Now, like I said, the big showcase climax is years later, when Sophie and young daughter Sophie Charlotte visit France. This is both a family trip - to visit Liselotte, now Madame, the Duchess of Orleans, and to visit Sophie's older sister who is the Abbess of Maubuisson - and a matchmaking pitch, as Sophie hopes to marry Sophie Charlotte to the Dauphin, son of Louis XIV. (Doomed to die of measles.) There's also a wedding to be celebrated, since Philippe's oldest daughter, from his first marriage to Henriette "Minette" of England, Marie Louise, is about to marry the genetic wonder of Spain, the last Spanish Habsburg. So: Madame = Liselotte; Monsieur = Philippe; Mademoiselle = Marie Louise, about to become Queen of Spain. "Little Mademoiselle" = Elisabeth Charlotte the younger, daughter of Liselotte and Philippe, later to marry the Duke of Lorraine and become mother to Franz Stephan.
Sophie and entourage have just arrived at Maubuisson, where they expect to meet Sophie's sister the Abbess, not yet the French royals, when:
We were all still wearing our travelling dresses in order to get into the nunnery unnoticed and were very surprised to learn that Monsieur, Madame and Mademoiselle along with their entire court were already there. (...) When we drove into the courtyard, the Duchess of Orleans came running, Mademoiselle behind her, in order to receive me. I could hardly get out of the carriage to do justice to all. The good princess kissed me, crying with joy to see me again, and kept holding me in her arms. She only let me go for a moment so I could greet Mademoiselle while she herself greeted Frau von Harling, who had been her governess, very tenderly. Then she took my arm again and introduced me to the Duke of Orleans whom I saw standing with my sister the abbess at the nunnery's gate. This prince received me very considerately and interacted with me as if he'd known me all his life.
Monsieur and Mademoiselle return to Paris for the night while Liselotte remains to dine with Sophie, her sister and little Sophie Charlotte. The next day, they all drive to Paris, which is when Sophie has an experience familiar to anyone who has to take Taxis often:
I was surprised Madame's horses were driving so slowly. She kept saying "drive faster!" It was of no use, because Monsieur's master of the horses, who was paid by the hour to deliver her, took very great care with her for that reason.
When Sophie arrives at the Orleans' Paris residence, she gets introduced to Philippe's main boyfriend and favourite, the Chevalier de Lorraine. Sophie has nice things to say about the Chevalier as well: "I very much enjoyed watching the beautiful paintings from the Chevalier de Lorraine's gallery, which are exquisite." (Note she doesn't say anything about the Chevalier being exquisite as well.)
Next, Philippe shows Sophie all the wedding dresses he's had made for his daughter and the jewelry he intends to give her, which he has personally selected and designed. And since he has great talent for these things, he took the trouble to improve all my jewelry as well, and wanted me to change it according to fashion , which he ordered and organized in great detail. Philippe tells Sophie his brother, King Louis, would be cool with meeting her incognito and that she can attend the wedding incognito as well. (Incognito because it's less trouble that way with etiquette. So, off to Fontainebleau!
After my arrival, I first went to Madame where I met Monsieur and a great many people. Monsieur had me enter his little cabinet in order to show me the tight frock he'd had tailored and stitched with diamonds for himself on the occasion of Mademoiselle's wedding. Then he led me to my room and asked for forgiveness that it wasn't better, and said Madame de Montespan had the best rooms, but these were appropriate to my Incognito. They were indeed pretty bad, for I had only two rooms for my daughter, myself, our two ladies-in-waiting and all our maids.
Sophie gets to witness the official signing of the wedding contract between Mademoiselle and the genetic wonder (himself not present, of course, the Spanish envoy signs for him). On the French side, every member of the Royal family present and every bastard of Louis present sign the contract as well. Sophie finds this tiring after a while:
I wanted to return to my room, since I had seen everything, but Monsieur said that I had to await the ending, which caused a very good looking man unknown to me to observe: "Monsieur believes everybody loves ceremony as much as he does."
The official ending consisted of all the princesses making their curtsey to Louis and leaving, then the Queen doing that as well, and then Sophie gets introduced by Philippe and hears some gracious words about how Liselotte always sings her praises from Louis. "Madame d'Osnabrück" is in fact one of Sophie's titles; while her brother-in-law was still alive, her husband was (Protestant) Prince Bishop of Osnabrück.
