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cahnLast post, we had (among other things) Danish kings and their favorites; Louis XIV and Philippe d'Orléans; reviews of a very shippy book about Katte, a bad Jacobite novel, and a great book about clothing; a fic about Émilie du Châtelet and Voltaire; and a review of a set of entertaining Youtube history videos about Frederick the Great.
1730s Saxon Diplomacy: Suhm
Date: 2023-04-01 02:27 pm (UTC)Brühl: No can do. Luckily, we have an in with the Czarina right now and thus don't need to accomodate the Prussians. Still we ought to mollify FW somewhat. Any ideas, Manteuffel?
Manteuffel: Send Tall Guys.
Brühl: Sends two Tall Guys along with the "no dropped claims on Jülich & Berg" letter.
AvB: FW took them, but was still seething.
Openly, Berlin sided with the protegé of France (Stanislaus Lescinsky, father-in-law of Louis XV) in Danzig, and Friedrich Wilhelm openly toasted Stanislaus at his table round. But just as hostile, only even more openly hurtful, was the attitude of Crown Prince Friedrich. Often he bet with the Saxon envoy Manteuffel that the Elector would not remain King of Poland. In a converastion with Manteuffel, he prophecied the defeat of August, as French and Swedish troops as support counting up to 10 - 21 000 men would be on their way in order to push the election of Stanislaus through by force, who because of Prussia's neutrality would be able to land on Prussian soil. Manteuffell, a practised diplomat, replied that such a solution would be more than welcome to Saxony and Russia, since this way the arena of war would be shifted to much more suitable terrain and one would at last meet troops one could fight as enemies. At the first sign of a landing the united Saxon and Russian army would be able to march against the French, since because of Prussia's neutrality Prussia could not possibly object to letting the Saxons march through Prussian territory. Friedrich was struck by this very logical reply, and returned indiginant that Prussia was no playground for foreign armies. At last, he stated that as opposed to his original plan of war, the French and the Swedes should land in Stralsund which belonged to the Swedes. Manteuffel replied calmly that he assumed the Swedes were getting sick of owning Stralsund by now. But certainly there were more than enough potential admirers eager to talke Stralsund of their hands as they did Stettin and all of Pommerania.
(I.e. the Prussians,
Suhm: AvB has a high opinion of Suhm as an envoy and tihinks it was a great touch on Brühl's part to choose him as envoy in Russia to promote what was partly an anti Prussian policy precisely because Suhm was known to be a friend of Fritz and thus paranoid and jealous Prussia would not believe this to be the case. Be that as it may, based on the reports Suhm was a pro and did his best for Saxony, as his job, and did not secretly forward information of the ongoing negotiatons to Fritz. Undoubtedly if he had lived and had come to Fritz in 1740, he'd have devoted himself just as much to Fritz' interests, but while he was envoy for Saxony, his dedication to Saxon interests could not be faulted. The need for a new Saxon envoy in St. Petersburg arose when Ostermann, the official PM, complained about Lynar's relationship with Anna Leopoldovna. (At this point, Anna Ivanova is still alive, Anna Leopoldovna's engagement to EC's brother Anton Ulrich has just been arranged.) Lynar got offered the ambassadorship to London instead which he rejected, miffed about his withdrawal, so Brühl kept him around for short term missions until his services were needed in St. Peterburg again (i.e. when Anna Leopoldovna became Regent). So Suhm got the job. Other than soothing feathers riled by the Anna Leopoldovna/Lynar affair, the most delicate task concerned Anna Ivanova's favourite Biron, who wanted to become Duke of Curland (which technically belonged to Poland, which meant that while the Dukes were elected by the Kurland magnates, in reality the elections weren't very free but went as the ruler of Poland wanted), and whom rumor suspected of intending to make himself Czar.
