Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 21

[cahn]

Much slower because of world-events/Life-in-general/Yuletide/holidays, but still going!

End of Yuletide signups:
4 requests for Frederician RPF :D :D 2 offers
2 requests for Circle of Voltaire RPF, 2 offers (I hope we did not scare you off, third offer!)

Comments

Re: Fritz-Duhan Follow-Up

[selenak]

Ingratitude is a vice to which I feel an aversion of temperament

Austrians: *start coughing madly*

Peter Keith: feels a constricted throat coming up.
Doris Ritter: bursts into tears

Ooh, interesting. Because Wilhelmine, in her memoirs, says that once Duhan left, Fritz started leading a dissipated life, which wouldn't have happened if Duhan was there. I was wondering to what extent she was struggling to come to terms with the fact that Fritz was growing up and away from herand had boyfriends now, but considering this is also the time of the Dresden trip, and Fritz was a teenage boy living in a very repressive environment, the lure of the forbidden may have been strong.

It would also mean those "he debauched himself in his youth, picked up STDS and now is impotent" rumors Boswell gets told about in 1764 have at least the "wild youth" part with a bit of a foundation in truth. Mind you, a) we're talking about two years, right? (1728 - 1730), and b) which prince (FW always excepted, and also future Louis XVI, husband of Marie Antoinette) of the 18th century isn't reported to have had a lot of sex in his late teens/early 20s?

Fritz continues to have zero chill when he feels neglected. Also, this reminds me oddly of the letter in 1746 to Heinrich about living in the same house/palace as him and managing to avoid him with astonishing success.

Clearly early proof of Heinrich's strategic abilities. :) True enough about the odd parallel. Though it just brings home to me how odd the Heinrich complaint is: I mean, Duhan is the beloved teacher/mentor/Good Dad Figure, of course Fritz would want to see him as often as possible. But Heinrich is the bratty younger brother notable only at this point for having fallen for the same hot page Fritz may or may not have had his eye on himself.

Awwwwwwwwwww on Fritz & brothers visiting Duhan on his death bed and getting there in time. Btw, if he took his brothers along, does that mean Duhan taught AW, too? (He can't have taught Heinrich or Ferdinand, given the date of his getting fired.)

Re: Fritz-Duhan Follow-Up

[mildred_of_midgard]

It would also mean those "he debauched himself in his youth, picked up STDS and now is impotent" rumors Boswell gets told about in 1764 have at least the "wild youth" part with a bit of a foundation in truth.

That did occur to me!

Btw, if he took his brothers along, does that mean Duhan taught AW, too? (He can't have taught Heinrich or Ferdinand, given the date of his getting fired.)

Hmm. Seems unlikely, since AW was not yet 5 years old when Fritz's letter was written. I would guess that during the first two Silesian Wars, when the younger brothers were hanging out with Bielfeld, they also spent time with Duhan (either of their own initiative or Fritz's), and he earned their respect and affection.

Re: Fritz-Duhan Follow-Up

[cahn]

Awwww, Doris :((((

Clearly early proof of Heinrich's strategic abilities. :)

Hee! But yes, an odd parallel and complaint :)

(still loling forever at future!Louis XVI not knowing how to have sex)