From there, I was led to the French comedy. I was so much incognito there that it got shouted all over the place "Make room for Madame d'Osnabrück!" when in fact the chair reserved for me should have made it clear that I wanted to be (incognito); it was far from the King and the entire royal family who sat down below opposite the stage. I was so busy observing people that I ignored the actors. I saw Madame de Fontanges (Louis' latest mistress) who was then in the King's favor. She sat wide away from him, near the door in order to be able to escape if she should fall sick due to her pregnancy. For the crowd was large, and the heat was terrible, and I thought that the pleasures of the French court were tied to a great deal of inconvenience. People drank lemonade to refresh themselves. When I asked to have one, it was loudly shouted again: "Something to drink for Madame d'Osnabrück!", which I thought was disgraceful in the King's presence.
At last, that play is over, too. Sophie withdraws to her tiny two rooms. After dinner, I wanted to see Madame again before going to bed, despite it being rather late by now. I found her in her dressing gown, and Monsieur, too, wore his nightcap already, which was held in place by a red ribbon; he was busy organizing jewelry for Madame, himself and his two daughters. He was terribly embarassed to present himself to me in this state and always turned the head to the other side, but I calmed him down and helped to get his jewelry into order, and bound a ribbon on his hat, which he seemed to be very content with. After I had accomplished a work of such major importance, I could rest and thus withdrew in order to get into my bed.
The best dig comes when Sophie is presented to the Queen. Now, remember what mildred_of_midgard had said about arm chairs versus chairs versus taborets?
The Queen sat down in an arm chair, Monsieur took a taboret and indicated to me I should do likewise. But I was careful not to obey him. I told the Queen that Madame had asked me to see her, made a deep curtsey and left. Monsieur took my hand and asked me why I had not sat down; of course I could claim a different seating opportunity at Madame's than at the Queen's. I replied to him that I hadn't dared to accept a taboret from the Queen of France since the Empress (of the Holy Roman Empire) had offered me an arm chair.
So much for royal etiquette. Sophie now leaves with Orleans' to visit their summer residence, Saint-Cloud.
At the very front of the palace, the carriage overturned. Monsieur and Madame, the Queen of Spain, Mademoiselle and the entire court hurried outside in order to help us. Monsieur took me by the hand, led me to my room and cried out loud "pisspotts!", for he was convinced they were needed due to the shock. He showed me around in his palace and always led me by the hand, even ahead of the new Queen of Spain, since there was no consequence to etiquette. I admired his beautiful gallery, his splendid salon and the practical order of everything, for he is rather good at designing a house. I was given a room from which I could step outside into the garden, which is the most beautiful garden in the world, both by its design and its water arts. I did not grow tired from walking through it with Monsieur and Madame, who both were so kind of me that I shall be grateful for the rest of my life.
Monsieur always ate with the Queen of Spain, and Madame honored me by eating with me in the antechambre. (...) Monsieur had me kiss the Chevalier de Lorraine, who is the only man I kissed in France other than the King and Monsieur, despite the etiquette of country which would have demanded of me to kiss all the Dukes and Peers, as poor Madame has to. But they had the decency not to insist on it.
Then, Sophie visits Versailles itself (all the previous events have taken place in Parisian palaces and Saint-Cloud), and wins Philippe's heart forever with the following reaction: Monsieur escorted me to show me the beauty of Versailles, where money has accomplished more miracles than nature. Personally, if I had to choose, I would prefer Saint-Cloud. After being shown everything, I found a picknick prepared to keep up my strength, which was as much worth to me as the waterworks which they had tried very hard to get going earlier.
Alas, the day comes when the new Queen of Spain actually has to leave for Spain:
When we left the opera, the Queen of Spain said goodbye to us all since she was supposed to leave Paris forever the following day, which caused such great despair in her that she could not restrain her sobs and tears. One couldn't help but crying with her. And I was even more touched than the rest. For this amiable princess had won my heart through the charm of her personality and through a thousand attentions she showed towards me and my daughter (Sophie Charlotte, future wife of F1); for the later had captivated her so much that she wished to be a prince so that the two of them could have married instead.
