Macaulay buys into Fritzian propaganda when it makes England look good: Satirical verses against all the princes and ministers of Europe were ascribed to his pen...About women he was in the habit of expressing himself in a manner which it was impossible for the meekest of women to forgive; and, unfortunately for him, almost the whole continent was then governed by women who were by no means conspicuous for meekness.
Though the haughtiest of princesses, though the most austere of matrons, [MT] forgot in her thirst for revenge both the dignity of her race and the purity of her character, and condescended to flatter the low-born and low-minded concubine, who, having acquired influence by prostituting herself, retained it by prostituting others. Maria Theresa actually wrote with her own hand a note full of expressions of esteem and friendship to her dear cousin, the daughter of the butcher Poisson, the wife of the publican D'Etioles, the kidnapper of young girls for the Parc-aux-cerfs—a strange cousin for the descendant of so many Emperors of the West !
The Parc-aux-cerfs was where Louis XV kept his mistresses. I had never heard that Pompadour had anything to do with it, so I looked it up, and a most reliable source quoted in a most reliable source, Nancy Mitford in Wikipedia, says that she did not. I mean, I'm inclined to agree, but I can't say for sure. Louis...had, indeed, wrongs of his own to resent. His feelings were not quick; but contempt, says the eastern proverb, pierces even through the shell of the tortoise: and neither prudence nor decorum had ever restrained Frederick from expressing his measureless contempt for the sloth, the imbecility, and the baseness of Louis. The tastes and interests of Frederick would have led him, if he had been allowed an option, to side with the house of Bourbon. But the folly of the court of Versailles left him no choice. France became the tool of Austria, and Frederick was forced to become the ally of England
Remember, England was at war with France during this war (and pretty much every war). Fritz, England's ally, totally fighting in self-defense against the Maenads during the Seven Years' war, which had nothing to do with his rape of Silesia in 1740:
The object of Frederick was to obtain possession of the Saxon State Papers; for those papers, he well knew, contained ample proofs that though apparently an aggressor, he was really acting in self-defense. The Queen of Poland, as well acquainted as Frederick with the importance of those documents, had packed them up, had concealed them in her bed-chamber, and was about to send them off to Warsaw, when a Prussian officer made his appearance. In the hope that no soldier would venture to outrage a lady, a queen, a daughter of an emperor, the mother-in-law of a dauphin, she placed herself before the trunk, and at length sat down on it. But all resistance was vain. The papers were carried to Frederick, who found in them, as he expected, abundant evidence of the designs of the coalition. The most important documents were instantly published, and the effect of the publication was great. It was clear that, of whatever sins the King of Prussia might formerly have been guilty, he was now the injured party, and had merely anticipated a blow intended to destroy him.
How convenient that Fritz is in the wrong when he fights against England, and in the right when he's allied with England! Now, this I don't understand:
He entered Berlin in triumph, after an absence of more than six years. The streets were brilliantly lighted up, and as he passed along in an open carriage, with Ferdinand of Brunswick at his side, the multitude saluted him with loud praises and blessings. He was moved by those marks of attachment, and repeatedly exclaimed, "Long live my dear people! Long live my children!"
??? I have *never* heard that Fritz actually appeared at the Seven Years' War victory procession in Berlin. He famously did not. What are our primary sources for this?
??? I have *never* heard that Fritz actually appeared at the Seven Years' War victory procession in Berlin. He famously did not. What are our primary sources for this?
As far as I know, there aren't any. Macauly must have made it up completely. We have a detailed description by Lehndorff of the entire day, from early morning to late at night, and not only did the Berlin population wait in vain for the entire day but the court didn't see him until late in the evening. As for Ferdinand of Brunswick, he was with everyone else at court in the Berlin Hohenzollern town palace. Getting impatient.
Though the haughtiest of princesses, though the most austere of matrons, [MT] forgot in her thirst for revenge both the dignity of her race and the purity of her character, and condescended to flatter the low-born and low-minded concubine, who, having acquired influence by prostituting herself, retained it by prostituting others. Maria Theresa actually wrote with her own hand a note full of expressions of esteem and friendship to her dear cousin, the daughter of the butcher Poisson, the wife of the publican D'Etioles, the kidnapper of young girls for the Parc-aux-cerfs—a strange cousin for the descendant of so many Emperors of the West !
