Good grief. Poor Catherine! Bad everyone else, including Lehndorff.
Re:
ALSO, it's unclear how this account fits with Fontane's story that Fritz decided a different Katte should be married to an heiress, and Ludolf decided to marry her while he was supposed to be checking her out on behalf of his brother.
Given Fontane also says the Hans Hermmann's half brothers fought their duel for love, and given he has his Katte info from the relations owning the estate mid 19th century, I don't find it that surprising they present all this als Ludolf falling passionately in love as well. Mercenary motives both for the duel to the death and the teenage bride who started out as not even that and a literal child bride look. Also, Fontane is a poet and novelist.
BTW, I just checked how Lehndorff presents the whole thing not in 1787, when he's generally angry at life (due to FW2 having no intention to give him any job, and other things), but in the late 1750s, i.e. far closer to actual events:
I renew my aquaintance with Frau von Katte, my Cousin, whom I was supposed to marry in 1751; family intrigues caused her to give her hand to Herr von Katte instead, a man who does not suit this young and charming woman at all. Consequently, she soon bitterly repented this, as did I, who never had more than 200 000 Taler which would have been the amount she'd have brought into the marriage. She possesses a cheerful temper and many other estimable qualities, which would have made us suit each other completely. As it is impossible for us now to marry, we swear eternal friendship to each other.
And then:
29th birthday of the Princess of Prussia. (I.e. Louise, wife of AW.) All the nobility shows up in gala dress at court. Frau von Katte getes officially presented to the Queen. She is a very charming woman, and I am even more sorry because of her person than I am because of the money.
Re: the marriage with Ludolf and her children:
I receive sad news from Berlin; my cousin Katt has lost her youngest son, a charming boy. (...) The loss of her child causes her great pain; she has a good heart and is a tender mother, but her husband is so repulsive to her that she does not want to have any more children with him.
That she left with the remaining kids is what the local historian told me, I think (not 100 % sure), as the explanation as to why she's not buried in the family crypt and Ludolf is. But if Lehndorff isn't totally making things up re: her feelings for Ludolf, it wouldn't surprises me.
Anyway, as he does not mention her age when they were "supposed to marry", I never would have guessed, kudos once more to the Royal Detective!
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Re: Lehndorff's one who got away
Date: 2025-01-11 06:30 pm (UTC)Re:
ALSO, it's unclear how this account fits with Fontane's story that Fritz decided a different Katte should be married to an heiress, and Ludolf decided to marry her while he was supposed to be checking her out on behalf of his brother.
Given Fontane also says the Hans Hermmann's half brothers fought their duel for love, and given he has his Katte info from the relations owning the estate mid 19th century, I don't find it that surprising they present all this als Ludolf falling passionately in love as well. Mercenary motives both for the duel to the death and the teenage bride who started out as not even that and a literal child bride look. Also, Fontane is a poet and novelist.
BTW, I just checked how Lehndorff presents the whole thing not in 1787, when he's generally angry at life (due to FW2 having no intention to give him any job, and other things), but in the late 1750s, i.e. far closer to actual events:
I renew my aquaintance with Frau von Katte, my Cousin, whom I was supposed to marry in 1751; family intrigues caused her to give her hand to Herr von Katte instead, a man who does not suit this young and charming woman at all. Consequently, she soon bitterly repented this, as did I, who never had more than 200 000 Taler which would have been the amount she'd have brought into the marriage. She possesses a cheerful temper and many other estimable qualities, which would have made us suit each other completely. As it is impossible for us now to marry, we swear eternal friendship to each other.
And then:
29th birthday of the Princess of Prussia. (I.e. Louise, wife of AW.) All the nobility shows up in gala dress at court. Frau von Katte getes officially presented to the Queen. She is a very charming woman, and I am even more sorry because of her person than I am because of the money.
Re: the marriage with Ludolf and her children:
I receive sad news from Berlin; my cousin Katt has lost her youngest son, a charming boy. (...) The loss of her child causes her great pain; she has a good heart and is a tender mother, but her husband is so repulsive to her that she does not want to have any more children with him.
That she left with the remaining kids is what the local historian told me, I think (not 100 % sure), as the explanation as to why she's not buried in the family crypt and Ludolf is. But if Lehndorff isn't totally making things up re: her feelings for Ludolf, it wouldn't surprises me.
Anyway, as he does not mention her age when they were "supposed to marry", I never would have guessed, kudos once more to the Royal Detective!