I dare say Sophie Charlotte/Marie Louise would have been more fun than Marie Louise's actual marriage. Anyway, after the visit of Versailes is over, the memoirs end on a series of downers (Sophie's siblings die, and her husband takes off to Venice anyway, and she wonders whether she'll follow her siblings into the grave. Which she won't. Instead, she'll become the matriarch of two royal houses, with even 19th century historians calling her "the greatest of the three Hannover Sophies. Supposedly, one reason why Anne forbade any of the Hannover relations, but especially Sophie, to put one foot on British shore as long as she was still alive was because she was aware that there would be a rival court (as there always is around a successor) , because for all that Sophie was 35 years older than Anne, she had such a vivid personality, and showed no bit of senility, remaining sharp and witty till the end, that Anne would have been overshadowed. And I think these excerpts demonstrate something of that.
I dare say Sophie Charlotte/Marie Louise would have been more fun than Marie Louise's actual marriage.
I'd ship it! ...[reads wiki] ...yeah, I would definitely be into Sophie Charlotte/Marie Louise fix-it fic :P
because for all that Sophie was 35 years older than Anne, she had such a vivid personality, and showed no bit of senility, remaining sharp and witty till the end, that Anne would have been overshadowed. And I think these excerpts demonstrate something of that.
Mind you, Anne insisting on no Hannover cousin was to put a foot on British soil while she was stll alive ensured Sophie died in the Herrenhausener Gärten she herself had created, on a stroll, in a heart attack, i.e. in a place she loved and was familiar with, instead of dying in some British palace engaged in a snark battle with the natives, so there's that. Incidentally, check out Hannover in the spring time, a pic spam I created many years ago when I didn't know much about the Hannover Georges at all, but visited the palace gardens when I was there because they are so beautiful.
Georges 1 + 2: And that's why we kept coming back here despite all the English complaints! G3 hadn't created the beautiful gardens of Kew yet. All we had there for a summer residence was creaky old Hampton Court,and then most courtiers left to chase foxes in the countryside anyway, which we will never understand. Herrenhausen Palace and Gardens forever!
the Dauphin, son of Louis XIV. (Doomed to die of measles.)
Tiny correction: smallpox, at least per the rheinsberg write-up.
which is when Sophie has an experience familiar to anyone who has to take Taxis often:
I was surprised Madame's horses were driving so slowly. She kept saying "drive faster!" It was of no use, because Monsieur's master of the horses, who was paid by the hour to deliver her, took very great care with her for that reason.
Lol! Have never had this experience, but I can imagine.
I dare say Sophie Charlotte/Marie Louise would have been more fun than Marie Louise's actual marriage.
I daresay!
for all that Sophie was 35 years older than Anne, she had such a vivid personality, and showed no bit of senility, remaining sharp and witty till the end, that Anne would have been overshadowed. And I think these excerpts demonstrate something of that.
They do indeed.
Btw, I was looking up Marie Louise on Wikipedia, since all I know of her is basically "first wife of genetic wonder Charles II," and I have to say, that is one interesting dress.
Dauphin: Smallpox, right. BTW, Sophie was less than impressed. Now she could have been sour-grapping, since he didn't marry her daughter, but Horowski also reports the Dauphin had a very limited vocabulary. The occasion of the meeting: Sophie's sitting with Liselotte and expecting Louis XIV himself, who after their original introduction during the wedding festivities now wants to talk to her some more.
