Historical Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 44

[cahn]

Not only are these posts still going, there is now (more) original research going on in them deciphering and translating letters in archives that apparently no one has bothered to look at before?? (Which has now conclusively exonerated Fritz's valet/chamberlain Fredersdorf from the charge that he was dismissed because of financial irregularities and died shortly thereafter "ashamed of his lost honor," as Wikipedia would have it. I'M JUST SAYING.)

Comments

Re: Fritz as foreign minister

[selenak]

What I want to know: does this book mention whether or not he paid the Austrians back as well before invading? Because I distinctly recall Seckendorff later (apropos Fritz calling him an ursurer in the Histoire de la Maison de Brandenburg) snarking he never saw a dime again of any money he gave to Fritz, and I don't recall the Habsburgs seeing anything again, either, though it's entirely possible Fritz did repay them, too, and I just forgot it. (But I do remember Seckendorff's snark, which was voiced a mong others to Lehndorff during his time as a prisoner in the 7 Years War.)

Re: Fritz as foreign minister

[mildred_of_midgard]

He does not, or else I would have mentioned it, because I knew you were going to ask and I was curious too!

I seem to recall Fontane snarking that Fritz could have paid the Austrians back with the money from Silesia, but never did...but I don't consider him 100% reliable, although he did do his research. I certainly don't *recall* anyone saying they were paid back, but it may well be that they were (before October 1740).

If Seckendorf was lending Fritz money out of his own pocket, though, he was never going to get that back. :P Sorry, Seckendorff, should have invested in playing mentor to him, and then you could have gotten a walking cane with a golden Socrates head!