cahn | 18th-Century Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 34

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And including Emperor Joseph II!

from Derek Beales: Joseph II, Volume 2: Against the World, 1780 - 1790:

Joseph's alleged comment to Mozart about the Entführung, "Too many notes", has been taken as evidence of his ignorance. But he probably said something like, "Too beautiful for our ears, and monstrous many notes." It is always necessary to bear in mind, when appraising the emperor's remarks, his peculiar brand of humor or sarcasm. He was usually getting at someone. And he did not use the royal "we". The ears in question were those of the Viennese audience, whom he was mocking for their limited appreciation of Mozart's elaborate music.

(though not gonna lie, I think it is a LOT of notes)

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From:

cahn

Well, them too, but I think

luzula was asking about James I's daughter in the first AITA because I had the same question :) I think it's James I not being super excited about the Winter Queen? Though I only have very hazy memories of when you guys talked about that, oh noooo does this mean I have to read Goldstone?

From:

mildred_of_midgard

Oh, sorry! I was misled by "WILL go on his travels again." Gotcha. Thanks for clearing that up.

Yes, that is Elizabeth, the Winter Queen, and Frederick V of the Palatine. Who ended up being monarchs of Bohemia just long enough (about one winter) to kick off the Thirty Years' War by being overthrown, and who were suuuuper disgruntled with James I for not giving them military support like he heavily implied/possibly outright promised he would in the marriage contract, but never thought he'd have to follow through on! Definitely an AITA moment for everyone involved there.

And yes, you have to read Goldstone! Look, 1) we don't know enough about this period to know if she's terribly wrong about everything in this book too, 2) you have to be open to getting your intro to a subject from a source that is more readable than reliable, see also Massie. Even your intro to Fritz 2.5 years ago was more readable than reliable! :P

I mean, Selena also did a Winter Queen write-up in her blog if you want to (re-)read that instead, but despite all, I remain glad I read the Winter Queen. (Though as Selena said, the MT book does sour the WQ enjoyment somewhat in retrospect, since we don't know that she *wasn't* equally terribly wrong there.)