Afer a while, the Dauphin entered. I rose and approached him, but he didn't say a word. I could try what I wanted in order to start a conversation, he just replied with yes or no, despite my rallying again and again. I was therefore incredibly relieved when I was notified that the King was arriving. Madame approached His Majesty, as did I. He said with a loud voice: "Madame, today I am visiting Madame d'Osnabrück, not yourself." He first asked whether the Queen wasn't here, thus signalling to me that it had been his intention for her to be present as well. But her Spanish pride hadn't allowed it. The King spared no care in either his words or his behavior to demonstrate that he is one of the most polite princes this world has to offer. Monsieur wanted to whisper something in his ear, but His Majesty said out loud to him: "It isn't polite to talk softly in Madame's presence." Monsieur wanted me to notice this and thus see the King's wish to behave amiably towards me. Indeed his Majesty did not leave out anything that could have helped showing himself thus, and to please me he said all kind of agreeable things. He even reminded me of the battle the Dukes had won against him, and said that he had taken note of having them as enemies. I replied that since they hadn't been so fortunate as to possess his favor, they had instead tried to earn his respect. The King returned that there had been times in which he would not have dared to ask for their friendship. I replied that I was glad these times were over now, and that he'd sworn to keep peace. He said that there was always the clause that the peace should last as long as it benefited the welfare of his state. I said that I hoped this would be the case for a long time. He returned, tossing his head: "Oh, I believe the German princes won't fight me again any time soon." Following this, he spoke of his troops, of the many he had already dismissed and of the great power he possessed. Monsieur aided him in this and exaggarated even more. (Louis) also wanted to compliment my daughter whom he found to be pretty, and whose wit he had heard praised. He asked me whether he should call her Madame or Mademoiselle, since he believed the term "Madame" to have grown in popularity in Germany right now. After a few more words, he left again.
Footnotes: The two Dukes = the Hannover brothers, Georg Wilhelm and Ernst August. They defeated Louis' army in the "Schlacht an der Conzer Brücke", August 11th 1675. (Military situation: Trier was occupied by the French, an HRE army was laying siege to the French occupation, a second French army was supposed to get rid of the siege, it got defeated, the French then had to surrender Trier back to the HRE in September.)
The term "Madame" being popular in Germany right now: a compliment to his sister-in-law, Liselotte, since "Madame" was her official title.
(Actually, Liselotte was mortified by the way Louis had used her to claim the Palatinate after her father's death, and make war against her countrymen, and there are some vivid letters of hers angsting about how people back home must curse her now.)
It's hard to keep straight, because a year later, the *next* Dauphin dies of measles, and a month after that, the *next* Dauphin also dies of measles! (Then the next Dauphin is locked in his room by his governess to protect him from all doctors.)
but Horowski also reports the Dauphin had a very limited vocabulary.
Yeah, and he's not the only one. All (modern) descriptions I've seen of him agree on him being basically friendly, but apathetic and unintellectual. Someone, maybe Horowski, maybe Wikipedia, said he could spend a whole day sitting in a chair just tapping his cane against his foot. Apparently, it was remarkable this one time when he got really animated about something, which was: "My son should *definitely* be King of Spain! Absolutely, one hundred percent."
Liselotte was mortified by the way Louis had used her to claim the Palatinate after her father's death
Totally in character from the Louis who signed a marriage contract saying he would not use his wife to claim Spain, and before the ink was dry, was like, "I found a loophole! I'm claiming Spain!"
(I do hope to do a Spanish Succession write-up at some point, but atm I can only go up to 1706 in any kind of detail, and Malplaquet is 1709, so I need to find time to study a bit more.)
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timeasmymeasure
Sophie of Hannover: Memoirs - II (Visiting France)
Date: 2021-03-27 10:34 am (UTC)Sophie and entourage have just arrived at Maubuisson, where they expect to meet Sophie's sister the Abbess, not yet the French royals, when:
We were all still wearing our travelling dresses in order to get into the nunnery unnoticed and were very surprised to learn that Monsieur, Madame and Mademoiselle along with their entire court were already there. (...) When we drove into the courtyard, the Duchess of Orleans came running, Mademoiselle behind her, in order to receive me. I could hardly get out of the carriage to do justice to all. The good princess kissed me, crying with joy to see me again, and kept holding me in her arms. She only let me go for a moment so I could greet Mademoiselle while she herself greeted Frau von Harling, who had been her governess, very tenderly. Then she took my arm again and introduced me to the Duke of Orleans whom I saw standing with my sister the abbess at the nunnery's gate. This prince received me very considerately and interacted with me as if he'd known me all his life.
Monsieur and Mademoiselle return to Paris for the night while Liselotte remains to dine with Sophie, her sister and little Sophie Charlotte. The next day, they all drive to Paris, which is when Sophie has an experience familiar to anyone who has to take Taxis often:
I was surprised Madame's horses were driving so slowly. She kept saying "drive faster!" It was of no use, because Monsieur's master of the horses, who was paid by the hour to deliver her, took very great care with her for that reason.
