Since the revue was a really big public spectacle (this is also why Fritz was pissed off when Heinrich didn't salute him properly in the after the 7 Years War, remember), such a gesture would have been quite something. And does argue it's FW Hans Heinrich is struggling for forgive. Not to mention that it gives the lie to the "Hans Heinrich totally on board with FW executing his son!" version.
YES I KNEW IT oh Hans Heinrich :( <3
oh man I wish we'd had that report on Christmas 1730 when we'd written our fics
Her Majesty the Queen, however, enjoys with her husband the King a most endearing complete harmony and bliss
...whoa.
Anyway, see what I mean about Wihelmine being kept as much a prisoner as Fritz? Actually more so
Given none of the other ambassadors reports any marital bliss between FW and SD in late 1730/early 1731, quite the contrary, I'm mentally translating that description to "FW was extra considerate to SD in the vain hope of getting laid again, but no dice".
Incidentally, I forgot to mention, in the December 2nd 1730 entry when Stratemann is still going along with the "Wilhelmine is just really sick, not locked up in her room" pretense, he has this rumor to tell: The said princess is still bound to her sickbed, and for a few days now has been inconvenienced with undescribably strong headaches, and feels pain her her arms and legs, which everyone ascribes to a great alteration, though the fact the execution of the late Lt. v. Katte has been hidden from her, despite her often asking about him. ("ob sie sich gleich öfters nach dessen Zustand erkundigt".
Now: I'm perfectly willing to believe Wilhemine had headaches along with being locked up. She suffered from migraines often in her life, and until shortly before Katte's execution, there was a real prospect her brother would be killed. If I'm right and Madame de Joucoulles, the governess for the three youngest princesses (Amalie, Ulrike, Sophie) was Stratemann's source for the stories about the royal family, she may have tried to earn her bribery money with some truths (Wilhelmine isn't doing so well), while keeping mum about the larger point (the public hasn't seen her for months because she's basically a prisoner, too). Or Stratemann is quite aware of that (after all, the British envoy in his simultanous reports is), but in his dispatches home to Braunschweig keeps with the official version because he doesn't want to risk the newly secured Charlotte engagement by pissing FW off if his mail is read. (Not to mention that he may or may not have already had his eyes on the main marital prize, Fritz, since obviously the English marriage would not happen, and FW would look for a bride elsewhere since Fritz was still his successor.)
...but that bit about Katte is what truly intrigues me, because I can't think of why either Stratemann or his source (whether or not the source is Joucoulles) should make that up. On the contrary, a story of Wilhelmine asking repeatedly how Katte is doing could be risky to her reputation (given that FW in the big homecoming scene accused her of having an affair with him), which Stratemann at no point gives the impression of wanting to do.
I'm mentally translating that description to "FW was extra considerate to SD in the vain hope of getting laid again, but no dice".
OH GOD, you're right!
I'm laughing so hard right now.
Now: I'm perfectly willing to believe Wilhemine had headaches along with being locked up. She suffered from migraines often in her life, and until shortly before Katte's execution, there was a real prospect her brother would be killed.
Oh yeah, and in her memoirs, she recorded that she didn't know whether *she* would have to face a public interrogation. And Sonsine is getting threatened too. I'm sure she had all KINDS of psychosomatic symptoms. :/
...but that bit about Katte is what truly intrigues me, because I can't think of why either Stratemann or his source (whether or not the source is Joucoulles) should make that up. On the contrary, a story of Wilhelmine asking repeatedly how Katte is doing could be risky to her reputation (given that FW in the big homecoming scene accused her of having an affair with him)
Hmm, yes, that is interesting. And you're right, that is an unlikely thing to make up. Perhaps she thought that Katte's fate functioned as a barometer of FW's mood, as it pertained to both her and Fritz. Especially since she *was* linked to Katte in this affair: with the letters and incriminating evidence.
I'm mentally translating that description to "FW was extra considerate to SD in the vain hope of getting laid again, but no dice".
HAHAHAHA yeah I totally buy that!
...you know, Oster does kind of bring home to me what you've told me before, that FW really did love SD and the whole idea of being a family man in his own dysfunctional way. Sigh.
Fictional Fredersdorf was totally there! Also, I think what Fritz wrote to Wilhelmine just makes our respective opening scenes more plausible: if he did come, many precautions were taken.
He probably didn't want to report on fistulas!
