintroduce absolute monarchy!" -) had nothing to fear in terms of fraternal retaliations, and she could have written to Fritz for all the good it would have done.
It's also kind of an Experience reading this right after "My Brother Narcissus." :(
Well, in my initial write up I had used the 1749 events that form the core of "My Brother Narcissus" as the farcical prelude of the main tragedy from 1757-1758. But if you want Ulrike in Evil Queen mode, remember that she in the 1740s writes to Fritz: My brother Heinrich must be very sensitive to the honor that your majesty does him. How happy we are all together to live under the laws of a brother who is a true father to us!
Well, he's defintely following the paternal role model...
ETA: I have now edited in these new letter quotes into my original write up.
Edited 2020-03-25 11:48 (UTC)
Speaking elsewhere of Du and Sie, Voltaire's German wiki entry has this gem of a footnote I had previously overlooked: Wilhelmines Tochter, Friederike, hatte Voltaires La Pucelle abgeschrieben, reiste ihm nach Vernoy nach, behandelte ihn als Onkel und ließ sich von ihm duzen. Max Döllner: Entwicklungsgeschichte der Stadt Neustadt an der Aisch bis 1933. Ph. C. W. Schmidt, Neustadt a. d. Aisch 1950, OCLC 42823280; Neuauflage anlässlich des Jubiläums 150 Jahre Verlag Ph. C. W. Schmidt Neustadt an der Aisch 1828–1978. Ebenda 1978, ISBN 3-87707-013-2, S. 329.
Boy, did Wilhelmine take this "Brother Voltaire" thing seriously or what, if her daughter treated him as an uncle and allowed him to call her tu (since I doubt it was literally du)?
Wilhelmine: definitely shipping Fritz/Voltaire over all the other boyfriends. Despite all. Comes from having the same soul as Fritz in a female body, I tell you.
Boy, did Wilhelmine take this "Brother Voltaire" thing seriously or what, if her daughter treated him as an uncle and allowed him to call her tu (since I doubt it was literally du)?
Wilhelmine: definitely shipping Fritz/Voltaire over all the other boyfriends. Despite all. Comes from having the same soul as Fritz in a female body, I tell you.
Re: From our Parisian Correspondant in Sanssouci: Extra, extra!
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mildred_of_midgard
2020-03-25 06:47 am (UTC)(link)
LOLOLOL OMG.
Wilhelmine: I have four brothers and five sisters. I'm telling you, I can spot the Hohenzollern soul in an Arouet body a mile away!
Wilhelmine: definitely shipping Fritz/Voltaire over all the other boyfriends.
I don't know how she felt about Suhm or Fredersdorf (I find it possibly telling that Fritz doesn't write to her about Fredersdorf, even with the class differences), but I think Algarotti's the only other boyfriend we know that she liked.
Wilhelmine: Peter Keith is NOT the real hero of 1730, and neither is Katte!
Wilhelmine: I have four brothers and five sisters. I'm telling you, I can spot the Hohenzollern soul in an Arouet body a mile away!
Wilhelmine: definitely shipping Fritz/Voltaire over all the other boyfriends.
I don't know how she felt about Suhm or Fredersdorf (I find it possibly telling that Fritz doesn't write to her about Fredersdorf, even with the class differences), but I think Algarotti's the only other boyfriend we know that she liked.
Wilhelmine: Peter Keith is NOT the real hero of 1730, and neither is Katte!
uddenly going from poverty (Pomeranian peasant) to plenty makes a *lot* of people go money-crazy. We saw how Fritz reacted to the sudden relief from a deprived childhood! Fredersdorf is subject to the same aspects of human psychology that Fritz is. S
Absolutely, that's very true. And unlike most of Heinrich's faves, he didn't waste that money he suddenly received but made it multiply. *suddenly imagines Fredersdorf as Scarlett O'Hara vowing "I will never go hungry again!" and becoming a capitalist extraordinaire in the second part of Gone with the Wind.*
At lodge meetings, though...I like to imagine Fredersdorf getting to "du" him!
Same!
Back when we decided MacDonogh's "Fredersdorf pocketed small sums" referred to Tyrconnell's "Fredersdorf accepted payment for forwarding your petition on to Fritz" accusation I went through Fredersdorf's probable thought process (at least to generate a headcanon for fic purposes), and concluded that it would be very easy Fredersdorf to rationalize this as him not being corrupt, i.e. that he would never allow money to influence him to do anything against Fritz's best interests, but all other things being equal wrt Fritz's best interests, if you wanted something *from* Fritz, you might as well pay for the privilege. He might even have seen it as weeding out frivolous requests.
*nods* BTW, I wonder whether McDonogh is basing this on the same Tyrconnel/Latouche letter that I was quoting from? Because it, Tyrconnel/Latouche continue after "but enough of this", in the very next sentence: This favourite isn't supposed to be unbribable, but is would be too late to win him over now; for he is very rich and has shares from all the fairs, all the defeats and all the monopolies.
It's worth noting they're talking rumor/reputation rather than personal experience here, i.e. the phrasing doesn't sound like Tyrconnel, personally, had to pay Fredersdorf for advancing a petition, but like he's talking about Fredersdorf's reputation in general. Or maybe McDonogh is referring to a different letter where Tyrconnel does talk about a bribe he had to make?
Anyway, given that Fritz accepted money from all and sunder in the Crown Prince years without letting this influence him in his future policies one bit (Seckendorff: you can say that again!!!), I could see Fredersdorf conclude he's entitled to do the same, i.e. accept money, as long as he doesn't actually try to manipulate Fritz accordingly. Maybe they even had an arrangement where Fredersdorf tells him what the current bribing rates are and who offers most, because that's telling about the respective envoys and their nations?
Indeed, and Blanning claims that the poisoning is only one of two accusations that have been made against Glasow, and that the true crime isn't known. Münchow, Jr. certainly thought there was a poisoning attempt, but Münchow, Jr. is not the source of all truth.
No, but Lehndorff backs him up in his diary, writing the gossip down as it happened during the easter holidays of 1757. Again, could simply be that this was the official explanation to cover for another reason, but the story certainly was there and believed in 1757, Münchow Jr isn't misremembering this bit decades later. What he contributes is that based on his own experience as a page, he thinks it might have been discovered because Fritz had people serving him his coffee or chocolate take a spoon of it first in a playful manner.
Yeah, Fredersdorf was in a position to collect a lot of malicious gossip. People were bitter.
Absolutely, and we shouldn't lose sight of the possibility these stories are no more fact based than "Prisoner Fritz is now wearing a beard and wild hair and long nails!", "Amalie has lots of illegitimate children and burned some in her fireplace" (Lehndorff notes that one down while simultanously saying it was ridiculous and that Amalie had a habit of adopting street strays of which, since it was the 7 Years War going on, there were an increasing lot), "AW couldn't count or write until Fritz became King", and, of course, the immortal "Let them eat cake" misattribution to Marie Antoinette. Fredersdorf, as the commoner who managed to remain Fritz' closest confidant from 1731 to 1757, would have been one of the most envied and resented people in the kingdom, and thus a lightning rod for malicious stories.
So, to recapitulate, we have the following possibilities:
1.) Nothing happened beyond possibly Fritz wanting to have privacy for some kind of action in his tent. Rumours took it from there and became ever more extravagant in the retelling.
2.) Georgii the handsome hussar did happen, and with bad timing, too, because it was just at the time when Fritz and Fredersdorf were still readjusting to the changes coming from Fritz' new warrior absolute king self, Fritz wanted to make a pointed gesture to reassure himself he was boss (after Mollwitz would be psychologically ideal), and Fredersdorf starts to wonder whether Zernikow could have been meant as a farewell gift and he's being eased out of Fritz' life, and decides to take action (by putting Georgii under intense scrutiny).
1.) would be nicer for rl, but 2.) certainly is more conductive to fanfiction! One would, of course, have to figure out what kind of dirt Fredersdorf then unearths on Georgii that leads Georgii to shoot himself. Gambling debts is traditional but would not work in this case, because who doesn't have those? Georgii responding to being newly favoured by the King with taking bribes could be blown off by Georgii with the same rationale we speculated on for Fredersdorf above. Hm.... I know! Georgii turns out in his free time to have composed odes to MT! Okay, more seriously, some kind of Austrian connection is the only thing I can think of right now.
Or: wait! My inner pulp fiction plotter awakens! Georgii, whose name rounds Russian anyway, has orginally come to Fritz' attention by a rec letter from the (recently) late Suhm, who supposedly met this fine young gent at St. Petersburg. Fredersdorf finds evidence that this letter was forged and someone coldbloodedly exploited Fritz' affection and grief for Suhm. This, Fritz would not forgive! And now that Georgii actually has gotten to know him a little, he nows that. Ergo suicide. (If faking a Suhm rec letter is not enough, then we could escalete it to "not only was the rec letter faked but Georgii POISONED Suhm (in the service of whichever enemy Suhm had), which Fredersdorf discovers and then gives Georgii an ultimatum).