When Sophie arrives at the Orleans' Paris residence, she gets introduced to Philippe's main boyfriend and favourite, the Chevalier de Lorraine. Sophie has nice things to say about the Chevalier as well: "I very much enjoyed watching the beautiful paintings from the Chevalier de Lorraine's gallery, which are exquisite." (Note she doesn't say anything about the Chevalier being exquisite as well.)
Next, Philippe shows Sophie all the wedding dresses he's had made for his daughter and the jewelry he intends to give her, which he has personally selected and designed. And since he has great talent for these things, he took the trouble to improve all my jewelry as well, and wanted me to change it according to fashion , which he ordered and organized in great detail.
Philippe tells Sophie his brother, King Louis, would be cool with meeting her incognito and that she can attend the wedding incognito as well. (Incognito because it's less trouble that way with etiquette. So, off to Fontainebleau!
After my arrival, I first went to Madame where I met Monsieur and a great many people. Monsieur had me enter his little cabinet in order to show me the tight frock he'd had tailored and stitched with diamonds for himself on the occasion of Mademoiselle's wedding. Then he led me to my room and asked for forgiveness that it wasn't better, and said Madame de Montespan had the best rooms, but these were appropriate to my Incognito. They were indeed pretty bad, for I had only two rooms for my daughter, myself, our two ladies-in-waiting and all our maids.
Sophie gets to witness the official signing of the wedding contract between Mademoiselle and the genetic wonder (himself not present, of course, the Spanish envoy signs for him). On the French side, every member of the Royal family present and every bastard of Louis present sign the contract as well. Sophie finds this tiring after a while:
I wanted to return to my room, since I had seen everything, but Monsieur said that I had to await the ending, which caused a very good looking man unknown to me to observe: "Monsieur believes everybody loves ceremony as much as he does."
The official ending consisted of all the princesses making their curtsey to Louis and leaving, then the Queen doing that as well, and then Sophie gets introduced by Philippe and hears some gracious words about how Liselotte always sings her praises from Louis. "Madame d'Osnabrück" is in fact one of Sophie's titles; while her brother-in-law was still alive, her husband was (Protestant) Prince Bishop of Osnabrück.
From there, I was led to the French comedy. I was so much incognito there that it got shouted all over the place "Make room for Madame d'Osnabrück!" when in fact the chair reserved for me should have made it clear that I wanted to be (incognito); it was far from the King and the entire royal family who sat down below opposite the stage. I was so busy observing people that I ignored the actors. I saw Madame de Fontanges (Louis' latest mistress) who was then in the King's favor. She sat wide away from him, near the door in order to be able to escape if she should fall sick due to her pregnancy. For the crowd was large, and the heat was terrible, and I thought that the pleasures of the French court were tied to a great deal of inconvenience. People drank lemonade to refresh themselves. When I asked to have one, it was loudly shouted again: "Something to drink for Madame d'Osnabrück!", which I thought was disgraceful in the King's presence.
At last, that play is over, too. Sophie withdraws to her tiny two rooms. After dinner, I wanted to see Madame again before going to bed, despite it being rather late by now. I found her in her dressing gown, and Monsieur, too, wore his nightcap already, which was held in place by a red ribbon; he was busy organizing jewelry for Madame, himself and his two daughters. He was terribly embarassed to present himself to me in this state and always turned the head to the other side, but I calmed him down and helped to get his jewelry into order, and bound a ribbon on his hat, which he seemed to be very content with. After I had accomplished a work of such major importance, I could rest and thus withdrew in order to get into my bed.
The best dig comes when Sophie is presented to the Queen. Now, remember what
The Queen sat down in an arm chair, Monsieur took a taboret and indicated to me I should do likewise. But I was careful not to obey him. I told the Queen that Madame had asked me to see her, made a deep curtsey and left. Monsieur took my hand and asked me why I had not sat down; of course I could claim a different seating opportunity at Madame's than at the Queen's. I replied to him that I hadn't dared to accept a taboret from the Queen of France since the Empress (of the Holy Roman Empire) had offered me an arm chair.
So much for royal etiquette. Sophie now leaves with Orleans' to visit their summer residence, Saint-Cloud.
