Frederick the Great

by Nancy Mitford

  To his own surprise Frederick lived through the winter, and was able to go back to Sans Souci, where he enjoyed a particularly mild spring, the season he loved so much; he was even able to go out riding once or twice on his white horse Condé. The rhythm of his day’s work was never altered, and when it was over he supped with the generals and Lucchesini as usual. On 10 August he wrote to his sister the Duchess of Brunswick to say good-bye: ‘The old must make way for the young.’ The last bereavement of his life was the death of her young son Leopold some months before; he was drowned while gallantly trying to save a group of people trapped by the Oder in flood.

  The Queen asked to be allowed to visit her husband. ‘I am very much obliged for the wish you are so kind as to express but a high fever prevents me from answering.’ He begged Prince Ferdinand not to come. On 15 August he started to work, as usual, at 5 a.m. The next day he did not wake until 11 a.m. and then tried in vain to give orders to a weeping general. All that day he was dying in his chair. He asked his reader for a chapter of Voltaire’s Précis du Siècle de Louis XV, but he could not listen to it. Towards the evening he went to sleep again. He awoke at midnight and told the servants to throw a quilt over his dog who was shivering with cold. For two hours his orderly held him up in his chair so that he could breathe more easily. In the early morning, 17 August 1786, his sufferings were over.

  He had prepared a grave for himself, with his dogs and his horse, on the terrace at Sans Souci. But after his lying in state, when thousands came from Berlin to see him for the last time, his nephew buried him in the Garrison Church next to Frederick William I. Twenty years later, Napoleon stood by his coffin. ‘Hats off, gentlemen—if he were still alive we should not be here.’

  Sources

  Most of the information in this book comes from the works of Frederick himself, that is to say his Œuvres (which include his private correspondence) published in Berlin in 1850, and the Politische Correspondenz (Berlin, 1879). Very valuable sources are also Voltaire’s Correspondence, edited by M. Theodore Besterman, with its masterly index (107 vols., Geneva, 1953–65); Mémoires de Frédérique Sophie Wilhelmine de Prusse, Margrave de Bareith [sic] (2 vols., Paris, 1811); Henri de Catt, Mes Entretiens avec Frédéric le Grand (Paris, 1885). Thomas Carlyle’s History of Friedrich II of Prussia, called Frederick the Great (centenary edition, London, 1899), is a gold-mine of information, both relevant and irrelevant: anybody who may have enjoyed this book should read it. Ernest Lavisse’s La Jeunesse du Grand Frédéric (Paris, 1891), is full of brilliant flashes of light on Frederick’s character. Sainte-Beuve, especially in his essay on Prince Henry in the Causeries du Lundi, sees things as they are; his understanding of human nature never fails. The Encyclopedia Britannica (11th edition) has a very good bibliography, including some first-class biographies. Albert Sorel’s Europe and the French Revolution, translated and edited by Alfred Cobban and J. W. Hunt (London, 1968) would make an invaluable introduction.

  Other books consulted are:

  BARBIER, Edmond J. F., Chronique de la Régence et du Règne de Louis XV, Paris, 1885

  BARRACLOUGH, Geoffrey, The Origins of Modern Germany, Oxford, 1946

  BESTERMAN, Theodore, Voltaire, London, 1969

  BIELFELD, Baron de, Lettres familières et autres, 2 vols., The Hague, 1763

  BISSET, Andrew, Memoirs and Papers of Sir Andrew Mitchell, London, 1850

  BÖRSCH-SUPAN, Helmut, Friedrich Rudolph, Comte de Rothenbourg, in L’Oeil, Paris, December 1968

  British Medical Journal, ‘Porphyria—A Royal Malady’, 13 April 1968, p. 105

  BROGLIE, Duc de, Frédéric II et Louis XV d’après des documents nouveaux, 2 vols., Paris, 1885

  Frédéric II et Marie Thérèse, d’après des documents nouveaux, 2 vols., Paris, 1883

  COXE, William, History of the House of Austria, 2 vols., London, 1807

  CUTHELL, Edith E., The Scottish Friend of Frederick the Great, the last Earl Marischal, London, 1915

  EASUM, Chester, Prince Henry of Prussia, University of Wisconsin, 1942

  GAXOTTE, Pierre, Frédéric II, Paris, 1938

  HERVEY, Lord, Some materials towards memoirs of the reign of King George II, London, 1848