I just wanted to say, this would make an excellent concluding line to a fic or scene in a fic about the handsome hussar! :)
*beams*
Absolutely, that's very true. And unlike most of Heinrich's faves, he didn't waste that money he suddenly received but made it multiply. *suddenly imagines Fredersdorf as Scarlett O'Hara vowing "I will never go hungry again!" and becoming a capitalist extraordinaire in the second part of Gone with the Wind.*
At lodge meetings, though...I like to imagine Fredersdorf getting to "du" him!
Same!
Back when we decided MacDonogh's "Fredersdorf pocketed small sums" referred to Tyrconnell's "Fredersdorf accepted payment for forwarding your petition on to Fritz" accusation I went through Fredersdorf's probable thought process (at least to generate a headcanon for fic purposes), and concluded that it would be very easy Fredersdorf to rationalize this as him not being corrupt, i.e. that he would never allow money to influence him to do anything against Fritz's best interests, but all other things being equal wrt Fritz's best interests, if you wanted something *from* Fritz, you might as well pay for the privilege. He might even have seen it as weeding out frivolous requests.
*nods* BTW, I wonder whether McDonogh is basing this on the same Tyrconnel/Latouche letter that I was quoting from? Because it, Tyrconnel/Latouche continue after "but enough of this", in the very next sentence: This favourite isn't supposed to be unbribable, but is would be too late to win him over now; for he is very rich and has shares from all the fairs, all the defeats and all the monopolies.
It's worth noting they're talking rumor/reputation rather than personal experience here, i.e. the phrasing doesn't sound like Tyrconnel, personally, had to pay Fredersdorf for advancing a petition, but like he's talking about Fredersdorf's reputation in general. Or maybe McDonogh is referring to a different letter where Tyrconnel does talk about a bribe he had to make?
Anyway, given that Fritz accepted money from all and sunder in the Crown Prince years without letting this influence him in his future policies one bit (Seckendorff: you can say that again!!!), I could see Fredersdorf conclude he's entitled to do the same, i.e. accept money, as long as he doesn't actually try to manipulate Fritz accordingly. Maybe they even had an arrangement where Fredersdorf tells him what the current bribing rates are and who offers most, because that's telling about the respective envoys and their nations?
Indeed, and Blanning claims that the poisoning is only one of two accusations that have been made against Glasow, and that the true crime isn't known. Münchow, Jr. certainly thought there was a poisoning attempt, but Münchow, Jr. is not the source of all truth.
No, but Lehndorff backs him up in his diary, writing the gossip down as it happened during the easter holidays of 1757. Again, could simply be that this was the official explanation to cover for another reason, but the story certainly was there and believed in 1757, Münchow Jr isn't misremembering this bit decades later. What he contributes is that based on his own experience as a page, he thinks it might have been discovered because Fritz had people serving him his coffee or chocolate take a spoon of it first in a playful manner.
Yeah, Fredersdorf was in a position to collect a lot of malicious gossip. People were bitter.
Absolutely, and we shouldn't lose sight of the possibility these stories are no more fact based than "Prisoner Fritz is now wearing a beard and wild hair and long nails!", "Amalie has lots of illegitimate children and burned some in her fireplace" (Lehndorff notes that one down while simultanously saying it was ridiculous and that Amalie had a habit of adopting street strays of which, since it was the 7 Years War going on, there were an increasing lot), "AW couldn't count or write until Fritz became King", and, of course, the immortal "Let them eat cake" misattribution to Marie Antoinette. Fredersdorf, as the commoner who managed to remain Fritz' closest confidant from 1731 to 1757, would have been one of the most envied and resented people in the kingdom, and thus a lightning rod for malicious stories.
So, to recapitulate, we have the following possibilities:
1.) Nothing happened beyond possibly Fritz wanting to have privacy for some kind of action in his tent. Rumours took it from there and became ever more extravagant in the retelling.
2.) Georgii the handsome hussar did happen, and with bad timing, too, because it was just at the time when Fritz and Fredersdorf were still readjusting to the changes coming from Fritz' new warrior absolute king self, Fritz wanted to make a pointed gesture to reassure himself he was boss (after Mollwitz would be psychologically ideal), and Fredersdorf starts to wonder whether Zernikow could have been meant as a farewell gift and he's being eased out of Fritz' life, and decides to take action (by putting Georgii under intense scrutiny).
1.) would be nicer for rl, but 2.) certainly is more conductive to fanfiction! One would, of course, have to figure out what kind of dirt Fredersdorf then unearths on Georgii that leads Georgii to shoot himself. Gambling debts is traditional but would not work in this case, because who doesn't have those? Georgii responding to being newly favoured by the King with taking bribes could be blown off by Georgii with the same rationale we speculated on for Fredersdorf above. Hm.... I know! Georgii turns out in his free time to have composed odes to MT! Okay, more seriously, some kind of Austrian connection is the only thing I can think of right now.
Or: wait! My inner pulp fiction plotter awakens! Georgii, whose name rounds Russian anyway, has orginally come to Fritz' attention by a rec letter from the (recently) late Suhm, who supposedly met this fine young gent at St. Petersburg. Fredersdorf finds evidence that this letter was forged and someone coldbloodedly exploited Fritz' affection and grief for Suhm. This, Fritz would not forgive! And now that Georgii actually has gotten to know him a little, he nows that. Ergo suicide. (If faking a Suhm rec letter is not enough, then we could escalete it to "not only was the rec letter faked but Georgii POISONED Suhm (in the service of whichever enemy Suhm had), which Fredersdorf discovers and then gives Georgii an ultimatum).
I just wanted to say, this would make an excellent concluding line to a fic or scene in a fic about the handsome hussar! :)
*beams*
Conclusion: Voltaire can't have heard either story during his three years in Prussia, so the Georgii story most likely died down early on due to lack of feeding material (i.e. Fredersdorf securely in power at Fritz' side, no alternate candidate spotted through the 40s), and the "put him back in the army" story was something Tyrconnel & Latouche heard once but which wasn't a popular rumor (that would have reached Voltaire) because people went "yeah, no" at the unlikelihood and showed no interest.
Looking at Büsching without using Google translate, I can't tell if he's actually arguing against both anecdotes, as Rödenbeck seems to be saying, or just the bridge one, which is what it looks like to me. Furthermore, I don't see anything about the detailed account of Biche's return, just that she was returned. But our royal reader can tell us: page 23 and surrounding.
Just against the bridge anecdote. He says in his footnote that "Herr Geheimer Kriegsrat Schöning doubts with good reason the truth of this anecdote" which was on page 22 of the first edition of his book. (Meaning: the copy - which is from the Stabi, as I see - that you uploaded is the revised second edition.) Presumably Büsching got a lot of letters after the original publication and edited accordingly? And yes, he's saying that Fritz first ordered Alcmene (in a coffin) be put in his library study in Sanssouci, and then after his return indulged in his grief for her. Then, tearing himself from her remains, he ordered her buried in his own vault (it does say his own vault, where he wanted to be buried but wasn't, not where all the other dogs are. Mind you, Büsching does not name any source for this, and remember what we agreed on re: rumors? I still think it's more likely Alcmene lies with the other dogs.
f she really was, I wonder how that went down in 1991.
Ha. Well, if anything was left of her by then. I doubt that dog coffin was made of stone, after all. I don't think any dog skeletons in the vault got mentioned in the 1991 media reports.
Speaking of reports, being me, I also looked up what Büsching writes in the chapter "His behavior towards his family". And it's telling on what was and wasn't known in 1788. Büsching is the second contemporary who uses the name "Friederike Sophie" for Wilhelmine. Of course, in 1788, her memoirs were still unpublished, and I think those memoirs, and later the letters between her and Fritz, made it clear to all and sunder which of her first names she used. Büsching also claims that FW pressured Fritz to resign the succession before the escape attempt and wanted to make AW his successor all through AW's childhood. He tells the "FW beats Wilhelmine, including punching her with his fist in her face, upon his return until a stewardess intervenes" story, which is remarkable given, again, the memoirs are unpublished, the Dickens dispatch is unavailable, and Henri de Catt hasn't published, either. So where does he get that (correct) story from? He also reports correctly FW overriding Katte's tribunal, but incorrectly that Fritz' own tribunal would have gone for a death sentence for the crown prince if by then FW hadn't cooled down a bit. Re: Fritz' Küstrin conditions, here we have fantasy again with Münchow having to cut a hole into the door of Fritz' cell in order to be able to talk to him at all. It also has Fritz, AFTER Katte's execution, being willing to resign his succession rights so he could go and live abroad once he's released, and Münchow talking him out of this.
Büsching's footnote to the supposed death sentence for Fritz also contains the "the King later looked it up at the archives, and resealed it, but did not take any revenge" tale. Again, Catt hadn't published yet, but it makes me wonder whether Büsching talked to him and that's where all this is from. His summing up of Fritz & sibs relationships: "He liked the oldest sister best, but was great to the others as well. Doesn't seem to have held any grudge due to FW constantly trying to make AW crown prince through his life, because he was just noble like that. There was that fallout before AW's death, of course, but that was for military reasons. Younger brothers and Fritz: Um. Here's what I heard he left them in his last will! No further comment on the younger brothers from me." Büsching is also regretting that the EC/Fritz golden wedding anniversary hasn't been properly celebrated in 1783, because she'd have deserved it, being a fabulous Queen through the decades, and he's very glad FW2 honors her and is kind to her.
