I commented elsewhere on some aspects of this, but let me add:
there are houses of correction for wicked women
This is a truly nasty threat. Because that's what FW did to Doris Ritter. I mean, I don't think he'd have done it, for class reasons if for nothing else. (Note: FW did it to non-noble Doris Ritter. Ototh, Manteuffel's noble girlfriend and spy whom they discovered to be his girlfriend and spy during the Clement affair got first a bit of house arrest, and then got banished, but after some years and cajoling by SD ended up as governess of Fritz' sister Sophie, unless I misremember.) Still. It tells you just how upset he was. And Voltaire wasn't even involved!
(Perhaps extra upset because it's so close to the actual event and he's not Frederick the Great yet, there is still the possibility that instead of being regarded with fear and awe by all of Europe for how he pulled off that invasion, he will instead be ridiculed.)
Oh, and Mildred, I seem to recall that when we read Nancy G.'s book, Felis did a little compare and contrast to track down who reported what on Fritz' flight/strategic retreat from Mollwitz because we were curious whether her version had any basis on any contemporary report. I don't think the merchant from Bengal was one of the sources, but I do find it interesting that he phrases it as ""took fright, and made a very un-soldier-like retreat", because I think you suspected the first to hint (by joking how far Fritz got before the news of the Prussian victory reached him) that Fritz left the battlefield because he was afraid was Voltaire. If the merchant's report predates the publication of Voltaire's memoirs, it was Tido Knyphausen!
Which inevitably begs the question (since Knyphausen was actually present at Mollwitz, whether or not he was still tight with his mother's former boyfriend): yes, we know Fritz was later a leading from the front himself guy who got his horses shot under him by enemy fire, and no one could question his physical bravery. But this was his very first real battle (Philippsburg doesn't count in terms of life and death risks). So could it be that his version - that Schwerin practically forced him to leave - is perhaps a bit embellished? I mean, I still believe it was Schwerin's idea, but maybe a part of him was scared, and that's yet another reason why he's in full FW mode on this. (FW is only a year dead, less than a year, and his voice, commmenting HE always knew Wretched Son didn't have what it takes as a soldier, must have been especially loud in Fritz' head.)
This is a truly nasty threat. Because that's what FW did to Doris Ritter.
Ohhhhh. Right. Ouch.
but I do find it interesting that he phrases it as ""took fright, and made a very un-soldier-like retreat", because I think you suspected the first to hint (by joking how far Fritz got before the news of the Prussian victory reached him) that Fritz left the battlefield because he was afraid was Voltaire. If the merchant's report predates the publication of Voltaire's memoirs, it was Tido Knyphausen!
Oh cool! Maybe Voltaire read Tido's satire?
(FW is only a year dead, less than a year, and his voice, commmenting HE always knew Wretched Son didn't have what it takes as a soldier, must have been especially loud in Fritz' head.)
I think you suspected the first to hint (by joking how far Fritz got before the news of the Prussian victory reached him) that Fritz left the battlefield because he was afraid was Voltaire
I don't remember this at all! Clearly I need to research this story more.
So could it be that his version - that Schwerin practically forced him to leave - is perhaps a bit embellished?
Do you know where this variant comes from? I don't think I've ever known. It certainly doesn't come from Fritz. It's in Varnhagen von Ense's 1841 bio of Schwerin, but where does Varnhagen get it from?
I mean, I still believe it was Schwerin's idea, but maybe a part of him was scared
He'd kind of have to be: he's only human. I would still like to know where this story goes back to...
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
Re: A Knyphausen satire - Part 2
Date: 2025-01-13 05:30 pm (UTC)there are houses of correction for wicked women
This is a truly nasty threat. Because that's what FW did to Doris Ritter. I mean, I don't think he'd have done it, for class reasons if for nothing else. (Note: FW did it to non-noble Doris Ritter. Ototh, Manteuffel's noble girlfriend and spy whom they discovered to be his girlfriend and spy during the Clement affair got first a bit of house arrest, and then got banished, but after some years and cajoling by SD ended up as governess of Fritz' sister Sophie, unless I misremember.) Still. It tells you just how upset he was. And Voltaire wasn't even involved!
(Perhaps extra upset because it's so close to the actual event and he's not Frederick the Great yet, there is still the possibility that instead of being regarded with fear and awe by all of Europe for how he pulled off that invasion, he will instead be ridiculed.)
Oh, and Mildred, I seem to recall that when we read Nancy G.'s book, Felis did a little compare and contrast to track down who reported what on Fritz' flight/strategic retreat from Mollwitz because we were curious whether her version had any basis on any contemporary report. I don't think the merchant from Bengal was one of the sources, but I do find it interesting that he phrases it as ""took fright, and made a very un-soldier-like retreat", because I think you suspected the first to hint (by joking how far Fritz got before the news of the Prussian victory reached him) that Fritz left the battlefield because he was afraid was Voltaire. If the merchant's report predates the publication of Voltaire's memoirs, it was Tido Knyphausen!
Which inevitably begs the question (since Knyphausen was actually present at Mollwitz, whether or not he was still tight with his mother's former boyfriend): yes, we know Fritz was later a leading from the front himself guy who got his horses shot under him by enemy fire, and no one could question his physical bravery. But this was his very first real battle (Philippsburg doesn't count in terms of life and death risks). So could it be that his version - that Schwerin practically forced him to leave - is perhaps a bit embellished? I mean, I still believe it was Schwerin's idea, but maybe a part of him was scared, and that's yet another reason why he's in full FW mode on this. (FW is only a year dead, less than a year, and his voice, commmenting HE always knew Wretched Son didn't have what it takes as a soldier, must have been especially loud in Fritz' head.)
Re: A Knyphausen satire - Part 2
Date: 2025-01-15 05:56 am (UTC)Ohhhhh. Right. Ouch.
but I do find it interesting that he phrases it as ""took fright, and made a very un-soldier-like retreat", because I think you suspected the first to hint (by joking how far Fritz got before the news of the Prussian victory reached him) that Fritz left the battlefield because he was afraid was Voltaire. If the merchant's report predates the publication of Voltaire's memoirs, it was Tido Knyphausen!
Oh cool! Maybe Voltaire read Tido's satire?
(FW is only a year dead, less than a year, and his voice, commmenting HE always knew Wretched Son didn't have what it takes as a soldier, must have been especially loud in Fritz' head.)
Ouch. :(
Re: A Knyphausen satire - Part 2
Date: 2025-01-16 10:16 am (UTC)I don't remember this at all! Clearly I need to research this story more.
So could it be that his version - that Schwerin practically forced him to leave - is perhaps a bit embellished?
Do you know where this variant comes from? I don't think I've ever known. It certainly doesn't come from Fritz. It's in Varnhagen von Ense's 1841 bio of Schwerin, but where does Varnhagen get it from?
I mean, I still believe it was Schwerin's idea, but maybe a part of him was scared
He'd kind of have to be: he's only human. I would still like to know where this story goes back to...