Yeah, the argument everyone seems to be making is that he has random fits of madness, not that he's in a permanent G3-like state (someone would have noticed). So I guess you could make a story where he came to, was like, "WTF did I just do?" and decided he needed to make amends.
And that would make sense of the "honor required me to" if it's just referring to the formal duel: honor *would* require him to issue a duel challenge after he had randomly beaten this guy up at a salon.
Well, what do you want me to tell you? I admit I did something crazy, I had a delusion, it happens to me sometimes. But at the end of the day, I am a gentleman, and so is Chevalier Fresia; I will give him satisfaction.
(Now that I have the right search terms, Google Books is being very generous in delivering up results about this incident.)
In which case, if Karl really has manic episodes, I wouldn't blame Fritz for being somewhat sore on the Knyphausen family, if they were the ones suggesting Karl for the job, because that is NOT what you expect from a diplomat.
Lehndorff: I would have never had a manic episode! Would have loved to have been an envoy! Instead....
In which case, if Karl really has manic episodes, I wouldn't blame Fritz for being somewhat sore on the Knyphausen family, if they were the ones suggesting Karl for the job, because that is NOT what you expect from a diplomat.
Indeed. Hertzberg (married to one of the Knyphausen sisters) would have been the one to recommend him, but the whole family would have had to cover up the episodes.
Also, remember when Hertzberg tried to get Karl and his still-living brother Friedrich posted as diplomatic secretaries to Paris and Vienna when they were straight out of university, and Fritz said he had no use for children? He was more right than he knew, when it came to Karl!
ETA: Meant to add, it's looking more and more like maybe the random salon assault happened (although maybe with the addition of Chevalier Fresia having said something prior), but I'm waiting to see what the Prussian archives say. Unfortunately, though I sent off the request today, that usually takes 1-2 months, so we'll have to wait a while before we find out.
Lehndorff: I would have never had a manic episode! Would have loved to have been an envoy! Instead....
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timeasmymeasure
Re: Dueling: The Sequel!
Date: 2025-06-01 01:46 pm (UTC)And that would make sense of the "honor required me to" if it's just referring to the formal duel: honor *would* require him to issue a duel challenge after he had randomly beaten this guy up at a salon.
Another Italian variant (1892) has just emerged that would support this interpretation: it has Karl writing to the commandant of the city, "Enfin que voulez-vous, que je vous dise? J'avoue que j'ai faite une folie, j'ai eu un délire, cela m'arrive quelque fois. Mais au bout du compte je suis gentilhomme, le chevalier Fresia l'est aussi, je lui donnerai satisfaction."
Well, what do you want me to tell you? I admit I did something crazy, I had a delusion, it happens to me sometimes. But at the end of the day, I am a gentleman, and so is Chevalier Fresia; I will give him satisfaction.
(Now that I have the right search terms, Google Books is being very generous in delivering up results about this incident.)
Re: Dueling: The Sequel!
Date: 2025-06-01 02:10 pm (UTC)Lehndorff: I would have never had a manic episode! Would have loved to have been an envoy! Instead....
Re: Dueling: The Sequel!
Date: 2025-06-01 06:17 pm (UTC)Indeed. Hertzberg (married to one of the Knyphausen sisters) would have been the one to recommend him, but the whole family would have had to cover up the episodes.
Also, remember when Hertzberg tried to get Karl and his still-living brother Friedrich posted as diplomatic secretaries to Paris and Vienna when they were straight out of university, and Fritz said he had no use for children? He was more right than he knew, when it came to Karl!
ETA: Meant to add, it's looking more and more like maybe the random salon assault happened (although maybe with the addition of Chevalier Fresia having said something prior), but I'm waiting to see what the Prussian archives say. Unfortunately, though I sent off the request today, that usually takes 1-2 months, so we'll have to wait a while before we find out.
Lehndorff: I would have never had a manic episode! Would have loved to have been an envoy! Instead....
Lol. There, there, Lehndorff.