ETA: Good grief. Büsching claims Fritz never needed any foreign subsidies. Ever. I mean: look, Büsching, him getting money from the Brits was no state secret? Even if I don't expect you to know about what Poniatowski writes re: Fritz counterfeiting coins and devalueing money, or about the sugar daddies in crown prince times, the British subsidies at least were common knowledge. He bitched enough about it when they stopped, even in the Histoire de mon temps, or so biographies say. What the hell?/ETA
So basically, his reliability: some things he's amazingly accurate about, some are really wildly inaccurate, see above. When mentioning many European monarchs pleaded for Crown Prince Fritz, he quotes, entirely, the letter from Sweden, which could be another hint as to which sources he does have. What all of this says about the reliability of his dog stories: make up your own mind.
Rödenbeck: looking for the part you name, I come across about Rödenbeck, correctly, naming AW as a member of the Straßburg trip! (He lists AW, Algarotti, Fredersdorf, Colonels v. Borck and v. Stille and one of the Münchows as aide - presumably the older brother Jr. mentions as Fritz having favored? - as making up the group in totem. So now we know.) He also lists the following pseudonyms:
Fritz: Count Dufour
AW: Count Schafgotsch.
Algarotti: Count von Pfuhl.
(Algarotti: none of you could convincingly play a non-noble, so don't even try, highnessess. I, on the other hand, can play a German.)
Also, he says Fritz upon arriving in Straßburg lodged in the inn "Holy Cross" whereas AW lodged in the inn "Raven". So if you want to imagine Fritz and Algarotti getting it on, note he took care of not sharing rooms with younger bro for the night. Of course, that was before they were arrested. Arrival in Straßburg was on the 23, ignominious departure on the 26th.
Now, about page 126 - first of all, guess what the previous page says about the Pandur raid on the camp? Whom it names as a source? AUSTRIAN TRENCK! I first thought maybe Rödenbeck had his Trenck confused when saying "From Austrian Trenck's descripton of his life", but the quote is actually in first person and speaking as Franz von der Trenck, not Friedrich von der Trenck. Mind you, I'm sideeying the veracity of any Trenck, but apparantly Austrian Trenck has written his life down somewhere, too? Anyway. Rödenbeck doesn't quite make clear where his Austrian Trenck quote ends, but at a guess, when Biche is returned. (He also says that the wife of General Nadasty had taken to Biche, wanted to keep her and had to be asked repeatedly till she was ready to hand over the dog.)
Rödenbeck says that both anecdotes are defended and well supported in yet another collection of anecdotes.
So he does, but he says they were defended by "glaubwürdige Gewährsmänner", "credible sources" (literally "credible men vowing for it"), without naming the gentlemen in question. Again, if any of said gentlemen was named Trenck (Prussian Trenck was still alive and well and publishing memoirs at that point, don't forget)...
Edited 2020-03-25 12:33 (UTC)
Keivenheim looks like a German name,
Doesn't say anything about which part of the border it was on. The Alsace, i.e. das Elsass, was dominantly German-lingual, and even today most villages and downs have double French and German street signs. (This is was true for the Saarland - today in Germany, but like the Elsass going back and thro between Germany and France throughout history - as well. Where none other than Napoleon's Marshal Ney hailed from, which is why he when being on campaign in Bavaria could talk German to everyone.)
Trufax: St. Just, radical French Revolutionary, sidekick to Robespierre, took the time for an order to the women of Strassbourg that forbade them to wear German style dresses anymore "because you know you are Frenchwomen in your hearts".
Now, as to your questions:
1.) Plausible reason for Rothenbourg being recalled from Madrid other than ill health so he can be in the Alsace with Fritz while Fritz' presence is still kept a secret: Austrians (and Lorraine!) to the rescue! Franz Stephan's dad dies in the march of 1729, whereupon Franzl returns home to Lorraine from Vienna (where he's already hanging out and romancing MT). He doesn't go on the Grand Tour until 1731. Now, Lorraine is important to the French. They want it. They also really really REALLY do not want the Austrians to have it if FS/MT should become a thing, because remember, still arch enemies at this point. This is why a "we'll acknowledge the Pragmatic Sanction if you give us Lorraine" is eventually made. Why not say that Rothembourg, who is from Alsace, thus next door to Lorraine, and presumably knows influential people there (including FS' Mom the daughter of Liselotte and Philippe d'Orleans) needs to give his expertise on how this situation might be solved? He's gotten along so well with young Fritz, maybe France wants to sic him on young Franzl to hash something out that's not the HRE/Austrians getting Lorraine in the event of a FS/MT marriage? Thus Rothenbourg is recalled and can be home when Fritz comes calling.
2.) Hmmmm, this is really tricky, because I don't think FW would marry her off if he still thinks Fritz is out there and could be blackmailed into coming back. As soon as she's married, she's out of his control, after all. So it would be prison time for her. I see two possibilities:
a.) We go for a swashbuckling solution. Wilhelmine is indeed kept prisoner in some castle/fortress, but someone sacrifices themselves to switch places with her so she can escape. This is all organized by the Brits because Dickens likes her a lot, and he's smuggling her across the border.
b.) FW gets the (fake) news that Fritz is dead. That's when he decides to marry Wilhelmine off in haste because her presence is one long accusation and also he feels guilty. Because everything needs to happen quickly, he's willing to let the marriage happen at the groom's place as opposed to letting the groom come to Berlin, as in rl. En route, it's escape time for Wilhelmine.
Either way, though, we'd need some courageous helpers. It's too early for the Chevalier d'Eon, alas!
ETA: have thought of someone who could switch places and clothing with Wilhelmine in 1731 to allow her escape, demonstrably a courageous person not afraid to go up against FW, and one with a shot of not getting executed for this by FW: Johanna von Pannewitz!
Daughter of ETA: 3) How plausible is it both that Fritz can lie low and keep his whereabouts secret for so long without close friends, and that he considers this the best way to protect Wilhelmine and SD?
Not very if he's truly on his own, which is why I can see that you want Rothembourg there. You probably don't want to enlarge your cast, but: how about Keyserlingk hightailing it out of Prussia, given that FW will look to throw blame at everyone within reach, and ending up chez R. as well, whom he presumably knowns from old Berlin times? Then he's another person and a long time friend who can keep Fritz company. Keyserlingk in this scenario would not have known Fritz was there but would have guessed this was a possible address, based on his knowledge of Fritz.
Oh, and Sonsine better leaves pronto, too. According to Dickens, FW had threatened to give her the Doris Ritter treatment of publish whipping and the workhouse for whores if Wilhelmine didn't agree to the marriage.
Doesn't say anything about which part of the border it was on. The Alsace, i.e. das Elsass, was dominantly German-lingual, and even today most villages and downs have double French and German street signs. (This is was true for the Saarland - today in Germany, but like the Elsass going back and thro between Germany and France throughout history - as well. Where none other than Napoleon's Marshal Ney hailed from, which is why he when being on campaign in Bavaria could talk German to everyone.)
Trufax: St. Just, radical French Revolutionary, sidekick to Robespierre, took the time for an order to the women of Strassbourg that forbade them to wear German style dresses anymore "because you know you are Frenchwomen in your hearts".
Now, as to your questions:
1.) Plausible reason for Rothenbourg being recalled from Madrid other than ill health so he can be in the Alsace with Fritz while Fritz' presence is still kept a secret: Austrians (and Lorraine!) to the rescue! Franz Stephan's dad dies in the march of 1729, whereupon Franzl returns home to Lorraine from Vienna (where he's already hanging out and romancing MT). He doesn't go on the Grand Tour until 1731. Now, Lorraine is important to the French. They want it. They also really really REALLY do not want the Austrians to have it if FS/MT should become a thing, because remember, still arch enemies at this point. This is why a "we'll acknowledge the Pragmatic Sanction if you give us Lorraine" is eventually made. Why not say that Rothembourg, who is from Alsace, thus next door to Lorraine, and presumably knows influential people there (including FS' Mom the daughter of Liselotte and Philippe d'Orleans) needs to give his expertise on how this situation might be solved? He's gotten along so well with young Fritz, maybe France wants to sic him on young Franzl to hash something out that's not the HRE/Austrians getting Lorraine in the event of a FS/MT marriage? Thus Rothenbourg is recalled and can be home when Fritz comes calling.
2.) Hmmmm, this is really tricky, because I don't think FW would marry her off if he still thinks Fritz is out there and could be blackmailed into coming back. As soon as she's married, she's out of his control, after all. So it would be prison time for her. I see two possibilities:
a.) We go for a swashbuckling solution. Wilhelmine is indeed kept prisoner in some castle/fortress, but someone sacrifices themselves to switch places with her so she can escape. This is all organized by the Brits because Dickens likes her a lot, and he's smuggling her across the border.
b.) FW gets the (fake) news that Fritz is dead. That's when he decides to marry Wilhelmine off in haste because her presence is one long accusation and also he feels guilty. Because everything needs to happen quickly, he's willing to let the marriage happen at the groom's place as opposed to letting the groom come to Berlin, as in rl. En route, it's escape time for Wilhelmine.