Wooooow. This is awesome. He really did buy into Fritzian propaganda, huh.
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Macaulay - It's not Fritz's fault!
Date: 2020-09-03 02:56 am (UTC)Satirical verses against all the princes and ministers of Europe were ascribed to his pen...About women he was in the habit of expressing himself in a manner which it was impossible for the meekest of women to forgive; and, unfortunately for him, almost the whole continent was then governed by women who were by no means conspicuous for meekness.
Though the haughtiest of princesses, though the most austere of matrons, [MT] forgot in her thirst for revenge both the dignity of her race and the purity of her character, and condescended to flatter the low-born and low-minded concubine, who, having acquired influence by prostituting herself, retained it by prostituting others. Maria Theresa actually wrote with her own hand a note full of expressions of esteem and friendship to her dear cousin, the daughter of the butcher Poisson, the wife of the publican D'Etioles, the kidnapper of young girls for the Parc-aux-cerfs—a strange cousin for the descendant of so many Emperors of the West !
The Parc-aux-cerfs was where Louis XV kept his mistresses. I had never heard that Pompadour had anything to do with it, so I looked it up, and a most reliable source quoted in a most reliable source, Nancy Mitford in Wikipedia, says that she did not. I mean, I'm inclined to agree, but I can't say for sure.
Louis...had, indeed, wrongs of his own to resent. His feelings were not quick; but contempt, says the eastern proverb, pierces even through the shell of the tortoise: and neither prudence nor decorum had ever restrained Frederick from expressing his measureless contempt for the sloth, the imbecility, and the baseness of Louis.
The tastes and interests of Frederick would have led him, if he had been allowed an option, to side with the house of Bourbon. But the folly of the court of Versailles left him no choice. France became the tool of Austria, and Frederick was forced to become the ally of England
Remember, England was at war with France during this war (and pretty much every war).
Fritz, England's ally, totally fighting in self-defense against the Maenads during the Seven Years' war, which had nothing to do with his rape of Silesia in 1740:
The object of Frederick was to obtain possession of the Saxon State Papers; for those papers, he well knew, contained ample proofs that though apparently an aggressor, he was really acting in self-defense. The Queen of Poland, as well acquainted as Frederick with the importance of those documents, had packed them up, had concealed them in her bed-chamber, and was about to send them off to Warsaw, when a Prussian officer made his appearance. In the hope that no soldier would venture to outrage a lady, a queen, a daughter of an emperor, the mother-in-law of a dauphin, she placed herself before the trunk, and at length sat down on it. But all resistance was vain. The papers were carried to Frederick, who found in them, as he expected, abundant evidence of the designs of the coalition. The most important documents were instantly published, and the effect of the publication was great. It was clear that, of whatever sins the King of Prussia might formerly have been guilty, he was now the injured party, and had merely anticipated a blow intended to destroy him.
How convenient that Fritz is in the wrong when he fights against England, and in the right when he's allied with England!
Now, this I don't understand:
He entered Berlin in triumph, after an absence of more than six years. The streets were brilliantly lighted up, and as he passed along in an open carriage, with Ferdinand of Brunswick at his side, the multitude saluted him with loud praises and blessings. He was moved by those marks of attachment, and repeatedly exclaimed, "Long live my dear people! Long live my children!"
??? I have *never* heard that Fritz actually appeared at the Seven Years' War victory procession in Berlin. He famously did not. What are our primary sources for this?
Re: Macaulay - It's not Fritz's fault!
Date: 2020-09-03 11:31 am (UTC)As far as I know, there aren't any. Macauly must have made it up completely. We have a detailed description by Lehndorff of the entire day, from early morning to late at night, and not only did the Berlin population wait in vain for the entire day but the court didn't see him until late in the evening. As for Ferdinand of Brunswick, he was with everyone else at court in the Berlin Hohenzollern town palace. Getting impatient.
Re: Macaulay - It's not Fritz's fault!
Date: 2020-09-04 01:12 am (UTC)Macaulay, between this and the Swedish beer...*shakes head*
Re: Macaulay - It's not Fritz's fault!
Date: 2020-09-05 05:51 am (UTC)Wooooow. This is awesome. He really did buy into Fritzian propaganda, huh.
(I am so excited I understand this now! :D )
Re: Macaulay - It's not Fritz's fault!
Date: 2020-09-05 01:13 pm (UTC)