18th-Century Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 38

[cahn]

Gonna go ahead and make this post even though Yuletide is coming...

But in the meantime, there has been some fic in the fandom posted!

Holding His Space (2503 words) by felisnocturna
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 18th Century CE RPF, 18th Century CE Frederician RPF
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Michael Gabriel Fredersdorf/Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great
Characters: Michael Gabriel Fredersdorf, Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great
Additional Tags: Protectiveness, Domestic, Character Study
Summary:

Five times Fredersdorf has to stay behind - and one time Friedrich doesn't leave.

Using People (3392 words) by prinzsorgenfrei
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: 18th Century CE RPF
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great/Hans Hermann von Katte
Characters: Friedrich II von Preußen | Frederick the Great, Hans Hermann von Katte
Additional Tags: Fluff, Idiots in Love, reading plays aloud while gazing into each others eyes
Summary:

Friedrich had started to talk to him because he had thought of him as a bit of a ditz.
And now here he was. Here he was months later, bundled up in this very same man’s blankets with a cup of hot coffee in front of him, its scent mixing with that of Katte’s French perfume.
_
Fluffy One Shot about one traitorous Crown Prince and the sycophant he accidentally fell for.

Comments

Re: Philip "the Frog" V of Spain

[luzula]

Wow, poor guy...and poor everyone else. Abdicating seems to have been a great idea, a pity he wasn't allowed to do it.

Re: Philip "the Frog" V of Spain

[mildred_of_midgard]

Right?! On the other hand, I can see why that wasn't a great option either:

1. He had already abdicated once (this is why he thinks he's not legally king!), but promptly started micromanaging his son from "retirement", being unable to let go*.
2. That son had died after 6 months, not setting a great precedent.
3. His remaining sons were all minors and would have needed a regency (and Isabella would have had to follow him into retirement again, something she was obviously not interested in doing),.
4. Spain had just come out of a major war over the succession and no one was interested in more instability.

So...just an awful situation all around.

* Selena and Cahn, AU where Fritz *does* abdicate like he always talked about, but does this exact thing.

Re: Philip "the Frog" V of Spain

[selenak]

We should also tell luzula that the one surefire remedy which cured Philippe's depression and put him back into a stable emotional condition was no longer available at that point. In previous times, the moment his nephew Louis XV of France as much as sneezed when still a minor, Philippe girded his loins and was all but ready to jump in the saddle to return to France and, treaties be damned, make his claim on the throne the moment Louis dropped dead. Once Louis was adult and had procreated, this was no longer an option.

Selena and Cahn, AU where Fritz *does* abdicate like he always talked about, but does this exact thing.

When exactly does he abdicate, though? I feel like that's a factor when it comes to the micromanaging. If he leaves it until very late in the game, future FW2 has already become friends with all the people who'll influence him to keep Heinrich out once Fritz dies in rl. If, otoh, he abdicates while future FW2 is still a teenager (just legally adult), then Heinrich has a good shot at being first minister, and I bet he won't be micromanaged. Though he might have fun telling Fritz he could show up once a year for the annual spring review if he absolutely wants to contribute...

Re: Philip "the Frog" V of Spain

[mildred_of_midgard]

We should also tell luzula that the one surefire remedy which cured Philippe's depression and put him back into a stable emotional condition

Hahaha! To be fair, the other surefire remedy was war--Philip was at his best when he was in an army camp or throwing himself into the middle of a battle and freaking out all his supporters. To quote Horowski:

The birth of the French king's son had catapulted him not only out of his position as direct heir to France, but also back into the depression that a successful war against Morocco had only briefly interrupted. For months the king lay on his bed with a finger in his open mouth, not allowing himself to be shaved or his shirts changed, and refusing to speak, saying he was dead. It was with great difficulty that they were finally able to get him to talk again, but that was of little help because he now didn't want to speak to anyone except his valet, to whom he then (still wearing only a nightshirt) explained his rights to the French throne for hours. However, as soon as he received the news from Poland [of August II's death and the impending war over the Polish succession], Philip V jumped out of bed to have his long beard shaved, as if nothing had happened. He promptly fell back into his hyperactivity mode.

When exactly does he abdicate, though? I feel like that's a factor when it comes to the micromanaging.

Hmm. Well, I feel like it would be fun watching him try anyway. :P

Though he might have fun telling Fritz he could show up once a year for the annual spring review if he absolutely wants to contribute...

See! It would be fun! :D

Re: Philip "the Frog" V of Spain

[cahn]

Though he might have fun telling Fritz he could show up once a year for the annual spring review if he absolutely wants to contribute...

I... yeah, I want this :P

And I would also take FW abdicating, although I don't really see what would cause him to do that?

Re: Philip "the Frog" V of Spain

[selenak]

Oh, FW did abdicate, as I think I mentioned in Fool's Fate. A short time before his death, formally putting the reins of government into Fritz' hands as he was no longer capable of governing to the utmost of his ability. So the canonical answer to your question is: it would take FW knowing he only has days to live, if that.

Mind you, there's also the story from Wilhelmine's memoirs that FW shortly before the first Dresden trip had a particularly strong attack of pietism and considered retiring to live a godly life at Wusterhausen, with his daughters managing his household, while Fritz took over government. He talked about it with some pastors, but this idea didn't last, and at any event evidently hanging out with August the Strong later that year cured him of any remnants of it.

Re: Philip "the Frog" V of Spain

[cahn]

Oh right! I forgot about the retiring story. Heh. Okay, the AU where he goes through with it, I want that! What happens then?