Either way, though, we'd need some courageous helpers. It's too early for the Chevalier d'Eon, alas!
ETA: have thought of someone who could switch places and clothing with Wilhelmine in 1731 to allow her escape, demonstrably a courageous person not afraid to go up against FW, and one with a shot of not getting executed for this by FW: Johanna von Pannewitz!
Daughter of ETA: 3) How plausible is it both that Fritz can lie low and keep his whereabouts secret for so long without close friends, and that he considers this the best way to protect Wilhelmine and SD?
Not very if he's truly on his own, which is why I can see that you want Rothembourg there. You probably don't want to enlarge your cast, but: how about Keyserlingk hightailing it out of Prussia, given that FW will look to throw blame at everyone within reach, and ending up chez R. as well, whom he presumably knowns from old Berlin times? Then he's another person and a long time friend who can keep Fritz company. Keyserlingk in this scenario would not have known Fritz was there but would have guessed this was a possible address, based on his knowledge of Fritz.
Oh, and Sonsine better leaves pronto, too. According to Dickens, FW had threatened to give her the Doris Ritter treatment of publish whipping and the workhouse for whores if Wilhelmine didn't agree to the marriage.
Edited 2020-03-25 11:55 (UTC)
I don't know how she felt about Suhm or Fredersdorf (I find it possibly telling that Fritz doesn't write to her about Fredersdorf, even with the class differences), but I think Algarotti's the only other boyfriend we know that she liked.
Ah, but then everyone (except Lehndorff) liked Algarotti! Whereas decidedly not everyone liked Voltaire. I can think of something Voltaire and Algarotti have in common, though, to wit, the reason why I cast them both as cats. Neither guy is going to settle down with Fritz for good. They're intermittently living together, long-distance loves. Peter Keith and Katte come into Fritz' life when he's moved out out of the female sphere to the male one at court where Wilhelme can't follow him. Whereas Peter and Katte can hang out with him all day (in theory, baring FW, but you know what I mean). Fredersdorf is the one who actually gets to live with Fritz, as in live in the next room, be with him always when Fritz isn't campaigning or Fredersdorf isn't on business travels. (Including one to Paris as we now know. Presumably he took a translator with him?) Voltaire, even if the big explosion hadn't happened, wasn't likely to do that.
Incidentally, if Voltaire was on "tu" terms with Wilhelmine's daughter, it makes the two of them having a good cry about Wilhelmine as mentioned in Fritz' letter in the correspondance (you know, the one with "greetings and letters do not replace Voltaire if one has once had him in persona" in it) less likely to have been a courtly convenience and more likely to have been carried by real emotion.
Ah, but then everyone (except Lehndorff) liked Algarotti! Whereas decidedly not everyone liked Voltaire. I can think of something Voltaire and Algarotti have in common, though, to wit, the reason why I cast them both as cats. Neither guy is going to settle down with Fritz for good. They're intermittently living together, long-distance loves. Peter Keith and Katte come into Fritz' life when he's moved out out of the female sphere to the male one at court where Wilhelme can't follow him. Whereas Peter and Katte can hang out with him all day (in theory, baring FW, but you know what I mean). Fredersdorf is the one who actually gets to live with Fritz, as in live in the next room, be with him always when Fritz isn't campaigning or Fredersdorf isn't on business travels. (Including one to Paris as we now know. Presumably he took a translator with him?) Voltaire, even if the big explosion hadn't happened, wasn't likely to do that.
Incidentally, if Voltaire was on "tu" terms with Wilhelmine's daughter, it makes the two of them having a good cry about Wilhelmine as mentioned in Fritz' letter in the correspondance (you know, the one with "greetings and letters do not replace Voltaire if one has once had him in persona" in it) less likely to have been a courtly convenience and more likely to have been carried by real emotion.
...and now, there'll be this: The Great, a satiric miniseries starring Elle Fanning as Catherine and Nicholas Hoult as Peter. Going by the rest of the cast list, the only other character which could be based on someone historical could be Gwilym Lee as "Grigory" (Orlov, I guess). Peter is already Czar when Catherine arrives in the trailer. Official synopsis:
The Great is a satirical, comedic drama about the rise of Catherine the Great from outsider to the longest-reigning female ruler in Russia’s history. Season One is a fictionalized, fun and anachronistic story of an idealistic, romantic young girl, who arrives in Russia for an arranged marriage to the mercurial Emperor Peter. Hoping for love and sunshine, she finds instead a dangerous, depraved, backward world that she resolves to change. All she has to do is kill her husband, beat the church, baffle the military and get the court onside. A very modern story about the past which encompasses the many roles she played over her lifetime as lover, teacher, ruler, friend, and fighter. Incorporating historical facts occasionally, the series stars Elle Fanning as Catherine, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Adam Godley, Gwilym Lee, Charity Wakefield, Douglas Hodge, Sacha Dhawan, Sebastian de Souza, Bayo Gbadamosi and Belinda Bromilow.
The Great is a satirical, comedic drama about the rise of Catherine the Great from outsider to the longest-reigning female ruler in Russia’s history. Season One is a fictionalized, fun and anachronistic story of an idealistic, romantic young girl, who arrives in Russia for an arranged marriage to the mercurial Emperor Peter. Hoping for love and sunshine, she finds instead a dangerous, depraved, backward world that she resolves to change. All she has to do is kill her husband, beat the church, baffle the military and get the court onside. A very modern story about the past which encompasses the many roles she played over her lifetime as lover, teacher, ruler, friend, and fighter. Incorporating historical facts occasionally, the series stars Elle Fanning as Catherine, Nicholas Hoult, Phoebe Fox, Adam Godley, Gwilym Lee, Charity Wakefield, Douglas Hodge, Sacha Dhawan, Sebastian de Souza, Bayo Gbadamosi and Belinda Bromilow.
Unexpectedly, Mr. Büsching has delivered a suicidal hussar... from 1775. When Fredersdorf was long dead. Büsching writes thusly:
He had intentionally ignorant people who couldn't read or write as his servants, and not for the usual use, believing that nothing disadvantagegous or dangerous was to fear from them; he was however wrong about this. A case in point was the Chamber Hussar Deesen, for whom he had much favour and grace, but whom he, I don't know why, eventually put in such a great disgrace that the man grew desperate over it. If I'm not mistaken, both (disgrace and desperation) reached their peak in the July of 1775. The King was back then visited by family members, and during this visit he'd ordered that the man shouldn't appear in front of him. When the visited had ended, and the King was back at Sanssouci, he'd ordered the man to him one morning and gave him to the aide who'd read the rapport with the command that he'd be used as a drummer at the corps. The man fell to his feet, but he kicked him away, and when the man clung to his knees again, (the King) had him pulled away by force. Deesen asked the aide who went with him whether he was allowed to pick up his hat; and when he'd gone to his room, he shot himself with a prepared and loaded pistol he'd kept for such a case. When this was reported to the King, he first said "but where did he get the loaded gun from?" and then "I wouldn't have expected such courage from him". But one noticed much disturbance of the temper from the King about this event, and from the questions he put to his people afterwards, one could see this event had been very disagreeable to him. This man had not known how to read or write, but he had someone else read to him something which had been lying on the King's table.
1.) One suicidal hussar might be regarded as a misfortune. Two looks like carelessness, misquote Oscar Wilde.
2.) Yep, that's FW's son, alright.
3.) So clearly this had nothing to do with Fredersdorf, what with him being dead, and Old Fritz in 1775 isn't necessarily like young Fritz in 1741, but presumably this is the kind of thing Georgii might have been afraid would happen, quite independent from what Frederdorf did or did not do?
He had intentionally ignorant people who couldn't read or write as his servants, and not for the usual use, believing that nothing disadvantagegous or dangerous was to fear from them; he was however wrong about this. A case in point was the Chamber Hussar Deesen, for whom he had much favour and grace, but whom he, I don't know why, eventually put in such a great disgrace that the man grew desperate over it. If I'm not mistaken, both (disgrace and desperation) reached their peak in the July of 1775. The King was back then visited by family members, and during this visit he'd ordered that the man shouldn't appear in front of him. When the visited had ended, and the King was back at Sanssouci, he'd ordered the man to him one morning and gave him to the aide who'd read the rapport with the command that he'd be used as a drummer at the corps. The man fell to his feet, but he kicked him away, and when the man clung to his knees again, (the King) had him pulled away by force. Deesen asked the aide who went with him whether he was allowed to pick up his hat; and when he'd gone to his room, he shot himself with a prepared and loaded pistol he'd kept for such a case. When this was reported to the King, he first said "but where did he get the loaded gun from?" and then "I wouldn't have expected such courage from him". But one noticed much disturbance of the temper from the King about this event, and from the questions he put to his people afterwards, one could see this event had been very disagreeable to him. This man had not known how to read or write, but he had someone else read to him something which had been lying on the King's table.