At the very front of the palace, the carriage overturned. Monsieur and Madame, the Queen of Spain, Mademoiselle and the entire court hurried outside in order to help us. Monsieur took me by the hand, led me to my room and cried out loud "pisspotts!", for he was convinced they were needed due to the shock. He showed me around in his palace and always led me by the hand, even ahead of the new Queen of Spain, since there was no consequence to etiquette. I admired his beautiful gallery, his splendid salon and the practical order of everything, for he is rather good at designing a house. I was given a room from which I could step outside into the garden, which is the most beautiful garden in the world, both by its design and its water arts. I did not grow tired from walking through it with Monsieur and Madame, who both were so kind of me that I shall be grateful for the rest of my life.
Monsieur always ate with the Queen of Spain, and Madame honored me by eating with me in the antechambre. (...) Monsieur had me kiss the Chevalier de Lorraine, who is the only man I kissed in France other than the King and Monsieur, despite the etiquette of country which would have demanded of me to kiss all the Dukes and Peers, as poor Madame has to. But they had the decency not to insist on it.
Then, Sophie visits Versailles itself (all the previous events have taken place in Parisian palaces and Saint-Cloud), and wins Philippe's heart forever with the following reaction:
Monsieur escorted me to show me the beauty of Versailles, where money has accomplished more miracles than nature. Personally, if I had to choose, I would prefer Saint-Cloud. After being shown everything, I found a picknick prepared to keep up my strength, which was as much worth to me as the waterworks which they had tried very hard to get going earlier.
Alas, the day comes when the new Queen of Spain actually has to leave for Spain:
When we left the opera, the Queen of Spain said goodbye to us all since she was supposed to leave Paris forever the following day, which caused such great despair in her that she could not restrain her sobs and tears. One couldn't help but crying with her. And I was even more touched than the rest. For this amiable princess had won my heart through the charm of her personality and through a thousand attentions she showed towards me and my daughter (Sophie Charlotte, future wife of F1); for the later had captivated her so much that she wished to be a prince so that the two of them could have married instead.
I dare say Sophie Charlotte/Marie Louise would have been more fun than Marie Louise's actual marriage. Anyway, after the visit of Versailes is over, the memoirs end on a series of downers (Sophie's siblings die, and her husband takes off to Venice anyway, and she wonders whether she'll follow her siblings into the grave. Which she won't. Instead, she'll become the matriarch of two royal houses, with even 19th century historians calling her "the greatest of the three Hannover Sophies. Supposedly, one reason why Anne forbade any of the Hannover relations, but especially Sophie, to put one foot on British shore as long as she was still alive was because she was aware that there would be a rival court (as there always is around a successor) , because for all that Sophie was 35 years older than Anne, she had such a vivid personality, and showed no bit of senility, remaining sharp and witty till the end, that Anne would have been overshadowed. And I think these excerpts demonstrate something of that.
Re: Sophie of Hannover: Memoirs - II (Visiting France)
Date: 2021-03-28 01:07 am (UTC)I'd ship it! ...[reads wiki] ...yeah, I would definitely be into Sophie Charlotte/Marie Louise fix-it fic :P
because for all that Sophie was 35 years older than Anne, she had such a vivid personality, and showed no bit of senility, remaining sharp and witty till the end, that Anne would have been overshadowed. And I think these excerpts demonstrate something of that.
Yep, I can totally see that!
Re: Sophie of Hannover: Memoirs - II (Visiting France)
Date: 2021-03-28 06:21 am (UTC)Georges 1 + 2: And that's why we kept coming back here despite all the English complaints! G3 hadn't created the beautiful gardens of Kew yet. All we had there for a summer residence was creaky old Hampton Court,and then most courtiers left to chase foxes in the countryside anyway, which we will never understand. Herrenhausen Palace and Gardens forever!
Re: Sophie of Hannover: Memoirs - II (Visiting France)
Date: 2021-03-28 11:07 pm (UTC)Tiny correction: smallpox, at least per the
which is when Sophie has an experience familiar to anyone who has to take Taxis often:
I was surprised Madame's horses were driving so slowly. She kept saying "drive faster!" It was of no use, because Monsieur's master of the horses, who was paid by the hour to deliver her, took very great care with her for that reason.
Lol! Have never had this experience, but I can imagine.
I dare say Sophie Charlotte/Marie Louise would have been more fun than Marie Louise's actual marriage.
