cahn | Historical Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 39

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Last post, along with the usual 18th-century suspects, included the Ottonians; changing ideas of conception and women's sexual pleasure; Isabella of Parma (the one who fell in love, and vice versa, with her husband's sister); Henry IV and Bertha (and Henry's second wife divorcing him for "unspeakable sexual acts"). (Okay, Isabella of Parma was 18th century.)

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From:

cahn

That is certainly a moustache!

From:

mildred_of_midgard

I do not understand why he went down in history as the Alte Dessauer when "Prince Moustache" was RIGHT THERE. :PPP (Okay, I understand, but still. I had this exchange with my wife today:

Me: His code name was "Prince Moustache", or just "Moustache." This is his portrait.

Her: *looks* Okay, yeah, that checks out. Who is he?

Me: Frederick's father's BFF.

Her: He had friends??*

Me: Well, the one. And he's known to history as a different name that won't mean anything to you, but from now on, if I refer to him when talking to you, I'm totally calling him Prince Moustache so you know who I'm talking about.)

* My wife: has been paying attention, I see! :'D

From:

selenak

Stratemann (aka the Disney envoy): Of course the King had friends! Lots of them! A wonderful man like him! Everyone of his Tobacco Parliament buddies adored him!

Fassmann: I can confirm that. All hail the glorious King!

Guy-Dickens: And yet somehow you chose to admire him from a distance. After finding out he wanted you to wear the same fool's get up he made Gundling wear.

Fassmann: True friendship works best from afar. Especially when a Hohenzollern is involved.

Algarotti: I'm not disagreeing.

More seriously, I do think Prince Moustache has the claim of being undisputedly the best friend FW ever had, and given he has the dubious honour of inventing the Prussian Drill, which depending on your pov was great or terrible for Prussia, married the commnoner he loved despite being of the highest nobility and had a burgher style family life, and thought his sons didn't need any book learning, they certainly were twin souls.