1.) One suicidal hussar might be regarded as a misfortune. Two looks like carelessness, misquote Oscar Wilde.
2.) Yep, that's FW's son, alright.
3.) So clearly this had nothing to do with Fredersdorf, what with him being dead, and Old Fritz in 1775 isn't necessarily like young Fritz in 1741, but presumably this is the kind of thing Georgii might have been afraid would happen, quite independent from what Frederdorf did or did not do?
Okay, I've now found a summary of the musical, and the SD/Grumbkow affair isn't the only attempt at more het. There's also Wilhelmine/Katte, which is presumably why the Fritz tumblr fandom has issues with this one.
The framing narration is old Fritz the hermit, at Sanssouci, dictating his memoirs, when ghostly Katte shows up. Old Fritz sends the writer home and talks with ghostly Katte about his life, as ghostly Katte reminds him who he used to be. Cue flashback to his youth; FW is FW, Fritz and Wilhelmine sing their song, then it's off to Dresden, with Wilhelmine and Katte. Fritz gets deflowered by Orzelska, Wilhelmine and Katte fall in love, which Fritz isn't happy about. (Summary doesn't say which of them he's jealous of.) FW nearly beats Fritz to death, Fritz and Katte decides to flee, which is the Act 1 cliffhanger ending.
After the break, we catch up with Katte and Wilhelmine arguing about the escape plan. Fritz gets caught and incarcarated. Grumbkow uncovers that Katte was part of the plan. FW gives the execution in front of Fritz order. At which point Old Fritz interrupts the goings on, and it's clear he can't bear to remember the exeution and that this is the central trauma of his life. He takes over the narration and skips to his first year of Kingship, MT ascending and him using the chance to invade Silesia and becoming Frederick the Great.
Next, the musical skips forward to Voltaire's song and Fritz trying to live the artistic life at Sanssouci. Disaster ensues. Then Wilhelmine visits and is shocked about how he's changed. He gets an FW style temper outburst when she says so, and the ensuing 7 Years War is also a way to numb his unhealed grief, not that it works. He has the self realising song "Ebenbild" and finishes the war outwardly victorious but as a broken and now completly lonely man.
At which point the tale has caught up with the beginning. Ghostly Katte helps him to face the anbearable memory he's been running from all his life and then Fritz finally is able to let go, find peace and die in the final song, reuniting with Katte and Wilhelmine in the finale.
On the one hand, it's a bit Freud for dummies - i.e. peace comes when he's finally able to confront the most traumatic memory, his seaking military glory is solely because of Dad (I'm more with Mildred - Dad influenced how he sought it, but even if FW had been treating him like AW, he'd have become and expansionist monarch) - and of course the SD/Grumbkow (I assume this is how Grumbkow finds out about Katte?) and Wilhelmine/Katte affairs are gratituous heterosexualisation, bot otoh if I understand the summary correctly Old Fritz is on stage with Katte's ghost the entire time, arguing about his life, and as far as narrative ideas for a 2 hours stage version go, that's not a bad one.
An English language trailer of the musical!
The framing narration is old Fritz the hermit, at Sanssouci, dictating his memoirs, when ghostly Katte shows up. Old Fritz sends the writer home and talks with ghostly Katte about his life, as ghostly Katte reminds him who he used to be. Cue flashback to his youth; FW is FW, Fritz and Wilhelmine sing their song, then it's off to Dresden, with Wilhelmine and Katte. Fritz gets deflowered by Orzelska, Wilhelmine and Katte fall in love, which Fritz isn't happy about. (Summary doesn't say which of them he's jealous of.) FW nearly beats Fritz to death, Fritz and Katte decides to flee, which is the Act 1 cliffhanger ending.
After the break, we catch up with Katte and Wilhelmine arguing about the escape plan. Fritz gets caught and incarcarated. Grumbkow uncovers that Katte was part of the plan. FW gives the execution in front of Fritz order. At which point Old Fritz interrupts the goings on, and it's clear he can't bear to remember the exeution and that this is the central trauma of his life. He takes over the narration and skips to his first year of Kingship, MT ascending and him using the chance to invade Silesia and becoming Frederick the Great.
Next, the musical skips forward to Voltaire's song and Fritz trying to live the artistic life at Sanssouci. Disaster ensues. Then Wilhelmine visits and is shocked about how he's changed. He gets an FW style temper outburst when she says so, and the ensuing 7 Years War is also a way to numb his unhealed grief, not that it works. He has the self realising song "Ebenbild" and finishes the war outwardly victorious but as a broken and now completly lonely man.
At which point the tale has caught up with the beginning. Ghostly Katte helps him to face the anbearable memory he's been running from all his life and then Fritz finally is able to let go, find peace and die in the final song, reuniting with Katte and Wilhelmine in the finale.
On the one hand, it's a bit Freud for dummies - i.e. peace comes when he's finally able to confront the most traumatic memory, his seaking military glory is solely because of Dad (I'm more with Mildred - Dad influenced how he sought it, but even if FW had been treating him like AW, he'd have become and expansionist monarch) - and of course the SD/Grumbkow (I assume this is how Grumbkow finds out about Katte?) and Wilhelmine/Katte affairs are gratituous heterosexualisation, bot otoh if I understand the summary correctly Old Fritz is on stage with Katte's ghost the entire time, arguing about his life, and as far as narrative ideas for a 2 hours stage version go, that's not a bad one.
An English language trailer of the musical!
Edited 2020-03-25 17:01 (UTC)
Because I've been wondering how that would go, and also, he can sing a song. There are even already het relationships to cover that angle, and you can still put the one with Heinrich in the centre.
Act 1: Young Lehndorff arrives in Berlin like a Disney heroine, wide-eyed, full of hope, singing the obligatory "this is what I want!" Disney heroine opening song. (Solo number with background chorus: "Berlin!", variation "Cool City"))
He gets bad news from home; his intended and cousin has been sold to the Katte clan (Lehndorff/Du Rosey farewell duet: Our love was not to be.) Also, the job he gets is Chamberlain at the Queen's, and as he quickly finds out, this means no contact with the King and much boredom (Ensemble song: Bored Now!) A despondendet Lehndorff wanders through the nightly palace garden, wondering whether he shouldn't resign and return to East Prussia (Reprise: Berlin!", variation: Cruel City), when he comes across another nightly wanderer in distress, a young man about to marry very much against his will, wondering whether to flee. Lehndorff feels an instant powerful connection/attraction, as the two find comfort in each other (Duet: Two of Us). Only the next morning does he find out the young man in the garden is none other but the King's younger brother, Prince Heinrich. Lehndorff attends Heinrich's wedding as a part of the Queen's entourage, ponders the irony that the two of them have given each other the courage to stay and endure just as he is realising he's fallen in love with a man who will never be his. (Big orchestral number "The Wedding" with Lehndorff recitative.)
Some years later. Lehndorff hangs out with the Divine Trio (quartet: The Best of Friends), enjoying the Berlin party life. After Heinrich departs with his latest lover, Prince Wilhelm holds Lehndorff back; he's spotted the true love in Lehndorff's eyes and, having just lost the chance to marry Sophie von Pannewitz due to his brother refusing to grant a divorce, urges Lehndorff to confess the depth of his feelings to Heinrich. (Duet: Love will prevail.) Lehndorff takes all his courage, gets Heinrich alone and is about to follow AW's advice when terrible news arrive: Austria has managed a treaty with France and Russia. Heinrich is sure this will mean war. (Heinrich solo number: This Brother of Mine/He's Done It Now). Sure enough, since we're dealing with a time compressed musical reality, summons arrive from the King that Heinrich is supposed to join the war effort: Heinrich says farewell to Lehndorff and, asking for one good memory of peaceful Berlin, kisses him passionately goodbye. Act One ends with Lehndorff's heartrendering solo number: Will I Ever See You Again?
- INTERLUDE -
Act 2 opens with a 7 Years War montage. On one part of the stage, we see Lehndorff and the court, fretting about news from the front ("Waiting, Hoping"), while on the other part, we see Heinrich, King Frederick the Great and AW ("Life's a Fight").
As the court gets evacuated to Magdedburg, Lehndorff, who has just learned of his older brother's demise making him the heir of the estate and isn't able to find his way in the new location, comes across a local, charming, shy Fräulein von Häseler, who helps him out (duet "This is the way"). Terrible news of AW's disgrace arrives, followed by Prince Wilhelm himself (remember, compressed time and events). (AW solo number: "Ruin!" with chorus backup.) AW gets a heartrending death scene in which Lehndorff takes Amalie's place because due to the severe cutting down of characters from rl in a stage play; Heinrich arrives just too late to find his brother still alive; what he does find is the terribliy distressed Lehndorff getting hugged and consoled by Fräulein von Häseler. (Trio: "Comfort/No Comfort") Heinrich, who has sung his part of the trio unobserved in the background, decides that he will avenge his brother by murdering the King once the war has been won.
