Conclusion: their defense mechanisms are pretty identical at this point.
Yeah, my thought as well. But they also share the occasional playfulness coming through here! Smoked Wilhelmine, heh.
Fritz had arranged a secret meeting on his way to the front, via Knobelsdorff, no less
Interesting! Now that I'm more aware of Knobelsdorff, he keeps showing up, be it in Menzel paintings or as Fritz' confidant. Case in point, I came across this letter from EC to her brother from 1745: "I am delighted that Knobelsdorff is going to visit the king. Since he knows him, he can speak more boldly to him; for I am in the utmost worry for the king and I fear that the grief he feels about Keyserlingk's death will damage his health: all letters to his friends concern only Keyserlingk and laments about his loss; some letters are wiped out by tears." (Which fits perfectly with the "1 October, Knobelsdorff visits Fritz on campaign" entry you included in the timeline.) ... aaand I see that Knobelsdorff is another case of basically no surviving letters from Fritz. Hm.
I wonder whether Fritz wanted his letters back? Not from Knobelsdorff, from his life partner, Lotte Schöne. We really have reason to be grateful that Mrs. Fredersdorff cheated when getting that request. This said, the letters from the Crown Prince years might have been destroyed upon receival anyway because FW and the value of discretion.
EC and Knobelsdorff, two thoughts:
1) She kept the profile portrait Knobelsdorff painted of Fritz in Schönhausen with her, where the description text there today says it was her favourite depiction of Fritz. (Since it's less idealized than the Pesne Crown Prince paintings, I'm assuming it's also more similar? Anyway, she probably knew Knobelsdorff from the Rheinsberg days. It's also both touching and sad that she guesses a friend like Knobelsdorff will be able to talk to Fritz and comfort him in a way she can't.
2) HANG ON HANG ON the timing! Just when does she write this letter? Because:
Battle near Soor: 30th September. Knobelsdorff with Fritz: October 1st.
And isn't that also when one of EC's brothers has died and Fritz writes his all time worst record breaking condolence letter?
And isn't that also when one of EC's brothers has died and Fritz writes his all time worst record breaking condolence letter?
I'm at work but YES! October 2, he writes a letter to EC that doesn't mention the brother. October 5, EC grumps that she hasn't heard a syllable from him. October 9, record breaking condolence letter!
Huh, never thought about that and totally forgot about the Fredersdorf ones. Good point.
I'm assuming it's also more similar?
Weeell, it's the one that famously has the straight-line forehead and nose, isn't it? We know that one isn't exactly true to nature. ;)
she probably knew Knobelsdorff from the Rheinsberg days
I'd definitely say so, yeah.
And oh, I had not noticed the timing re: condolence letter! Unfortunately, Preuss doesn't give the date of EC's letter, so I can't tell you when exactly she wrote it, but it must have been before October 1st, because she's talking about Knobelsdorff's trip as something that hasn't happened yet. Poor EC. :( It's just sad all around.
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timeasmymeasure
Re: More on Hohenzollern family life
Date: 2021-03-25 02:29 pm (UTC)Yeah, my thought as well. But they also share the occasional playfulness coming through here! Smoked Wilhelmine, heh.
Fritz had arranged a secret meeting on his way to the front, via Knobelsdorff, no less
Interesting! Now that I'm more aware of Knobelsdorff, he keeps showing up, be it in Menzel paintings or as Fritz' confidant. Case in point, I came across this letter from EC to her brother from 1745: "I am delighted that Knobelsdorff is going to visit the king. Since he knows him, he can speak more boldly to him; for I am in the utmost worry for the king and I fear that the grief he feels about Keyserlingk's death will damage his health: all letters to his friends concern only Keyserlingk and laments about his loss; some letters are wiped out by tears." (Which fits perfectly with the "1 October, Knobelsdorff visits Fritz on campaign" entry you included in the timeline.) ... aaand I see that Knobelsdorff is another case of basically no surviving letters from Fritz. Hm.
Re: More on Hohenzollern family life
Date: 2021-03-25 05:09 pm (UTC)EC and Knobelsdorff, two thoughts:
1) She kept the profile portrait Knobelsdorff painted of Fritz in Schönhausen with her, where the description text there today says it was her favourite depiction of Fritz. (Since it's less idealized than the Pesne Crown Prince paintings, I'm assuming it's also more similar? Anyway, she probably knew Knobelsdorff from the Rheinsberg days. It's also both touching and sad that she guesses a friend like Knobelsdorff will be able to talk to Fritz and comfort him in a way she can't.
2) HANG ON HANG ON the timing! Just when does she write this letter? Because:
Battle near Soor: 30th September.
Knobelsdorff with Fritz: October 1st.
And isn't that also when one of EC's brothers has died and Fritz writes his all time worst record breaking condolence letter?
Re: More on Hohenzollern family life
Date: 2021-03-25 05:45 pm (UTC)I'm at work but YES! October 2, he writes a letter to EC that doesn't mention the brother. October 5, EC grumps that she hasn't heard a syllable from him. October 9, record breaking condolence letter!
Re: More on Hohenzollern family life
Date: 2021-03-25 09:16 pm (UTC)Huh, never thought about that and totally forgot about the Fredersdorf ones. Good point.
I'm assuming it's also more similar?
Weeell, it's the one that famously has the straight-line forehead and nose, isn't it? We know that one isn't exactly true to nature. ;)
she probably knew Knobelsdorff from the Rheinsberg days
I'd definitely say so, yeah.
And oh, I had not noticed the timing re: condolence letter! Unfortunately, Preuss doesn't give the date of EC's letter, so I can't tell you when exactly she wrote it, but it must have been before October 1st, because she's talking about Knobelsdorff's trip as something that hasn't happened yet. Poor EC. :( It's just sad all around.