Despite having read Voltaire’s memors and the Seckendorf diary ages ago, I did not remember this at all! Wow. Hang on, though: if this was Peter’s mother-in-law, doesn’t it put Fritz’ gift of gold to her into a new or at least additional light?
Maybe? I'd never felt I could make a connection, because they're so far apart in time (the gift was 1750). I also assumed the gift was mostly for Peter and using her as the intermediary was more of an excuse, partly because that's how Hanway presents it and partly because Peter gets another gift 3 years later, same time of year.
What's more interesting to me now that I know Fritz was sympathetic to her plight in 1736, is that Hanway says Fritz wasn't in her good graces in 1750!
Well, firstly, given FWs FW-ness in 1736, she didn't necessarily know Fritz was sympathetic in 1736! Saying something to Manteuffel is one thing, talking to her directly another. Also, if I understood this correctly she wasn't in Berlin at the time but in the countryside, and presumably remained there until the pregnancy was over, the kid was born and hopefully the scandal was less. Greeting her upon her return with: Countess, I'm behind you and sorry about the money! would have been rude rather than helpful.
And secondly, as you say, in 1750, much time has passed, and what she did witness in recent years was her son-in-law getting slighted. Still, if she did have a reputation for liking money and being thrifty, the nature of the present could be influenced by this.
Well, firstly, given FWs FW-ness in 1736, she didn't necessarily know Fritz was sympathetic in 1736!
Agreed, I just thought it was interesting that it didn't translate to anything positive after he became king. Agree that Peter was probably a significant reason, and not just the slighting but possibly the war starting. Jordan says:
La Knyphausen is very sad to see that Keith, to whom she has promised her eldest daughter, and whom she regarded as the future support of her family, is about to leave. I believe that she is seeking to retire to her lands in Ost-Frisia, and that she will ask for permission.
Also, if I understood this correctly she wasn't in Berlin at the time but in the countryside
And if she was in Jennelt, she was not just in the countryside but all the way over in East Frisia! East Frisia being where the Knyphausen family came from, and Jennelt one of their estates there, as felis and I found when we researched possible burial places for Peter. Reminder for cahn: East Frisia or East Friesland is near the Netherlands, and won't become Prussian territory until 1744, when the local ruling family dies out and Fritz inherits.
Still, if she did have a reputation for liking money and being thrifty, the nature of the present could be influenced by this.
Indeed, and when felis reminded me that Voltaire said she was ruined, I thought that maybe this rumor started because she complained so much about the fine!
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cahn
Re: Reports from the Dresden State Archive - Fritz and Manteuffel
Date: 2022-01-11 08:02 pm (UTC)Re: Reports from the Dresden State Archive - Fritz and Manteuffel
Date: 2022-01-12 01:15 am (UTC)What's more interesting to me now that I know Fritz was sympathetic to her plight in 1736, is that Hanway says Fritz wasn't in her good graces in 1750!
Re: Reports from the Dresden State Archive - Fritz and Manteuffel
Date: 2022-01-12 04:17 am (UTC)And secondly, as you say, in 1750, much time has passed, and what she did witness in recent years was her son-in-law getting slighted. Still, if she did have a reputation for liking money and being thrifty, the nature of the present could be influenced by this.
Baroness von Knyphausen
Date: 2022-01-12 03:51 pm (UTC)Agreed, I just thought it was interesting that it didn't translate to anything positive after he became king. Agree that Peter was probably a significant reason, and not just the slighting but possibly the war starting. Jordan says:
La Knyphausen is very sad to see that Keith, to whom she has promised her eldest daughter, and whom she regarded as the future support of her family, is about to leave. I believe that she is seeking to retire to her lands in Ost-Frisia, and that she will ask for permission.
Also, if I understood this correctly she wasn't in Berlin at the time but in the countryside
And if she was in Jennelt, she was not just in the countryside but all the way over in East Frisia! East Frisia being where the Knyphausen family came from, and Jennelt one of their estates there, as
Still, if she did have a reputation for liking money and being thrifty, the nature of the present could be influenced by this.
Indeed, and when