The war is before its last big battle. Having not heard from Heinrich after AW's death, Lehndorff has married Fräulein von Häseler, trying to live as good a life as possible under the circumstances, vowing to regard the royals only as a subject now. A conversation with Heinrich's aide and current lover, the boastful Kalkreuth (Fame! We're gonna live forever! chorus number), who is visiting the court, reveals that the Prince, now a famous war hero, has changed in other regards, too. Lehndorff is about to resign himself to the fact that the Heinrich he knew and loved is gone when Kalkreuth accidentally reveals that Heinrich did, in fact try to reach the dying AW in time and came just too late. When new Mrs. Lehndorff mentions that yes, there was this odd stranger in the background, Lehndorff realises the truth. ("What happened that day?" Lehndorff recitative.)
Heinrich has won the battle of Freiberg, the last battle of the 7 Years War. He's supposed to get honored by the King at the victory parade. The court gets ready to celebrate the won battle, the impending peace and the prince. ("Oh Glorious Day" ensemble number.) Only Lehndorff, much as he would like to, is sure that there is something seriously off and something terrible could be about to happen. He seeks out Heinrich, imploring him to open his heart again and say what he truly feels. Heinrich refuses at first, and the musical's most passionate duet ensues as Lehndorff finally manages to get through to him and learn of Heinrich's terrible vow of vengeange. ("I Know Your Soul/Blood Will Have Blood").
The big moment is there, as the King arrives to honor his brother's victory and declare peace. ("Fridericus Rex", ensemble number with "This brother of mine" reprise from Heinrich as counterpoint.) Lehndorff, caught in the terrible dilemma of either watching his beloved become a murderer and die, or an unsuccesful assassin and die (if he denounces him), chooses a third option: he steps forward, seemingly to petition the King in the name of East Prussians whose country has been ravaged by war and who urgently need peace and royal help. But his petition/song, praising peace and the importance of reconciliation and rebuilding over ongoing hate, is really aimed at Heinrich. (Lehndorff Solo number with Chorus backup: "Give Peace A Chance") At last, the King, growing impatient, orders Lehndorff to step aside so he can go on with the victory/Heinrich honoring ceremony. Lehndorff refuses, even as the King threatens him with disgrace and banishment. Overwhelmed at this spectacle of loyalty and affection which only he understands, Heinrich throws away the dagger he's held. He embraces Lehndorff in front of the King and declares he wishes no further honoring but for the King to grant Lehndorff's petition. As Friedrich does so, the big finale number consists of the entire ensemble celebrating the arrival of peace while Heinrich and Lehndorff sing "Now the future can be ours again".
THE END
Act 1: Young Lehndorff arrives in Berlin like a Disney heroine, wide-eyed, full of hope, singing the obligatory "this is what I want!" Disney heroine opening song. (Solo number with background chorus: "Berlin!", variation "Cool City"))
He gets bad news from home; his intended and cousin has been sold to the Katte clan (Lehndorff/Du Rosey farewell duet: Our love was not to be.) Also, the job he gets is Chamberlain at the Queen's, and as he quickly finds out, this means no contact with the King and much boredom (Ensemble song: Bored Now!) A despondendet Lehndorff wanders through the nightly palace garden, wondering whether he shouldn't resign and return to East Prussia (Reprise: Berlin!", variation: Cruel City), when he comes across another nightly wanderer in distress, a young man about to marry very much against his will, wondering whether to flee. Lehndorff feels an instant powerful connection/attraction, as the two find comfort in each other (Duet: Two of Us). Only the next morning does he find out the young man in the garden is none other but the King's younger brother, Prince Heinrich. Lehndorff attends Heinrich's wedding as a part of the Queen's entourage, ponders the irony that the two of them have given each other the courage to stay and endure just as he is realising he's fallen in love with a man who will never be his. (Big orchestral number "The Wedding" with Lehndorff recitative.)
Some years later. Lehndorff hangs out with the Divine Trio (quartet: The Best of Friends), enjoying the Berlin party life. After Heinrich departs with his latest lover, Prince Wilhelm holds Lehndorff back; he's spotted the true love in Lehndorff's eyes and, having just lost the chance to marry Sophie von Pannewitz due to his brother refusing to grant a divorce, urges Lehndorff to confess the depth of his feelings to Heinrich. (Duet: Love will prevail.) Lehndorff takes all his courage, gets Heinrich alone and is about to follow AW's advice when terrible news arrive: Austria has managed a treaty with France and Russia. Heinrich is sure this will mean war. (Heinrich solo number: This Brother of Mine/He's Done It Now). Sure enough, since we're dealing with a time compressed musical reality, summons arrive from the King that Heinrich is supposed to join the war effort: Heinrich says farewell to Lehndorff and, asking for one good memory of peaceful Berlin, kisses him passionately goodbye. Act One ends with Lehndorff's heartrendering solo number: Will I Ever See You Again?
- INTERLUDE -
Act 2 opens with a 7 Years War montage. On one part of the stage, we see Lehndorff and the court, fretting about news from the front ("Waiting, Hoping"), while on the other part, we see Heinrich, King Frederick the Great and AW ("Life's a Fight").
As the court gets evacuated to Magdedburg, Lehndorff, who has just learned of his older brother's demise making him the heir of the estate and isn't able to find his way in the new location, comes across a local, charming, shy Fräulein von Häseler, who helps him out (duet "This is the way"). Terrible news of AW's disgrace arrives, followed by Prince Wilhelm himself (remember, compressed time and events). (AW solo number: "Ruin!" with chorus backup.) AW gets a heartrending death scene in which Lehndorff takes Amalie's place because due to the severe cutting down of characters from rl in a stage play; Heinrich arrives just too late to find his brother still alive; what he does find is the terribliy distressed Lehndorff getting hugged and consoled by Fräulein von Häseler. (Trio: "Comfort/No Comfort") Heinrich, who has sung his part of the trio unobserved in the background, decides that he will avenge his brother by murdering the King once the war has been won.
The war is before its last big battle. Having not heard from Heinrich after AW's death, Lehndorff has married Fräulein von Häseler, trying to live as good a life as possible under the circumstances, vowing to regard the royals only as a subject now. A conversation with Heinrich's aide and current lover, the boastful Kalkreuth (Fame! We're gonna live forever! chorus number), who is visiting the court, reveals that the Prince, now a famous war hero, has changed in other regards, too. Lehndorff is about to resign himself to the fact that the Heinrich he knew and loved is gone when Kalkreuth accidentally reveals that Heinrich did, in fact try to reach the dying AW in time and came just too late. When new Mrs. Lehndorff mentions that yes, there was this odd stranger in the background, Lehndorff realises the truth. ("What happened that day?" Lehndorff recitative.)
Heinrich has won the battle of Freiberg, the last battle of the 7 Years War. He's supposed to get honored by the King at the victory parade. The court gets ready to celebrate the won battle, the impending peace and the prince. ("Oh Glorious Day" ensemble number.) Only Lehndorff, much as he would like to, is sure that there is something seriously off and something terrible could be about to happen. He seeks out Heinrich, imploring him to open his heart again and say what he truly feels. Heinrich refuses at first, and the musical's most passionate duet ensues as Lehndorff finally manages to get through to him and learn of Heinrich's terrible vow of vengeange. ("I Know Your Soul/Blood Will Have Blood").
The big moment is there, as the King arrives to honor his brother's victory and declare peace. ("Fridericus Rex", ensemble number with "This brother of mine" reprise from Heinrich as counterpoint.) Lehndorff, caught in the terrible dilemma of either watching his beloved become a murderer and die, or an unsuccesful assassin and die (if he denounces him), chooses a third option: he steps forward, seemingly to petition the King in the name of East Prussians whose country has been ravaged by war and who urgently need peace and royal help. But his petition/song, praising peace and the importance of reconciliation and rebuilding over ongoing hate, is really aimed at Heinrich. (Lehndorff Solo number with Chorus backup: "Give Peace A Chance") At last, the King, growing impatient, orders Lehndorff to step aside so he can go on with the victory/Heinrich honoring ceremony. Lehndorff refuses, even as the King threatens him with disgrace and banishment. Overwhelmed at this spectacle of loyalty and affection which only he understands, Heinrich throws away the dagger he's held. He embraces Lehndorff in front of the King and declares he wishes no further honoring but for the King to grant Lehndorff's petition. As Friedrich does so, the big finale number consists of the entire ensemble celebrating the arrival of peace while Heinrich and Lehndorff sing "Now the future can be ours again".
THE END
Re: Fredersdorf: Prime Suspect? (or: By Jove, I've found it!)
mildred_of_midgard
2020-03-27 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
(Poking my head in for a little but leaving the computer again soon. :( )
Not unexpected to me; I had reported this before, and wasn't sure if it was the Burgdorf's Gregorii under a different name.
Looking back, I didn't recount the full anecdote, but I definitely remember all the details mentioned there, especially "When this was reported to the King, he first said 'but where did he get the loaded gun from?' and then 'I wouldn't have expected such courage from him'."
This is what I did report:
Preuss enumerates the valets/batmen/lackeys that got dismissed for stealing from Fritz. Glasow is mentioned, of course (in a "more on him later" kind of way), and so are a couple others. Including a Deesen, who was accused of stealing from Fritz, and ordered to become a drum-beater in the army as part of his punishment. Well, evidently he couldn't take the humiliation, and on July 23, 1775, shot himself at Sanssouci.