Suhm received detailed instructions which were worked out and personally signed by Brühl. (Footnote to the Dresden archive.) Suhm was supposed to contact Count Biron directly after his arrival at St. Petersburg and to ask for an audience witht the Czarina to be arranged at the later's pleasure. AT the audience, he was supposed to transmit the wishes of the Elector to the Czarina that the close relationsihps of his Court iwth the Russian one should become even more affectionate in the future and to demonstrate the strong concern with which the Saxon-Polish court was following events of the Russian-Turkish war. The Princess of Mecklenburg - i.e. Anna Leopoldovna - and Count Ostermann were also supposed to receive Suhm's greatest attention. Suhm was to tell the Russian cabinet at the earliest opportunity "how little France was serious to conclude the long term peace business, as they aim to push the end further and further through low pretenses" and how France was just waiting for Russia to fail in the Russia-Turkish war. Suhm was ato make nice with Biron, and as to Anna Leopoldovna, Suhm was not to meddle with the impeding Anna Leopoldovna/Anton Ulrich marriage, BUT if for reasons that had nothing to do with Suhm or Saxony the marriage failed to materialize, Suhm was to discreetly suggest future A3's oldest son as an alternate match. Also, none of this under any circumstances should be noticed by the Prussian envoy in Russia, Baron Marderfeld, or Prussia in general. Brühl is relying on Suhm's discretion.
AvB: One big reason why Brühl wanted to encourage a Russia/Turkey peace which would untie Russian resources was because he wanted Russia as backup against a Prussia that looked increasingly threatening.
Now, Brühl wanted more than nice words and vague promises from Biron in return for the later becoming Duke of Kurland, to wit, he wanted Biron's support for the change of Poland from an elective monarchy to an inheritable monarchy united for good with Saxony, and on November 3rd 1737, Suhm reported that Biron himself had brought the idea up. However, there was an additional task, because by now, Anton Ulrich of Braunschweig, EC's brother, had arrived at the Russian Court, and Biron's son Peter was promotiing himself as an alternate match for Anna Leopoldovna, since now that his father was a Duke, he was now her match in nobility. (Anna Leopoldovna being the daughter of the Duke of Mecklenburg.) Simultanously, the Prussians were also trying to woo Biron and were offering Ulrike (we're still in the 1730s, remember, so Ulrike isn't yet married) as a match for Biron's son. Biron rejected this idea by claiming his son was still too young to marry. Meanwile, Suhm suggested yet another match, Biron's son and the second oldest available Saxon Princess (daughter of future A3), which Bühl rejected.
AvB: But note that while he rejects Suhm's suggestion, he still thanks Suhm for making it and invites discussion as to what Suhm thinks Biron will or won't do re: Poland/Saxony union. Bühl isn't going "my way or the high way" , he wants opinions and initiative from his diplomatic staff, even critique, which Suhm delivers and for which Brühl thanks him. I don't have to tell you how unlike a certain someone this is, do I? Brühl: your dream boss.
(Footnote: Dresden Archive, Brühl to Suhm, Moritzburg, 9. Aug. 1738)
This is Suhm's description of Anna Ivanova's bedroom as given to Brühl in his envoy report (Prince Karl is Biron's youngest son): "Next to her bed, the small bed of Prince Karl stands, next to this a large couch on which the faihtful Citrine sleeps, a large and pretty girl, very white, who is the favourite. Moroever, the room is shared by approximately twenty women who sleep on bedrolls lying on the floor and of which some are always awake, stnading around the Empress' bed and telling her fairy tales to make her fall asleep." Suhm added that on this occasion, all the rumors about the latest events in town were reported, and if the women didn't know anything true to report, they were inventing stories. Of course, intrigues were made and slanders promoted this way. The custom to let women talk the whole night in the bedroom was supposedly widely spread in all of Russia, and it was a matter of fashion for a lady to lie in bed theentire day and to let herself be served with food and drink there while she was constantly told stories.
On September 15th, Suhm reports a very successful conversation with Biron to Brühl, but so delicate in nature that he does not want to put it in writing but wants Brühl to send his brother the Legationsrat (presumably Nicholas) to him so he can give the verbal report to his brother who in turn will give it to Brühl. Because the report was verbal, we don't know what it said, but because of the earlier context, AvB concludes that Biron must have made some firm promises regarding Russian support for Brühl's big Saxony/Poland 4eva! project.
Suhm's next report concerins the ongoing soap opera that is Anna Leopoldovna's love life. (Minus any mention of Julia Mengden in this biography. On February 22nd 1739, Suhm reports that Anna L. has said she'd rather die than marry Anton Ullrich.
