![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cahnUnfortunately, there was then at Berlin a King who pursued one policy only, who deceived his enemies, but not his servants, and who lied without scruple, but never without necessity.
(from The King's Secret - by Duke de Broglie, grand-nephew of the subject of the book, Comte de Broglie, and grandfather of the physicist) )
(from The King's Secret - by Duke de Broglie, grand-nephew of the subject of the book, Comte de Broglie, and grandfather of the physicist) )
Podewils' "FS: Hot or not?" Report
Date: 2023-08-16 11:39 am (UTC)The Emperor is below avarage height. He lets his head sink a bit too much which has earned him a slightly crooked back. Otherwise he stands straight and has a good figure. His posture and his walk are neglectful, for he doesn't pay much attention to them. The form of his face is somewhat quadratic, and the same is true of his fronthead. His eyes are quite beautiful and of a dark blue. They are however not sparkling by nature. His nose is somewhat pointed, but not large, his mouth small and his smile agreeable. His facial colouring is even and healthy. All his features result in a beautiful face, which however is thought of as common by many. He makes himself less attractive by the grimaces he has gotten in the habit of making.
His mode of addressing someone is polite, but somewhat cold and serious, especially towards people he doesn't know well, and he comes across as shy to visiting foreigners. He does express himself with ease in conversation. He has a vivid imagination, a good memory, and much common sense. But since he is indolent by nature, he doesn't know how to really work thoroughly. He hates work. He isn't much ambitious and takes care of governing as little as possible. He only wants to enjoy life and spend it pleasantly and thus lets the Empress have the glory and the worries of government. This princess and her ministers are ruling him, especially in the business of the empire, of which he understands little. If his education had been cared for earlier and his indolence fought and his mind had been focused on what truly matters, this prince might have been adept at governing.
His imagination provides him with some pretty ideas. He's a good and agreeable conversationalist. He likes to joke and even tease if there is opportunity, but has begun to abandon the habit lately out of consideration.
His character is extremely kind, and I haven't heard about him being in a fit of anger ever. During the small arguments which happen between him and the Empress, it is usually he who gives in first and offers reconciliation. He hates malicious gossip and wants that all the world should get along well with each other. He is able to feel love and loyalty. But his favour is worthless due to the small influence has regarding the ambitions of those whom he does honor. So he is only courted out of affection or politeness. His power is limited to asking the Empress to favour those private persons whom he likes. But even for this, he has to use a good opportunity. (...)
He isn't addicted to pomp, least of all in his sdress. Often he dresses neglectfully even on holidays, and often he is the least splendidly dressed of all his court. He likes all the pleasures without being passionate about any of them. He seems to be entertained most by hunting and theatre plays. He rarely neglects attending the later and even has the patience to attend a German comedy which is designed to hurt the sensitivities of even a brute from the beginning to the end. He's not an exceptional dancer though he does it decently. He is a good father, loves his children deeply and adores the oldest Archduke (Joseph), as does the Empress. He is a decent man, unable to break his word or to easily promise something to others. He is benevolent and humane and would make everyone happy if it would be up to him. His temper is cheerful by nature and even.
Schreiber points out that the bit about German comedies is clearly written for Fritz who even this early on is known to loathe them; it's one of bits he uses to argue Podewils while not lying is shaping this report to make Fritz feel superior. Meanwhile, Renate Z. as mentioned points out when Podewils writes this, he has met FS exactly once (where of course he was received with cool politeness). As for the whole "he lets MT do all the work" bit:
Count Sylva-Tarouca, who had constant access to court, could judge the daily schedule of the co-regent much more accurately. In a private letter he reports to Count Kaunitz who is in Brussels he writes that Franz Stephan of Lorraine never rests; his daily schedule is dominated by audiences, receiving foreign envoys, attending conferences and the every day business of government with the reception of reports, dictating of instructions and signing od depeches. Additionally, there are inspections and visits outside of Vienna, like the reception of the Polish Royal family at Olmütz, through now, after the negotiations that took place in Warsaw at January 8th 11745, peace should be achieved.
And that's it for today. Next time I have some leisure: quotes re: Florence and Lorraine, also Joseph's report to Mom about Dad's cold and how he's doing en route to Frankfurt.
Re: Podewils' "FS: Hot or not?" Report
Date: 2023-08-18 05:28 am (UTC)It's nice to know though that the "lets MT do all the work" pat isn't accurate!
Re: Podewils' "FS: Hot or not?" Report
Date: 2023-08-18 09:31 am (UTC)It's also interesting that while FS is depicted as a lazybones and a henpecked husband, this is still by and large a positive-minded depiction of him as a person. Even in the mid- 18th century, being described as kind, witty and wishing for harmony between people aren't negatives. Now if you want an actually negative description of FS, check out the French envoy from the humiliation conga years from after the marriage and before Joseph's birth. The French envoy is basically "only MT likes him, everyone else looks down on him, what a loser!" with a lot of Schadenfreude and the subtext that a popular FS would be a very worrying prospect to Versailles since they're afraid he might want his duchy back. Again, it's not that either envoy makes stuff up wholesale - before Joseph's birth, FS was very unpopular, though for no faults of his own, simply for xenophobic reasons, and Podewils probably did hear stories in Vienna of how FS was nice and all but MT was wearing the pants in that relationship and was the true government. But if I had to guess, Podewils knows he's writing for a monarch who doesn't have anything against FS as a person (just against FS's wife as his arch enemy) as long as he knows he's the superior man.
Re: Podewils' "FS: Hot or not?" Report
Date: 2023-09-05 12:49 pm (UTC)And like me! I was amused when I read that in Hennings. And of course I immediately had flashbacks to Christmas 1732 and salon's respective fics on the subject. :D
Podewils knows he's writing for a monarch who doesn't have anything against FS as a person
May I remind
Re: Podewils' "FS: Hot or not?" Report
Date: 2023-09-10 08:36 pm (UTC):D me too!
in my head Fredersdorf liked it!haha, I did remember the Salmon of Eternal Friendship!