Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 19

[cahn]

Yuletide nominations:

18th Century CE Federician RPF
Maria Theresia | Maria Theresa of Austria
Voltaire
Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great
Ernst Ahasverus von Lehndorff
Friedrich Heinrich Ludwig von Preußen | Henry of Prussia (1726-1802)
Wilhelmine von Preußen | Wilhelmine of Prussia (1709-1758)
Anna Amalie von Preußen | Anna Amalia of Prussia (1723-1787)
Catherine II of Russia
Hans Hermann von Katte
Peter Karl Christoph von Keith
Michael Gabriel Fredersdorf
August Wilhelm von Preußen | Augustus William of Prussia (1722-1758)

Circle of Voltaire RPF
Emilie du Chatelet
Jeanne Antoinette Poisson (Madame de Pompadour)
John Hervey (1696-1743)
Marie Louise Mignot Denis
Lady Mary Wortley-Montagu
Pierre Louis Moreau de Maupertuis
Armand de Vignerot du Plessis de Richelieu (1696-1788)
Francesco Algarotti

Comments

Re: Chesterfield on FW / predestination

[selenak]

FW being against the predestination doctrine predates his conflict with Fritz, and indeed predates Fritz’ existence. To summ up a longer tale, Tiny Terror FW was an unruly kid terrorizing his teachers until Mom and Dad gave him a really strict Calvinist teacher (despite being lax believers themselves). Thereafter, FW was a strict Calvinist living in religious terror especially due to the predestination doctrine, and argued himself into thinking in this particular case, Luther was right, not Calvin. But it continued to trouble him throughout his life and kept coming up.

Ergo: Fritz could have found no surer way to strike at Dad under the guise of submission (since he was reading religious books and talking with the preacher, as demanded) than to declare himself a believer in predestination. Aside from that, it also was a way to justify himself. (I.e. assert his individuality - if God had meant him to be the way he was, etc.). But seriously, Predestination was a life long terror to FW, and anyone who knew him personally knew that.

Re: Chesterfield on FW / predestination

[felis]

OH. Well. So in a way, personal reasons indeed, just a lot more extensive than I expected. Very interesting indeed, thank you.