Brühl: Seeing as we need Biron, do promote Peter Biron/Anna Leopoldovna.
Suhm: I've just heard Team Vienna and Emperor Charles are very unhappy at the idea of Peter Biron/Anna Leopoldvna - I mean, Anton Ulrich is the Empresses' nephew. However, since they don't want to piss off the mighty favourite, they've suggested marrying Peter Biron with yet another Brunswick girl who'll get 200 000 Taler dowry from Vienna.
Anna Leopoldovna: I'm not marrying the Braunschweig guy because he's not my mental equal. ("Nicht geistig ebenbürtig")
Anna Ivanova: Biron, Darling, is this your influence? I want that match.
Biron: I'm totally innocent!
Peter Biron: Anna, beloved playmate of my childhood, I'm absolutely delighted you rejected the dumb Braunschweig prince for bieng so dumb. Marry me instead!
Anna Leopoldovna: YOU? An icky upstart's son?!? *goes to Anna Ivanova* I've changed my mind. I'm marrying Anton Ulrich.
At least that's how Suhm reports the tale to Brühl. Since he's explicitly asked to make suggestions, he also after years in Russia adds a warning, in his report from December 18th 1739. He says that the war against the Turks showed Russia's growing military prowess, that they have a taste now for being a superpower, and he predicts that:
'The Russians will lust after Poland one day, and will invade it. Now this is not yet to be feared for a s long as the other courts of Europe exist, but in Russia, one has always to fear a revolution, for if the Russians withdraw within their gigantic Empire, no foreign power, however great, can pursue them into the the unending steppe.
Smart man, Suhm.
Suhm continues: The only salvation of Poland would be the changing of the constitution in the interest of the Saxon policy and the removal of the Liberum Veto. Only if the country becomes an inheritance of his House, the King on his part would have an interest in completing the country's defense by organizing a proper army and by building fortresses. The current liberty of Poland is a tragic liberty. Given the current constitution, the constitution cannot be changed in a legal way, and thus it has to happen in a different way.
Suhm furtherly thinks that England plans another war with France, and in this coming war, Saxony should team up with the Emperor (/MT's Dad). England would back up Austria/the HRE and Saxony, and would provide subsidies, which would pay for an army for Poland consisting for about 25 000 men which would not cost the Poles anything and which they would thus permit. Having thus equipped a small but disciplined and well trained army in Poland, one could get the Russian court to greenlight the declaration of the Polish Crown to be now tied to Saxony in perpetuum. Russia would keep Prussia in line, and as long as Prussia was kept in line by Russian might, one would not have to fear a division of Poland. Then the King could occupy the rest of the (Polish) country with his own regular regiments, which in turn would guarentee the Polish magnates accepting the changed constitution. Especially, if the King promised to any Polish farmers joining his army he'll free them from serfdom.
Brühl loves this plan. So does AvB, who is bitter that it wasn't to be, since before this genius plan can be accomplished, FW dies, Anna Ivanova dies, MT's Dad dies, Suhm dies, and then Fritz the Evil strikes.
Re: 1730s Saxon Diplomacy: Suhm
Date: 2023-04-01 03:49 pm (UTC)Manteuffel: Send Tall Guys.
ROFL. That's Saxon diplomacy for you!
Friedrich was struck by this very logical reply, and returned indiginant that Prussia was no playground for foreign armies.
This made me laugh extra considering I've seen one historian describe the Second Silesian War along the lines of "Saxony had decided that it was after all a state and not a highway..." (
promote what was partly an anti Prussian policy precisely because Suhm was known to be a friend of Fritz and thus paranoid and jealous Prussia would not believe this to be the case. Be that as it may, based on the reports Suhm was a pro and did his best for Saxony, as his job, and did not secretly forward information of the ongoing negotiatons to Fritz.
Wow, I am so glad you read this book! This is a great characterization touch we didn't have: I *didn't* know Suhm's negotiations in Russia were partly anti-Prussian (it surprises me not, since Prussia and Saxony were enemies for reasons I have discussed at great length in my own Saxony foreign policy write-ups), because indeed, Suhm did not tell Fritz this.
