Mea culpa, but it's so like you to recall every detail of her Katte relevant statements. :)
Hahaha, well, there is something to be said for the deep dive into the sources I did (and shanghaied you into helping me with, a thousand handkisses to your august readerly self).
(So much for "FW was just acting like a normal German Hausvater".)
And I think it was Seckendorff who wrote that Fritz was so worn down trying to live up to FW's expectations that he was exhausted and moved like an old man, at the age of maybe 12. Note, Seckendorff thinks that normal 12-year-olds aren't treated like that.
how much did he, personally, blame Seckendorff and Team Vienna in general for his late 1720s/early 1730s miseries? You mentioned his anti-Seckendorff outburst in a letter to Suhm; does this offer a good indication of this?
Good question. I feel like I've run across relevant material, but the details are escaping my memory atm. As for the Seckendorff outburst, it's mostly about how S is objectively a terrible person (although a good general), but there is this:
After all, I pity him: it is true that a continued prosperity had rendered Seckendorf in supportable; it is true also, that all the chagrin he caused me merited retribution.
If you want the full quotes, this is the first passage from Fritz to Suhm:
You are undoubtedly informed of the fall of Seckendorf,* a just punishment for the wicked and bad actions he has committed. He has his turn at last; and after having long been the idol of fortune, he is become in decrepitude, the prey of his enemies. He is accused of horrid things, all very likely to be true, as they accord perfectly with his character! he is accused of letting the whole Imperial army want necessaries, to satisfy his sordid avarice. There is no exaction which is not imputed to him; his enemies lay to his charge the ill success of the last campaign, and the priesthood animates all the devotees against him on account of religion.
After all, I pity him: it is true that a continued prosperity had rendered Seckendorf insupportable; it is true also, that all the chagrin he caused me merited retribution; it is possible, that all the accusations brought against him may be well founded; but that, does not disprove that he has great and excellent military talents, and that he has it in his power more than any other person whatsoever, to render signal services to the Emperor. I suppose we shall soon know his fate.
Passage 2:
You speak of the recall of Seckendorf, and I add the news of his detention. He is actually arrested at Vienna. His enemies accuse him of an infinite number of malversations. The principal heads of the accusation are, the illicit means which he made use of to enrich himself during the last campaign. His friends give out here, that he will find the means of clearing himself from all these imputations, and that he will come as white as snow from his trial. For my part I doubt of it; for it is known that avarice was always his reigning vice. One thing is certain, and upon which you may rely, that his career is ended, and that the name of Seckendorf, will never more be heard spoken of.--- The Cardinal Nepote [Other Seckendorff, nephew of this Seckendorff, as discussed] has left Berlin, and is going to enter the service of Anspach.
What vicissitude! What rapid changes from the most brilliant fortune, to the most unexpected wretchedness! should an eloquent orator exclaim in this place-in fact he would not do amiss. Compare for a moment the situation of the Count Seckendorf in the year 1728, and the year 1729, with the one he is in at present. He was the arbiter of Germany; he regulated every thing, and in the most absolute and imperious manner in the world: he made treaties, reconciled or set powers at variance according to his good pleasure, and saw Princes and sovereigns debase themselves even so far as to make their court to him.
In the spring of the present year he governed at Vienna the whole Council of the Emperor; he conducted events as he thought proper, and disposed sovereignly of his whole army: six months are passed, and this man, whom a continued prosperity had elevated to the summit of the wheel of fortune, is at once precipitated from his sphere, without foreseeing the impetuosity of the stroke which bore him down; nothing remains to him but the hatred of the army which he commanded; and it may that the public waited but for the moment of his fall to declare themselves his enemy.
It is certain, that the intrigues of the Jesuits have contributed not a little, to his loss. I believe that Liechenstein contributed to it a good deal on his part; but it is certain that the P. de Dessau had his share in the business. This is one glaring example of the instability of fortune. Seckendorf has been its idol during his whole life, and now he is on the decline, in decrepitude, she turns her back to him. The King pities him much. For my part I feel for him, in case of his being innocent; but if he be culpable, I think him scarcely worthy of compassion.
And of course the passage from the memoirs with which you're familiar, as quoted by the editor of the Suhm correspondence in the footnotes:
The immortal author of the Memoirs of Brandenbourgh, speaks of him as follows: “The Count de Seckendorf, came to Berlin, immediately after the succession of George II. He served as General to the Emperor, and Saxony, at the same time; he was sordid; his manners were rude and very clownish; lying was so habitual to him, that he had lost the use of truth. He had the soul of an usurer, which passed at one time into the body of a military man, and at others, into that of a negociator. It was nevertheless this personage who was an instrument in the hands of Providence to break the treaty of Hanover, 1727. He took possession of the mind of the King, Frederick William, with so much address, that he prevailed on him to sign at Wusterhausen, a treaty with the Emperor."
See my discussion upthread of the Treaty of Hanover and the subsequent Treaty of Berlin (signed at Wusterhausen).
So yeah, I would say a whole lot of resentment, some grudging respect, and attempt to be fair.