  KEITH, Sir Robert Murray, Memoirs, 2 vols., London, 1849

  KOSER, Reinhold, Geschichte Friedrichs des Grossen, 4 vols., 1893–1905

  LIGNE, Prince de, Mémoires et Mélanges historiques, Paris, 1827

  MACAULAY, Lord, Critical and Historical Essays, London, 1891

  MIRABEAU, Comte de, De la Monarchie prussienne sous Frédéric le Grand, 4 vols., Paris, 1788

  OLIVER, Frederick Scott, The Endless Adventure, 3 vols., London, 1930–35

  PÉREY, Lucien, Un Petit-Neveu de Mazarin (Duc de Nivernais, 1715–63), Paris, 1890

  REDDAWAY, William F., Frederick the Great and the Rise of Prussia (in a French translation, Paris, 1932)

  RITTER, Gerhard, Frederick the Great, an historical Profile, London, 1968

  ROUSSET, Camille F. M., Le Comte de Gisors, Paris, 1868

  STRANGWAYS, Giles (Earl of Ilchester) and Brooke (Mrs Henry Langford), The Life of Sir Charles Hanbury Williams, London, 1928

  THIÉBAULT, Dieudonné, Mes Souvenirs de vingt ans de séjour à Berlin; ou Frédéric le Grand, 5 vols., Paris, 1805

  VALORY, Marquis de, Mémoires des Negotiations du Marquis de Valory, Paris, 1820

  WILLIAM II, Emperor of Germany, My Ancestors, London, 1929

  WRAXALL, Sir Nathaniel William, Memoirs of the courts of Berlin, Dresden, Warsaw, Vienna, 1777–9, London, 1806

  Index

  The links below refer to the page references of the printed edition of this book. While the numbers do not correspond to the page numbers or locations on an electronic reading device, they are retained as they can convey useful information regarding the position and amount of space devoted to an indexed entry. Because the size of a page varies in reflowable documents such as this e-book, it may be necessary to scroll down to find the referenced entry after following a link.

  Académie Française, 94

  Aix-la-Chapelle, Treaty of, 121

  Alberville, Comte d’, 30

  Alembert, Jean-Baptiste le Rond d’, 205

  Algarotti, Count, 52, 57, 66, 69, 119–20, 134, 149; caviar sent to Frederick II by, 116; death of, 227; decoration of, 119; illness of, 120; incognito trip to Strasbourg by, 59–60; poor health used to advantage by, 120; as sophisticated companion, 92

  Alsace, 100

  Amelia, Princess (cousin), 12, 24, 26, 45

  Amelia, Princess (sister), 90, 160, 171; and Wilhelmine’s death, 179

  Anhalt, Count von, 228

  Anhalt-Dessau, Prince of (‘Old Dessauer’), 5, 7, 30, 33, 41, 55, 71, 73, 102, 104; death of, 136; Fouqué quarrels with, 50; in Frederick II’s dream, 171; Frederick William I’s only confidant, 34

  Anne of Russia, Empress, 53, 65

  Ansbach, Margrave of, see Karl Wilhelm Friedrich

  Anti-Machiavel (Frederick II), 54

  Argens, Marquis d’, 91–2, 98, 106, 118–19, 120–1, 130, 136, 172–3, 190, 192, 193, 195; and Frederick II’s contemplation of suicide, 185–6; death of, 210; encouraging letters from, 186; Frederick II’s fondness for, 209; Frederick II’s invitation to, 171; Maupertuis’s ‘ghost’ seen by, 191

  Argens, Marquise, 192, 210

  Aristotle, 37

  Arnaud, Baculard d’, 131, 134–5

  Arnold (miller), 221–3

  Art de la Guerre (Frederick II), 135

  Augustus II of Poland, Elector of Saxony (‘the Strong’), 6, 18–20, 23–4, 57; death of, 45

  Augustus III of Poland 18–19, 45, 53, 82, 86, 103, 124, 152, 154, 192; death of, 207; elected king, 47; flees to Prague, 104; Frederick II’s treaty with, 155; Frederick II’s ultimatum to, 153; and Seven Years’ War, see Seven Years’ War

  Augustus William, Prince of Prussia (brother) 15, 56, 69–70, 90, 160, 161, 162–3; death of, 175; in Frederick II’s dream, 175; Hanbury Williams’s view of,
127