Bühl isn't going "my way or the high way" , he wants opinions and initiative from his diplomatic staff, even critique, which Suhm delivers and for which Brühl thanks him. I don't have to tell you how unlike a certain someone this is, do I? Brühl: your dream boss.
Hee! Yeah, Fritz this is not.
Suhm reports a very successful conversation with Biron to Brühl, but so delicate in nature that he does not want to put it in writing but wants Brühl to send his brother the Legationsrat (presumably Nicholas) to him so he can give the verbal report to his brother who in turn will give it to Brühl.
Oh, interesting! I love the thought of these two working together like that. That's also an interesting characterization touch. For both of them, really. Given that, I'm glad they at least got to see each other between when Suhm left for St. Petersburg and when Nicolas arrived in Warsaw one day after he died.
Anna Leopoldovna: YOU? An icky upstart's son?!? *goes to Anna Ivanova* I've changed my mind. I'm marrying Anton Ulrich.
Hahaha. I enjoyed this whole soap opera development, which you presented in a very entertaining fashion.
no foreign power, however great, can pursue them into the the unending steppe.
Smart man, Suhm.
Indeed! And, I mean, he was old enough to remember Poltava, where Karl XII got his armies crushed pursuing the Russians into the unending steppe.
Suhm will also predict that Fritz will be willing to make war on princes he personally likes, which I can only take as an allusion to FS.
Suhm furtherly thinks that England plans another war with France
Note that the War of Jenkins' Ear with Spain had just begun, so it wasn't a huge leap from there to concluding that France would be sucked into it.
I love seeing this whole plan and Suhm's day job as an envoy and not just as an author of touching letters to Fritz. The compartmentalization must have been interesting!
Russia would keep Prussia in line
This is going to be Brühl's plan through the 1740s and 50s, so yeah, that's Saxon foreign policy for you. Very interesting that he proposes this plan and then gets permission to go join Fritz--we know A3 the Chill okayed it, I wonder what Brühl thought.
FW dies, Anna Ivanova dies, MT's Dad dies, Suhm dies
As a chronological reminder, the last 3 of these deaths happen within the space of 3 weeks, late October to early November.
Re: 1730s Saxon Diplomacy: Suhm
Date: 2023-04-02 12:37 pm (UTC):) Not just Saxon diplomacy. I dare say that would have been the advice of any envoy who had come into contact with FW.
"Saxony had decided that it was after all a state and not a highway..."
ROTFLOL.
This is a great characterization touch we didn't have
IKR? It really adds another dimension to Suhm. As far as his envoy life was concerned, we only knew he didn't vibe with FW in which he was hardly unique, so it didn't say that much about his job skills. (As opposed to H-W managing to piss everyone off at every court except for his early time in Russia.) It also shows that Fritz' idea that Suhm was too delicate a nature to get along with Russians was somewhat mistaken - Suhm did just fine in his negotiations with Bad Boy Biron - , but presumably based on seeing Suhm as the opposite of FW and knowing Suhm hated the FW life style (despite having to become a member of the Society Against Sobriety).
Oh, interesting! I love the thought of these two working together like that. That's also an interesting characterization touch. For both of them, really. Given that, I'm glad they at least got to see each other between when Suhm left for St. Petersburg and when Nicolas arrived in Warsaw one day after he died.
Indeed, which we hadn't known before, either. BTW, did Nicolas stay in Prussia with Hedwig and the kids, or did he return to Saxony, do we know?
The compartmentalization must have been interesting!
Quite. But then he's living in a century where your enemy of yesterday can become your ally of tomorrow, and people like Eugene who change sides ONCE (if it can be called that, given he never had a job at court or in the army while still in France) and stay committed are the exception, not the rule, while people like Katte's granddad who as one of the F1 biographers pointed out fought for a couple of enemies in a row are more the rule. So Suhm hoping that in the long term, his future lay with Fritz but in the present working for Saxony which included pursuing anti Prussian policies isn't THAT unusual.