...I can't find any more on this guy, but I was reminded of something you found in Burgdorf: "'The King's love could be deadly. Katte wasn't the only one who lost his life. A young officer, Gregorii, shot himself when Friedrich turned towards a new favourite.'...I wonder if Deesen's first name might be Gregorii, or if Burgdorf might otherwise be reporting the same story under a different name.
Thank you for picking up my past self's slack and translating the full anecdote!
One suicidal hussar might be regarded as a misfortune. Two looks like carelessness, misquote Oscar Wilde.
Haha.
So clearly this had nothing to do with Fredersdorf, what with him being dead, and Old Fritz in 1775 isn't necessarily like young Fritz in 1741, but presumably this is the kind of thing Georgii might have been afraid would happen, quite independent from what Frederdorf did or did not do?
Sounds about right. Theirs was also a much more "death before dishonor" culture than ours, so suicide, while not by any means less tragic, was more likely to present itself as an alternative to disgrace. Which is not to say that everyone chose death, but there was a stronger emphasis on lost honor as the ultimate worst. Witness AW refusing medical treatment.
Not unexpected to me; I had reported this before, and wasn't sure if it was the Burgdorf's Gregorii under a different name.
Looking back, I didn't recount the full anecdote, but I definitely remember all the details mentioned there, especially "When this was reported to the King, he first said 'but where did he get the loaded gun from?' and then 'I wouldn't have expected such courage from him'."
This is what I did report:
Preuss enumerates the valets/batmen/lackeys that got dismissed for stealing from Fritz. Glasow is mentioned, of course (in a "more on him later" kind of way), and so are a couple others. Including a Deesen, who was accused of stealing from Fritz, and ordered to become a drum-beater in the army as part of his punishment. Well, evidently he couldn't take the humiliation, and on July 23, 1775, shot himself at Sanssouci.
...I can't find any more on this guy, but I was reminded of something you found in Burgdorf: "'The King's love could be deadly. Katte wasn't the only one who lost his life. A young officer, Gregorii, shot himself when Friedrich turned towards a new favourite.'...I wonder if Deesen's first name might be Gregorii, or if Burgdorf might otherwise be reporting the same story under a different name.
Thank you for picking up my past self's slack and translating the full anecdote!
One suicidal hussar might be regarded as a misfortune. Two looks like carelessness, misquote Oscar Wilde.
Haha.
So clearly this had nothing to do with Fredersdorf, what with him being dead, and Old Fritz in 1775 isn't necessarily like young Fritz in 1741, but presumably this is the kind of thing Georgii might have been afraid would happen, quite independent from what Frederdorf did or did not do?
Sounds about right. Theirs was also a much more "death before dishonor" culture than ours, so suicide, while not by any means less tragic, was more likely to present itself as an alternative to disgrace. Which is not to say that everyone chose death, but there was a stronger emphasis on lost honor as the ultimate worst. Witness AW refusing medical treatment.
I saw that! Yesterday, when I couldn't share it here. I loved the
Based on
HISTORICAL FACTS
* Sort of
caption.
Based on
HISTORICAL FACTS
* Sort of
caption.
Thanks for the summary! I had seen gifsets and screenshots and reviews (complaining about the gratuitous het) and such, but not a breakdown that lays out the plot structure so clearly.
Wilhelmine and Katte fall in love, which Fritz isn't happy about. (Summary doesn't say which of them he's jealous of.)
Let's be real. If Wilhelmine fell for Katte and let it be known, the three of them would have jumped all over a ménage à trois. Not saying jealousy would never have reared its ugly head, not with two of them deeply psychologically scarred and the third still a product of the 18th century, but if W and K were getting along, Fritz might well have seen this as an opportunity rather than something to complain about. ;)
FW, on the other hand...
Old Fritz is on stage with Katte's ghost the entire time, arguing about his life
I can't decide whether my reaction is <3 or </3, but either way, it hurts so good. Much like someone arguing with a certain best enemy ghost in 1780 and wondering where all his other ghosts are. :-(
Wilhelmine and Katte fall in love, which Fritz isn't happy about. (Summary doesn't say which of them he's jealous of.)
Let's be real. If Wilhelmine fell for Katte and let it be known, the three of them would have jumped all over a ménage à trois. Not saying jealousy would never have reared its ugly head, not with two of them deeply psychologically scarred and the third still a product of the 18th century, but if W and K were getting along, Fritz might well have seen this as an opportunity rather than something to complain about. ;)
FW, on the other hand...
Old Fritz is on stage with Katte's ghost the entire time, arguing about his life
I can't decide whether my reaction is <3 or </3, but either way, it hurts so good. Much like someone arguing with a certain best enemy ghost in 1780 and wondering where all his other ghosts are. :-(
Re: Fredersdorf: Prime Suspect? (or: By Jove, I've found it!)
mildred_of_midgard
2020-03-27 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
*suddenly imagines Fredersdorf as Scarlett O'Hara vowing "I will never go hungry again!" and becoming a capitalist extraordinaire in the second part of Gone with the Wind.*
That is an excellent image. I love it. Scarlett's one of my problematic faves.
At lodge meetings, though...I like to imagine Fredersdorf getting to "du" him!
Same!
Better yet, I like to imagine Fritz liking it. The same way he secretly likes Fredersdorf swapping out a coffee order for chocolate. It's lonely at the top, and as long as he feels safe enough, he craves emotional topping all the more for so thoroughly depriving himself of it.
Or maybe McDonogh is referring to a different letter where Tyrconnel does talk about a bribe he had to make?
Good question. You'd have to ask MacDonogh. He certainly doesn't say in his book. He rattles off several sentences about Fredersdorf, then at the end of the paragraph has a single footnote listing several sources, none of them primary and at least one of them suspect: Richter, Hamilton, Dehio (that encyclopedia of art monuments you were looking at in Stabi), Leuschner, and Fontane.
Anyway, given that Fritz accepted money from all and sunder in the Crown Prince years without letting this influence him in his future policies one bit (Seckendorff: you can say that again!!!), I could see Fredersdorf conclude he's entitled to do the same, i.e. accept money, as long as he doesn't actually try to manipulate Fritz accordingly.
Exactly what Fredersdorf said to Fritz in my head! Reference to Seckendorff and all. :D
Maybe they even had an arrangement where Fredersdorf tells him what the current bribing rates are and who offers most
Could be. It did occur to me that Fritz might have approved of this arrangement. (Although if so, I'd be very surprised if he didn't take a cut.)
Hm.... I know! Georgii turns out in his free time to have composed odes to MT!
HAHA.
Fredersdorf finds evidence that this letter was forged and someone coldbloodedly exploited Fritz' affection and grief for Suhm. This, Fritz would not forgive!
NEITHER WOULD I. I have an irrational soft spot for Suhm, current second favorite boyfriend. (Objectively, I know Fredersdorf was the best, and normally he would push all my buttons like whoa, but...this is a very topsy-turvy fandom for me in many respects. I still love you, Fredersdof! You're the best! I'm thrilled every time you show up in a fic!)
(If faking a Suhm rec letter is not enough, then we could escalete it to "not only was the rec letter faked but Georgii POISONED Suhm (in the service of whichever enemy Suhm had), which Fredersdorf discovers and then gives Georgii an ultimatum).
OMG.
Nice way(s) to make the most of the possible Russian connection, though! Also good job making it so Fredersdorf really *is* just looking out for Fritz. ;)
That is an excellent image. I love it. Scarlett's one of my problematic faves.
At lodge meetings, though...I like to imagine Fredersdorf getting to "du" him!
Same!
Better yet, I like to imagine Fritz liking it. The same way he secretly likes Fredersdorf swapping out a coffee order for chocolate. It's lonely at the top, and as long as he feels safe enough, he craves emotional topping all the more for so thoroughly depriving himself of it.
Or maybe McDonogh is referring to a different letter where Tyrconnel does talk about a bribe he had to make?
Good question. You'd have to ask MacDonogh. He certainly doesn't say in his book. He rattles off several sentences about Fredersdorf, then at the end of the paragraph has a single footnote listing several sources, none of them primary and at least one of them suspect: Richter, Hamilton, Dehio (that encyclopedia of art monuments you were looking at in Stabi), Leuschner, and Fontane.
Anyway, given that Fritz accepted money from all and sunder in the Crown Prince years without letting this influence him in his future policies one bit (Seckendorff: you can say that again!!!), I could see Fredersdorf conclude he's entitled to do the same, i.e. accept money, as long as he doesn't actually try to manipulate Fritz accordingly.
Exactly what Fredersdorf said to Fritz in my head! Reference to Seckendorff and all. :D
Maybe they even had an arrangement where Fredersdorf tells him what the current bribing rates are and who offers most
Could be. It did occur to me that Fritz might have approved of this arrangement. (Although if so, I'd be very surprised if he didn't take a cut.)
Hm.... I know! Georgii turns out in his free time to have composed odes to MT!
HAHA.
