Brühl: Clearly not enough, otherwise the Scouring of Saxony to come would have been avoided.
Ahahahaaa.
Anyway, it's clear why Keyserlingk was such an attractive fellow to Fritz, but also why Émilie took one look at him and decided there was no way she'd allow Voltaire to hand over incriminating Pucelle to this guy.
Ah, yes, that does make sense. Honestly, based on the descriptions we've seen of Keyserlingk, I wouldn't let him anywhere near my secrets either!
Reminds me of Katte showing everyone the Fritz and Wilhelmine double portrait, though.
I was exactly thinking of Katte! Though specifically of the "charming but giddy" description that Prussian Countess Rothenburg gave him while he was alive. For all that Wilhelmine said that Katte's facial features seemed to forebode his gloomy fate, I think he was probably leaning toward extraverted and cheerful, although probably not as over-the-top as Keyserlingk.
And is yet another example of why if Katte had been imprisoned instead of beheaded I think King Fritz would have handled him similarly (i.e. would not have let him anywhere near politics) - Fredersdorf really was the big exception there among the boyfriends.
Yuup. In my AUs where Katte lives and Fritz becomes king, Fritz gives him literary/artistic/musical responsibilities and keeps him away from politics.
Interestingly, Suhm was apparently going to get the same treatment. New King Fritz, writing to ask Suhm if he wants to leave Saxon service, writes, "So please, my dear Suhm, write to me if you are the man to give up the ministry to lead the thoughtful life of a sage, and if you can find something in my company that compensates you for politics."
No politics for you either, Saxon envoy of conflicting interests.
Another thing, though: when did Keyserlingk marry again? Wasn't that in 1740 (since his wedding party saw the premiere of the Fritz written play where Des Champs is made fun of)? Given Fritz was usually less than thrilled when his favourites did that, it's all the more interesting this doesn't seem to have happened here.
Maybe, if he married in 1742 and died in 1745, he needed a nurse? :P
Also interesting, according to Wikipedia, given how indulgent Fritz would later be:
Their daughter Adelaide Friederike von Keyserling, later Baroness von Alvensleben, was born in 1744. Frederick II not only became her godfather, he is even said to have carried the child in his arms during the baptism.
Re: Keyserlingk, sensational gossip, and Royal Reader request
Ahahahaaa.
Anyway, it's clear why Keyserlingk was such an attractive fellow to Fritz, but also why Émilie took one look at him and decided there was no way she'd allow Voltaire to hand over incriminating Pucelle to this guy.
Ah, yes, that does make sense. Honestly, based on the descriptions we've seen of Keyserlingk, I wouldn't let him anywhere near my secrets either!
Reminds me of Katte showing everyone the Fritz and Wilhelmine double portrait, though.
I was exactly thinking of Katte! Though specifically of the "charming but giddy" description that Prussian Countess Rothenburg gave him while he was alive. For all that Wilhelmine said that Katte's facial features seemed to forebode his gloomy fate, I think he was probably leaning toward extraverted and cheerful, although probably not as over-the-top as Keyserlingk.
And is yet another example of why if Katte had been imprisoned instead of beheaded I think King Fritz would have handled him similarly (i.e. would not have let him anywhere near politics) - Fredersdorf really was the big exception there among the boyfriends.
Yuup. In my AUs where Katte lives and Fritz becomes king, Fritz gives him literary/artistic/musical responsibilities and keeps him away from politics.
Interestingly, Suhm was apparently going to get the same treatment. New King Fritz, writing to ask Suhm if he wants to leave Saxon service, writes, "So please, my dear Suhm, write to me if you are the man to give up the ministry to lead the thoughtful life of a sage, and if you can find something in my company that compensates you for politics."
No politics for you either, Saxon envoy of conflicting interests.
Another thing, though: when did Keyserlingk marry again? Wasn't that in 1740 (since his wedding party saw the premiere of the Fritz written play where Des Champs is made fun of)? Given Fritz was usually less than thrilled when his favourites did that, it's all the more interesting this doesn't seem to have happened here.
Maybe, if he married in 1742 and died in 1745, he needed a nurse? :P
Also interesting, according to Wikipedia, given how indulgent Fritz would later be:
Their daughter Adelaide Friederike von Keyserling, later Baroness von Alvensleben, was born in 1744. Frederick II not only became her godfather, he is even said to have carried the child in his arms during the baptism.