Historical Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 46

[cahn]

Background: The kids' school has a topic for "Unit" every trimester that a lot of their work (reading, writing, some math) revolves around. These topics range from time/geographic periods ('Colonial America') to geography ('Asia') to science ('Space') to social science ('Business and Economics'). (I have some issues with this way of doing things, but that's a whole separate post.) Anyway, for Reasons, they have had to come up with a new topic this year, and E's 7/8 class is doing "World Fairs" as their new topic.

Me: I know E's teacher is all about World Fairs and I know she is great and will do a good job. But I feel like if we had a different teacher who wasn't so into World Fairs, they wouldn't do such a good job and another topic would be better.
Me: Like... the Enlightenment!
D: Heh, you could teach that! But you'd have to restrain yourself from making everything about Frederick the Great.
Me: But that's the thing! Everyone does relate to each other in this time period! Voltaire -- and his partner Émilie du Châtelet, who was heavily involved in the discourse of conservation of energy and momentum -- well, I've told you Voltaire had a thing with Fritz -- and then there's Empress Maria Theresa, who went to war with him a few times -- and Catherine the Great --
D, meditatively: You know --
Me: *am innocently not warned even though this is the same tone of voice that is often followed by, say, a bad pun*
D: -- it's impressive how everyone from this 'the Great' family is so famous!
Me: *splutters*
D, thoughtfully: But of course there's probably selection bias, as the ones who aren't famous don't get mentioned. You never see 'Bob the Great' in the history books...
Me: *splutters more*

Comments

Løvenørn letters: Aug 17, 1730

[mildred_of_midgard]

I've read a couple more letters, and nothing interesting except this:

I certainly heard that Seckendorff had asked to fight with Monsieur Hein, but the subject of their dispute was unknown to me. What I knew was that the former had said that there were no honest men at the court of Saxony except Messieurs Manteuffel and Wackerbarth. You must admit that the term is a bit strong. Manteuffel, according to what I have just learned, has received his dismissal from court, the reason is not known to me. Behold a great friend that Monsieur Seckendorff is losing.

Does anyone know who Hein is? Maybe under a different spelling?

It's August 17, and Løvenørn's in Schleswig, so news of the Great Fritzcapade hasn't reached him yet (Katte's only just been arrested on the 16th in Berlin). I'm hoping things get more exciting soon.

Re: Løvenørn letters: Aug 17, 1730

[selenak]

At a guess, for 1730? Hein = Hoym. As in former envoy to Paris, then called back to be minister in the cabinet, in which function he overtakes and ousts Manteuffel, who however has used the intervening months to remove any compromising paperwork. Manteuffel retires to Sorgen, Frey for a while, then moves to Berlin, Hoym can‘t enjoy his time in the sun for long because he gets defeated by Brühl, and accused of conspiring with Fritz.

Re: Løvenørn letters: Aug 17, 1730

[mildred_of_midgard]

Ooh, could be!

Re: Løvenørn letters: Aug 17, 1730

[mildred_of_midgard]

Sorgen, Frey

I just noticed this. aLOL!

Re: Løvenørn letters: Aug 17, 1730

[mildred_of_midgard]

Oh, sheesh, I completely forgot to mention the recipient here. It's not Rottembourg, it's some M. de Berckentin that I don't know. Googling tells me Berkenthin is a municipality in Schleswig-Holstein.