Fredersdorf finds evidence that this letter was forged and someone coldbloodedly exploited Fritz' affection and grief for Suhm. This, Fritz would not forgive!
NEITHER WOULD I. I have an irrational soft spot for Suhm, current second favorite boyfriend. (Objectively, I know Fredersdorf was the best, and normally he would push all my buttons like whoa, but...this is a very topsy-turvy fandom for me in many respects. I still love you, Fredersdof! You're the best! I'm thrilled every time you show up in a fic!)
(If faking a Suhm rec letter is not enough, then we could escalete it to "not only was the rec letter faked but Georgii POISONED Suhm (in the service of whichever enemy Suhm had), which Fredersdorf discovers and then gives Georgii an ultimatum).
OMG.
Nice way(s) to make the most of the possible Russian connection, though! Also good job making it so Fredersdorf really *is* just looking out for Fritz. ;)
(it does say his own vault, where he wanted to be buried but wasn't, not where all the other dogs are. Mind you, Büsching does not name any source for this, and remember what we agreed on re: rumors? I still think it's more likely Alcmene lies with the other dogs.
I agree qua objective historian, but qua fanfic writer ALCMENE'S IN THE VAULT. Anyway, it's good now to have a source for that that story at least predates the year 2000 (and even 1800). Thank you for the German clarification!
Well, if anything was left of her by then. I doubt that dog coffin was made of stone, after all. I don't think any dog skeletons in the vault got mentioned in the 1991 media reports.
True. A wooden coffin wouldn't last, but bones might. It depends on the soil conditions, though.
So where does he get that (correct) story from?
That is interesting, as Voltaire (recently published) and Thiébault (not yet published but still alive for people to talk to, as are his sources) both have the being thrown out of a window version. There must have been different versions floating around. Maybe Heinrich's boyfriends talked. :P
There's also "le roi m'a dit" Catt, who contributed to the oral grapevine long before the posthumous memoirs were published. Some percentage of gossip about the royals are going to be correct!
Again, Catt hadn't published yet, but it makes me wonder whether Büsching talked to him and that's where all this is from.
I see we reached a similar hypothesis. I also wondered if it might be the other way around; if Catt was reading the 1787-1790 anecdotes and incorporating them. We don't know that he went blind, and if he did we don't know when, and between 1788 and 1795 there are still plenty of years for him to be sticking words in Fritz's mouth.
ETA: Good grief. Büsching claims Fritz never needed any foreign subsidies.
Um. Good job with the fix-it fic, author! Same with the siblings! I'm writing a fix-it fic too, I'm just tagging it appropriately. :P
Fritz: Count Dufour
AW: Count Schafgotsch.
Algarotti: Count von Pfuhl.
Neat! I had seen Dufour as Fritz's, but had either not seen or forgotten the others.
That trip is still an embarrassment of riches for the fanfic author...
(Algarotti: none of you could convincingly play a non-noble, so don't even try, highnessess. I, on the other hand, can play a German.)
Hahaha.
Fritz: Look, my incognito held out longer than Voltaire's that one time, at least if you believe Bodanis!
Also, he says Fritz upon arriving in Straßburg lodged in the inn "Holy Cross" whereas AW lodged in the inn "Raven". So if you want to imagine Fritz and Algarotti getting it on, note he took care of not sharing rooms with younger bro for the night.
So noted!
Arrival in Straßburg was on the 23, ignominious departure on the 26th.
Does that mean the night of 25th was the one they spent under arrest?
Now, about page 126 - first of all, guess what the previous page says about the Pandur raid on the camp? Whom it names as a source? AUSTRIAN TRENCK!
I noticed that! And yes, I had noticed it actually seemed to be Austrian Trenck (I had the same thought process you did).
Mind you, I'm sideeying the veracity of any Trenck, but apparantly Austrian Trenck has written his life down somewhere, too?
Hopefully somewhere published before 1945!
Anyway. Rödenbeck doesn't quite make clear where his Austrian Trenck quote ends, but at a guess, when Biche is returned. (He also says that the wife of General Nadasty had taken to Biche, wanted to keep her and had to be asked repeatedly till she was ready to hand over the dog.)
She was obviously a Very Good Dog. *pets her*
(literally "credible men vowing for it"), without naming the gentlemen in question.
I had noticed that, yes. Had also raised an eyebrow. I spent some time trying to track that down, but was defeated by the proliferation of anecdotes, the fact that not all of them have been digitized, and, of course, my minimal German abilities.
Again, if any of said gentlemen was named Trenck
Ha.
Thanks for the Büsching's write-up! I figured that, as usual, you would give us material beyond the small bits I had asked you for. And as usual, you delivered. :)
One thing we haven't mentioned: Rococo German for greyhound was "Windspiel," which now means "wind chime" and results in some interesting Google translates. The modern German term seems to be "Windhund," correct me if I'm wrong.
I agree qua objective historian, but qua fanfic writer ALCMENE'S IN THE VAULT. Anyway, it's good now to have a source for that that story at least predates the year 2000 (and even 1800). Thank you for the German clarification!
Well, if anything was left of her by then. I doubt that dog coffin was made of stone, after all. I don't think any dog skeletons in the vault got mentioned in the 1991 media reports.
True. A wooden coffin wouldn't last, but bones might. It depends on the soil conditions, though.
So where does he get that (correct) story from?
That is interesting, as Voltaire (recently published) and Thiébault (not yet published but still alive for people to talk to, as are his sources) both have the being thrown out of a window version. There must have been different versions floating around. Maybe Heinrich's boyfriends talked. :P
There's also "le roi m'a dit" Catt, who contributed to the oral grapevine long before the posthumous memoirs were published. Some percentage of gossip about the royals are going to be correct!
Again, Catt hadn't published yet, but it makes me wonder whether Büsching talked to him and that's where all this is from.
I see we reached a similar hypothesis. I also wondered if it might be the other way around; if Catt was reading the 1787-1790 anecdotes and incorporating them. We don't know that he went blind, and if he did we don't know when, and between 1788 and 1795 there are still plenty of years for him to be sticking words in Fritz's mouth.
ETA: Good grief. Büsching claims Fritz never needed any foreign subsidies.
Um. Good job with the fix-it fic, author! Same with the siblings! I'm writing a fix-it fic too, I'm just tagging it appropriately. :P
Fritz: Count Dufour
AW: Count Schafgotsch.
Algarotti: Count von Pfuhl.
Neat! I had seen Dufour as Fritz's, but had either not seen or forgotten the others.
That trip is still an embarrassment of riches for the fanfic author...
(Algarotti: none of you could convincingly play a non-noble, so don't even try, highnessess. I, on the other hand, can play a German.)
Hahaha.
Fritz: Look, my incognito held out longer than Voltaire's that one time, at least if you believe Bodanis!
Also, he says Fritz upon arriving in Straßburg lodged in the inn "Holy Cross" whereas AW lodged in the inn "Raven". So if you want to imagine Fritz and Algarotti getting it on, note he took care of not sharing rooms with younger bro for the night.
So noted!
Arrival in Straßburg was on the 23, ignominious departure on the 26th.
Does that mean the night of 25th was the one they spent under arrest?
Now, about page 126 - first of all, guess what the previous page says about the Pandur raid on the camp? Whom it names as a source? AUSTRIAN TRENCK!
I noticed that! And yes, I had noticed it actually seemed to be Austrian Trenck (I had the same thought process you did).
Mind you, I'm sideeying the veracity of any Trenck, but apparantly Austrian Trenck has written his life down somewhere, too?
Hopefully somewhere published before 1945!
Anyway. Rödenbeck doesn't quite make clear where his Austrian Trenck quote ends, but at a guess, when Biche is returned. (He also says that the wife of General Nadasty had taken to Biche, wanted to keep her and had to be asked repeatedly till she was ready to hand over the dog.)
She was obviously a Very Good Dog. *pets her*
(literally "credible men vowing for it"), without naming the gentlemen in question.
I had noticed that, yes. Had also raised an eyebrow. I spent some time trying to track that down, but was defeated by the proliferation of anecdotes, the fact that not all of them have been digitized, and, of course, my minimal German abilities.
Again, if any of said gentlemen was named Trenck
Ha.
Thanks for the Büsching's write-up! I figured that, as usual, you would give us material beyond the small bits I had asked you for. And as usual, you delivered. :)
One thing we haven't mentioned: Rococo German for greyhound was "Windspiel," which now means "wind chime" and results in some interesting Google translates. The modern German term seems to be "Windhund," correct me if I'm wrong.
I only have one word: Amaaaaaaaazing.
Truly, I bow before your genius. All we need now is to pitch this to the right people!
Truly, I bow before your genius. All we need now is to pitch this to the right people!
omg I LOVE THIS SO MUCH yessss Lehndorff gets to be the tenor hero! it really would make a brilliant musical! I envision it as one of those Frank Wildhorn spectacles, like the Scarlet Pimpernel :D
*tries to write lyrics and fails utterly* I guess this is a little harder than I thought, lol :D
*tries to write lyrics and fails utterly* I guess this is a little harder than I thought, lol :D
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