I daresay!
for all that Sophie was 35 years older than Anne, she had such a vivid personality, and showed no bit of senility, remaining sharp and witty till the end, that Anne would have been overshadowed. And I think these excerpts demonstrate something of that.
They do indeed.
Btw, I was looking up Marie Louise on Wikipedia, since all I know of her is basically "first wife of genetic wonder Charles II," and I have to say, that is one interesting dress.
Re: Sophie of Hannover: Memoirs - II (Visiting France)
Date: 2021-03-29 06:27 am (UTC)Afer a while, the Dauphin entered. I rose and approached him, but he didn't say a word. I could try what I wanted in order to start a conversation, he just replied with yes or no, despite my rallying again and again. I was therefore incredibly relieved when I was notified that the King was arriving. Madame approached His Majesty, as did I. He said with a loud voice: "Madame, today I am visiting Madame d'Osnabrück, not yourself." He first asked whether the Queen wasn't here, thus signalling to me that it had been his intention for her to be present as well. But her Spanish pride hadn't allowed it. The King spared no care in either his words or his behavior to demonstrate that he is one of the most polite princes this world has to offer. Monsieur wanted to whisper something in his ear, but His Majesty said out loud to him: "It isn't polite to talk softly in Madame's presence." Monsieur wanted me to notice this and thus see the King's wish to behave amiably towards me.
Indeed his Majesty did not leave out anything that could have helped showing himself thus, and to please me he said all kind of agreeable things. He even reminded me of the battle the Dukes had won against him, and said that he had taken note of having them as enemies. I replied that since they hadn't been so fortunate as to possess his favor, they had instead tried to earn his respect. The King returned that there had been times in which he would not have dared to ask for their friendship. I replied that I was glad these times were over now, and that he'd sworn to keep peace. He said that there was always the clause that the peace should last as long as it benefited the welfare of his state. I said that I hoped this would be the case for a long time. He returned, tossing his head: "Oh, I believe the German princes won't fight me again any time soon."
Following this, he spoke of his troops, of the many he had already dismissed and of the great power he possessed. Monsieur aided him in this and exaggarated even more. (Louis) also wanted to compliment my daughter whom he found to be pretty, and whose wit he had heard praised. He asked me whether he should call her Madame or Mademoiselle, since he believed the term "Madame" to have grown in popularity in Germany right now. After a few more words, he left again.
Footnotes: The two Dukes = the Hannover brothers, Georg Wilhelm and Ernst August. They defeated Louis' army in the "Schlacht an der Conzer Brücke", August 11th 1675. (Military situation: Trier was occupied by the French, an HRE army was laying siege to the French occupation, a second French army was supposed to get rid of the siege, it got defeated, the French then had to surrender Trier back to the HRE in September.)
The term "Madame" being popular in Germany right now: a compliment to his sister-in-law, Liselotte, since "Madame" was her official title.
(Actually, Liselotte was mortified by the way Louis had used her to claim the Palatinate after her father's death, and make war against her countrymen, and there are some vivid letters of hers angsting about how people back home must curse her now.)
Re: Sophie of Hannover: Memoirs - II (Visiting France)
Date: 2021-03-30 04:44 pm (UTC)It's hard to keep straight, because a year later, the *next* Dauphin dies of measles, and a month after that, the *next* Dauphin also dies of measles! (Then the next Dauphin is locked in his room by his governess to protect him from all doctors.)
but Horowski also reports the Dauphin had a very limited vocabulary.
Yeah, and he's not the only one. All (modern) descriptions I've seen of him agree on him being basically friendly, but apathetic and unintellectual. Someone, maybe Horowski, maybe Wikipedia, said he could spend a whole day sitting in a chair just tapping his cane against his foot. Apparently, it was remarkable this one time when he got really animated about something, which was: "My son should *definitely* be King of Spain! Absolutely, one hundred percent."
Liselotte was mortified by the way Louis had used her to claim the Palatinate after her father's death
Totally in character from the Louis who signed a marriage contract saying he would not use his wife to claim Spain, and before the ink was dry, was like, "I found a loophole! I'm claiming Spain!"
(I do hope to do a Spanish Succession write-up at some point, but atm I can only go up to 1706 in any kind of detail, and Malplaquet is 1709, so I need to find time to study a bit more.)