Re: Arneth-Eugene-Seckendorff
Hahaha, well, there is something to be said for the deep dive into the sources I did (and shanghaied you into helping me with, a thousand handkisses to your august readerly self).
(So much for "FW was just acting like a normal German Hausvater".)
And I think it was Seckendorff who wrote that Fritz was so worn down trying to live up to FW's expectations that he was exhausted and moved like an old man, at the age of maybe 12. Note, Seckendorff thinks that normal 12-year-olds aren't treated like that.
how much did he, personally, blame Seckendorff and Team Vienna in general for his late 1720s/early 1730s miseries? You mentioned his anti-Seckendorff outburst in a letter to Suhm; does this offer a good indication of this?
Good question. I feel like I've run across relevant material, but the details are escaping my memory atm. As for the Seckendorff outburst, it's mostly about how S is objectively a terrible person (although a good general), but there is this:
After all, I pity him: it is true that a continued prosperity had rendered Seckendorf in supportable; it is true also, that all the chagrin he caused me merited retribution.
If you want the full quotes, this is the first passage from Fritz to Suhm:
You are undoubtedly informed of the fall of Seckendorf,* a just punishment for the wicked and bad actions he has committed. He has his turn at last; and after having long been the idol of fortune, he is become in decrepitude, the prey of his enemies. He is accused of horrid things, all very likely to be true, as they accord perfectly with his character! he is accused of letting the whole Imperial army want necessaries, to satisfy his sordid avarice. There is no exaction which is not imputed to him; his enemies lay to his charge the ill success of the last campaign, and the priesthood animates all the devotees against him on account of religion.
After all, I pity him: it is true that a continued prosperity had rendered Seckendorf insupportable; it is true also, that all the chagrin he caused me merited retribution; it is possible, that all the accusations brought against him may be well founded; but that, does not disprove that he has great and excellent military talents, and that he has it in his power more than any other person whatsoever, to render signal services to the Emperor. I suppose we shall soon know his fate.
Passage 2:
You speak of the recall of Seckendorf, and I add the news of his detention. He is actually arrested at Vienna. His enemies accuse him of an infinite number of malversations. The principal heads of the accusation are, the illicit means which he made use of to enrich himself during the last campaign. His friends give out here, that he will find the means of clearing himself from all these imputations, and that he will come as white as snow from his trial. For my part I doubt of it; for it is known that avarice was always his reigning vice. One thing is certain, and upon which you may rely, that his career is ended, and that the name of Seckendorf, will never more be heard spoken of.--- The Cardinal Nepote [Other Seckendorff, nephew of this Seckendorff, as discussed] has left Berlin, and is going to enter the service of Anspach.
What vicissitude! What rapid changes from the most brilliant fortune, to the most unexpected wretchedness! should an eloquent orator exclaim in this place-in fact he would not do amiss. Compare for a moment the situation of the Count Seckendorf in the year 1728, and the year 1729, with the one he is in at present. He was the arbiter of Germany; he regulated every thing, and in the most absolute and imperious manner in the world: he made treaties, reconciled or set powers at variance according to his good pleasure, and saw Princes and sovereigns debase themselves even so far as to make their court to him.
In the spring of the present year he governed at Vienna the whole Council of the Emperor; he conducted events as he thought proper, and disposed sovereignly of his whole army: six months are passed, and this man, whom a continued prosperity had elevated to the summit of the wheel of fortune, is at once precipitated from his sphere, without foreseeing the impetuosity of the stroke which bore him down; nothing remains to him but the hatred of the army which he commanded; and it may that the public waited but for the moment of his fall to declare themselves his enemy.
It is certain, that the intrigues of the Jesuits have contributed not a little, to his loss. I believe that Liechenstein contributed to it a good deal on his part; but it is certain that the P. de Dessau had his share in the business. This is one glaring example of the instability of fortune. Seckendorf has been its idol during his whole life, and now he is on the decline, in decrepitude, she turns her back to him. The King pities him much. For my part I feel for him, in case of his being innocent; but if he be culpable, I think him scarcely worthy of compassion.
And of course the passage from the memoirs with which you're familiar, as quoted by the editor of the Suhm correspondence in the footnotes:
The immortal author of the Memoirs of Brandenbourgh, speaks of him as follows: “The Count de Seckendorf, came to Berlin, immediately after the succession of George II. He served as General to the Emperor, and Saxony, at the same time; he was sordid; his manners were rude and very clownish; lying was so habitual to him, that he had lost the use of truth. He had the soul of an usurer, which passed at one time into the body of a military man, and at others, into that of a negociator. It was nevertheless this personage who was an instrument in the hands of Providence to break the treaty of Hanover, 1727. He took possession of the mind of the King, Frederick William, with so much address, that he prevailed on him to sign at Wusterhausen, a treaty with the Emperor."
See my discussion upthread of the Treaty of Hanover and the subsequent Treaty of Berlin (signed at Wusterhausen).
So yeah, I would say a whole lot of resentment, some grudging respect, and attempt to be fair.