Historical Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 45

[cahn]

Unfortunately, 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) )

Comments

Re: Toussaint Louverture

[cahn]

Oh, this is really interesting, thank you for writing it up!

I can't help but note some of the arguments of the plantation owners, because plus ca change: "Actually our slaves are perfectly happy and would never revolt if not for OUTSIDE AGITATORS!" "Actually WE are the slaves, because government wants to take our liberties [i e our property rights, i e our right to own people] away!"

AGH, this... made me feel very pessimistic about being human :P

It's also interesting how racism increased during the 17th and 18th centuries

Ah, I didn't know this, this is interesting!

When Napoleon (temporarily) conquered the island back after a few years, his representative said "I will more or less follow Toussaint’s labor code, which is very good, and so strict, that I would never have dared to propose one like this on my own."

Gosh. That is a really telling remark.

the author says that Louverture quite deliberately used disease as a factor on his side--he would delay such that yellow fever and other diseases would decimate the soldiers newly come from France. And it killed a LOT of them.

That is diabolical! I rather admire that level of ruthlessness. From a distance :)