Suhm basically sketching out an overthrow of the Polish Constitution and a complete takeover by the Saxon monarchy also shows his own capacity for ruthless plans. (AvB: IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR THE POLES! NO POLISH PARTITION!) If he indeed got Biron to greenlight this on Anna Ivanova's behalf and this was the verbal report entrusted to Nicholas, it would have been quite the coup Suhm would have managed for Brühl and Saxony, on a scale with Heinrich delivering the first Partition to Fritz. (Mind you, I think everyone was deluded when imaginging the Poles would have just gone along with this without massive resistance fighting, occupying troops be damned.)
Very interesting that he proposes this plan and then gets permission to go join Fritz--we know A3 the Chill okayed it, I wonder what Brühl thought.
"Excellent. He can take over Manteuffel's old spying network, and since Fritz actually wants him there, will be in a far better position to send me juicy insider reports."
(Err, not that Suhm would have done that, but maybe Brühl thought he might and thus okayed the move?)
Re: 1730s Saxon Diplomacy: Suhm
Date: 2023-04-02 04:20 pm (UTC)I had the same thought! I almost added, "Saxon diplomacy is European diplomacy." Salon hive mind. ;)
IKR? It really adds another dimension to Suhm. As far as his envoy life was concerned, we only knew he didn't vibe with FW in which he was hardly unique, so it didn't say that much about his job skills.
We had figured out a couple things, like what kind of diplomat he was (the kind that is quiet and spins things in a *diplomatic* manner, not the more flamboyant Manteuffel kind), and I remember us concluding that he was pro-wars of aggression and would have been fine with Fritz invading Silesia. But the fact that he was getting copies of the Life of Eugene in St. Petersburg while negotiating an anti-Prussian treaty and coming up with realpolitik plans to keep Prussia in check does add a new dimension!
It also shows that Fritz' idea that Suhm was too delicate a nature to get along with Russians was somewhat mistaken - Suhm did just fine in his negotiations with Bad Boy Biron - , but presumably based on seeing Suhm as the opposite of FW and knowing Suhm hated the FW life style (despite having to become a member of the Society Against Sobriety).
Haha, well, I always figured a big part of Fritz's thinking here was a need to rationalize why Suhm shouldn't
have any higher priorities than himleave him.BTW, did Nicolas stay in Prussia with Hedwig and the kids, or did he return to Saxony, do we know?
Wikipedia tells me he returned to Saxony and was used as an envoy again.
Quite. But then he's living in a century where your enemy of yesterday can become your ally of tomorrow, and people like Eugene who change sides ONCE (if it can be called that, given he never had a job at court or in the army while still in France) and stay committed are the exception
Exactly what I was thinking.
"Excellent. He can take over Manteuffel's old spying network, and since Fritz actually wants him there, will be in a far better position to send me juicy insider reports."
(Err, not that Suhm would have done that, but maybe Brühl thought he might and thus okayed the move?)
You know, you're reminding me that I did read something very like this somewhere. Maybe it was Brühl! Anyway, it makes total sense. (Wonder if he expected Lynar to spy on Anna Leopoldovna and green-lighted the switch to Russian service for that reason.)
Re: 1730s Saxon Diplomacy: Suhm
Date: 2023-04-17 12:16 am (UTC)Oh right! The unending steppe: crushing armies for centuries!
Re: 1730s Saxon Diplomacy: Suhm
Date: 2023-04-17 12:16 am (UTC)...this always makes me laugh!
I don't have to tell you how unlike a certain someone this is, do I? Brühl: your dream boss.
Heeee! Point taken, AvB.
Anna Leopoldovna: I'm not marrying the Braunschweig guy because he's not my mental equal.
Wow. And then they... really get stuck together, huh. Ouch.
Biron: I'm totally innocent!
Peter Biron: Anna, beloved playmate of my childhood, I'm absolutely delighted you rejected the dumb Braunschweig prince for bieng so dumb. Marry me instead!
Anna Leopoldovna: YOU? An icky upstart's son?!? *goes to Anna Ivanova* I've changed my mind. I'm marrying Anton Ulrich.
LOLOLOLOL!
The Russians will lust after Poland one day, and will invade it. Now this is not yet to be feared for a s long as the other courts of Europe exist, but in Russia, one has always to fear a revolution, for if the Russians withdraw within their gigantic Empire, no foreign power, however great, can pursue them into the the unending steppe.
Smart man, Suhm.
Yeeeeah.