Historical Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 47

[cahn]

We haven't had a new post since before December 25, so obligatory Yuletide link to this hilarious story of Frederick the Great babysitting his bratty little brother, with bonus Fritz/Fredersdorf!

Comments

Re: Løvenørn letters: Sep 10, 1730

[mildred_of_midgard]

Oh, right, Catt mentions Kamecke by name! I remembered the hiding under the table bit, but not that she was mentioned.

That's what everyone thinks when hearing Hohenzollern family life stories for the first time, Henri de Catt.

That's what I think! And not just for the first time hearing them, either.

Re: Løvenørn letters: Sep 10, 1730

[selenak]

Catt also confirms that Wilhelmine spoke up first and got beaten by FW. As I said in my original write up, the differences between accounts are also interesting - for example, Kamecke in the one given to Catt by either Heinrich or a friend of his speaks up for all the children, whereas in Wilhelmine's memoirs she specifically pleads for Fritz with the "don't do a Philip of Spain or Peter the Great!" comparison. But we can filter a common denominator in all the accounts (the Lövenörn one included), which is that FW shows up in a rage, Wilhelmine speaks, gets beaten, the kids are frightened (and try to hide in the Catt version whereas in Wilhelmine's they still kneel and plead with FW), Frau von Kamecke becomes the heroine of the day with some choice words towards FW which prevent any further violence.

(It must have been terrifying for all present, and that Heinrich at four can remember it later is also telling.)