Like selenak said in regards to "Ambassadors have it rough", there's really no way to spin that! (Though I would love to see someone try. :P)
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Re: The Braunschweig Perspective: Family Holidays
YES I KNEW IT oh Hans Heinrich :( <3
oh man I wish we'd had that report on Christmas 1730 when we'd written our ficsHer Majesty the Queen, however, enjoys with her husband the King a most endearing complete harmony and bliss
...whoa.
Anyway, see what I mean about Wihelmine being kept as much a prisoner as Fritz? Actually more so
Yeah. Poor Wilhelmine :(
Re: The Braunschweig Perspective: Family Holidays
Incidentally, I forgot to mention, in the December 2nd 1730 entry when Stratemann is still going along with the "Wilhelmine is just really sick, not locked up in her room" pretense, he has this rumor to tell: The said princess is still bound to her sickbed, and for a few days now has been inconvenienced with undescribably strong headaches, and feels pain her her arms and legs, which everyone ascribes to a great alteration, though the fact the execution of the late Lt. v. Katte has been hidden from her, despite her often asking about him. ("ob sie sich gleich öfters nach dessen Zustand erkundigt".
Now: I'm perfectly willing to believe Wilhemine had headaches along with being locked up. She suffered from migraines often in her life, and until shortly before Katte's execution, there was a real prospect her brother would be killed. If I'm right and Madame de Joucoulles, the governess for the three youngest princesses (Amalie, Ulrike, Sophie) was Stratemann's source for the stories about the royal family, she may have tried to earn her bribery money with some truths (Wilhelmine isn't doing so well), while keeping mum about the larger point (the public hasn't seen her for months because she's basically a prisoner, too). Or Stratemann is quite aware of that (after all, the British envoy in his simultanous reports is), but in his dispatches home to Braunschweig keeps with the official version because he doesn't want to risk the newly secured Charlotte engagement by pissing FW off if his mail is read. (Not to mention that he may or may not have already had his eyes on the main marital prize, Fritz, since obviously the English marriage would not happen, and FW would look for a bride elsewhere since Fritz was still his successor.)
...but that bit about Katte is what truly intrigues me, because I can't think of why either Stratemann or his source (whether or not the source is Joucoulles) should make that up. On the contrary, a story of Wilhelmine asking repeatedly how Katte is doing could be risky to her reputation (given that FW in the big homecoming scene accused her of having an affair with him), which Stratemann at no point gives the impression of wanting to do.
Re: The Braunschweig Perspective: Family Holidays
OH GOD, you're right!
I'm laughing so hard right now.
Now: I'm perfectly willing to believe Wilhemine had headaches along with being locked up. She suffered from migraines often in her life, and until shortly before Katte's execution, there was a real prospect her brother would be killed.
Oh yeah, and in her memoirs, she recorded that she didn't know whether *she* would have to face a public interrogation. And Sonsine is getting threatened too. I'm sure she had all KINDS of psychosomatic symptoms. :/
...but that bit about Katte is what truly intrigues me, because I can't think of why either Stratemann or his source (whether or not the source is Joucoulles) should make that up. On the contrary, a story of Wilhelmine asking repeatedly how Katte is doing could be risky to her reputation (given that FW in the big homecoming scene accused her of having an affair with him)
Hmm, yes, that is interesting. And you're right, that is an unlikely thing to make up. Perhaps she thought that Katte's fate functioned as a barometer of FW's mood, as it pertained to both her and Fritz. Especially since she *was* linked to Katte in this affair: with the letters and incriminating evidence.
Re: The Braunschweig Perspective: Family Holidays
HAHAHAHA yeah I totally buy that!
...you know, Oster does kind of bring home to me what you've told me before, that FW really did love SD and the whole idea of being a family man in his own dysfunctional way. Sigh.
Re: The Braunschweig Perspective: Family Holidays
IKR? Though on the other hand, my favorite part about this fandom is that the more time we spend in it, the more we discover. <3
But wait! The Stratemann volume says the reports cover the period up to 1733--surely he has something to say about the infamous Christmas of 1732!
WHAT. It skips from May 6, 1732 to April 29, 1733. Stratemann, like Lehndorff in Wust, you have failed in your gossipy duties to posterity. Tsk.
Re: The Braunschweig Perspective: Family Holidays
He probably didn't want to report on fistulas!
Re: The Braunschweig Perspective: Family Holidays
He probably didn't want to report on fistulas!
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