  Austria 16, 69, 55, 72, 73, 76, 77, 78–9, 151–2, 196, 220–1; Berlin occupied by, 190–1; and Chotusitz, 83; collapse of, 196; Frederick II seen to hold balance between France and, 121; Frederick II’s camp attacked by army of, 189; Frederick II’s deal with, 78–9; in Frederick II’s essay on Europe, 54; French flirt with, 147; horrible cruelty of in Alsace, 100; and Leczinski, 47; Munich taken from, 101; and Seven Years’ War, see Seven Years’ War; and Silesia, see Silesia; and Treaty of Versailles, 151

  Bach, Johann Sebastian, 118

  Bach, Karl Philipp Emanuel, 117

  Baltimore, Lord, 52

  Barbarina, 119

  Barbier, Edmond, 142

  Battle of Chotusitz, 83

  Battle of Hochkirch, 178–9

  Battle of Hohenfriedberg, 104

  Battle of Kolin, 158–61

  Battle of Kunersdorf, 184–5, 199

  Battle of Leignitz, 189

  Battle of Leuthen, 168–70

  Battle of Mollwitz, 69–70, 71, 164

  Battle of Ochakov, 123

  Battle of Prague, 157–9

  Battle of Rossbac, 166

  Battle of Sahay, 83

  Battle of Soor, 104

  Battle of Torgau, 191

  Battle of Zorndorf, 176–7

  Bautzen, 162

  Bavaria, 72, 99; Habsburgs annex, 220; Habsburgs give up claim to, 221

  Bavaria, Count of, 87–8

  Bavaria, Countess of, 88

  Bayreuth: destruction of palace at, 145; Frederick II visits, 46, 59, 97

  Bayreuth, Margrave of, 38–9, 41, 59, 145

  Beauvau, Marquis de, 66

  Belle-Isle, Chevalier de, 79–80

  Belle-Isle, Comte de, 71–2, 72–3, 75, 77, 79–80, 81, 84–5, 88, 102; becomes Minister of War, 145; to England after sciatica overcomes, 102; French led out of Prague by, 86; Penny Post report on, 102–3

  Benedict XIV, Pope, 179

  Bentinck, Countess, 130, 135, 139

  Berg, 10, 16, 46–7, 66

  Berlin: china factory in, 202; Russians and Austrians occupy, 191–2; repaid from treasury, 199

  Berlin Academy, 58

  Bernis, Cardinal de, 183, 193

  Besterman, Theodore, 128

  Beuthen, Burgomaster of, 183

  Bielfeld, Baron, 51, 56

  Biron, Ernst Johann von, 53

  Bohemia, 65, 78, 84, 94, 99, 101, 157, 221

  BORSCH, Lt. von, 21

  Botta, Marchese, 65–6

  Brandenberg, 152, 199; ruin of, 2

  Breslau, 194, 200, 226; Austrians flee into, 169; Loudon besieges, 188–9; Treaty of, 85, 93, 101

  Broglie, Maréchal de 59–60, 81, 82, 83, 87, 92; Belle-Isle ordered to replace, 84

  Browne, Gen., 68, 146, 155, 160; at Battle of Prague, 157–8

  Bruges, 104

  Brühl, Count von, 154, 155, 207

  Brunswick, Duke Ferdinand of, 91, 167, 176, 183, 191, 194, 198

  Brunswick, Duke of, 91

  Brunswick-Bevern, Duke of, 91, 163, 166, 167, 168

  Buchwald, Mme de, 165

  Buddenbrock, Gen. von, 29, 31

  Buisson, Anne du, 51

  Burney, Dr, 117

  Bute, Lord, 119, 193, 203

  Calvin, John, 10

  Camas, ‘Maman’, 53, 106, 179, 188, 206; death of, 219

  Camas (minister), 57

  Canada, 187; Quebec, 186

  Candi, M. de, 201

  Carlyle, Thomas, xv–xvi, 12, 19, 222, 228

  Catherine the Great of Russia, 195–6, 203, 208, 216–17, 219

  Catt, Henri de, 172–4, 175, 177, 180; Frederick II worshipped by, 183; Frederick II falls out with, 226

  Celle, Duke of, 2

  Charles III of Spain, 210

  Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, 16, 24, 36, 37, 45, 65; death of, 62–4; Frederick William I’s wavering loyalty towards, 46–7; furious letter of, to Frederick II, 61; Louis XV’s settlement with, 47; Pragmatic Sanction of 63, 74, 75, 81

  Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor, 63, 64, 65, 77–8; coronation of, 81–2; death of, 103; elected Emperor, 81; empire claimed by, 71; gout suffered by, 82; hopeless commander, 79; lays siege to Prague, 77

  Charles Albert, Elector, see Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor

  Charles Edward, Prince (‘Bonnie’), 99–100, 104, 123, 211

  Charles Emmanuel of Savoy, 71

  Charles of Brandenburg, Margrave, 209

  Charles of Lorraine, 83, 84, 100, 161–2, 167; at Battle of Leuthen, 168–9; at Battle of Prague, 157, 158; Belle-Isle attempts to depose, 86; death of, 227; Lobkowitz joins forces with, 85; stripped of command, 169

  Charlottenburg, 3, 23, 192, 195; redecoration of, 93, 96; sacking of, 191; Voltaire’s opinion of, 98

  Chasot, Comte de, 45–6, 50, 98

  Chateauroux, Mme de, 99

  Châtelet, Mme du, xiv, 52, 61, 93, 95, 98, 128; death of, 128

  Chatham, Lord, 224

  Chesterfield, Lord, 129

  Chesterfield, Lord, 52

  Chevert, François de, 80, 81, 86, 88–9, 162

  Choiseul, Duc de, 183, 187

  Chotusitz, Battle of, 83

  Clarendon, Lord, 124

  Clement XII, Pope, 65

  Clement XIII, Pope, 179

  Cleopatra e Cesare (Graun), 94

  Cocceji, Chancellor, 119, 132, 133

  Cochois, Mlle, 119

  Convention of Kloster Zeven, 163, 167

  Cornwallis, Lord, 229

  Crown Prince Cadets, 11

  Cumberland, Duke of, 104, 162, 163, 167

  Darget, Claude Étienne, 120, 134, 136

  Daun, Gen., 101, 158, 159, 161, 175, 176, 184, 188, 189; at Battle of Hochkirch, 178–9; at Battle of Leignitz, 189; at Battle of Leuthen, 168–9; at Battle of Torgau, 191; Dresden besieged by, 186

  Dendermonde, 104

  Denis, Mme, 128, 129, 131, 139–41, 187, 224; claimed pregnancy of, 140

  Diatribe du Docteur Akakia, Le (Voltaire), 137–8

  Dickens, Capt. Guy, 28, 38, 66, 124

  Discours sur la Guerre (Frederick II), 107

  Dorn (secretary), 141, 142

  Dorothea of Celle, 13

  Dresden, 156, 178; Daun besieges, 186; Frederick II marches on, 153; Frederick II’s visit to, with father, 19–20; Peace of, 105, 124, 131

  Duhan de Jandun, Jacques 8–9, 10–11; death of, 105; exiled, 37; and Frederick II’s library, 14; recalled from exile, 58; resignation of, 23

  Eberhard Ludwig of Württemberg, Duke, 30

  Eichel, Chef de Cabinet, 58, 70, 172

  Elizabeth of Brunswick, 206–7

  Elizabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (wife): becomes Queen, 56; brothers and sisters of, 91; Frederick II shuns, 106; Frederick II’s engagement to, 43–4; Frederick II’s letters to, changing nature of, 56–7; Frederick William I sends gift of bed to, 51; fussiness of, 51; Hanbury Williams’s view of, 125; ladies-in-waiting of, 50; marriage of, 45; painted by Pesne, 51; Rheinsberg property bought for, 49; seasonal accommodations of, 57

  Elizabeth of Russia, Empress, 96, 147, 152, 176, 205; death of, 194–5

  Elliot, Hugh, 224, 226

  England: allies itself with Maria Theresa, 100; Charles Edward seeks to re-establish Stuarts in, 104; Fontainebleau treaty signed by, 196; France’s fleeting moments of friendship with, 16; France’s undeclared war with, 147; Frederick II’s reputation as aggressor in, 203; government mediocrity in, 151;half-hearted allies, 183; Louis XV’s army faced in Netherlands by, 100; Maria Theresa financed by, 99; Prussia on verge of war with, 24; Saxe’s victories against, 104; and Seven Years’ War, see Seven Years’ War

  Épître (Frederick II), 180

  Ermetulla, 123, 125, 212, 224

  Esterhazy, Prince, 191

  Estrées, Maréchal d’, 162

  Eugene, Prince, 5, 6, 9, 29, 37, 45, 46, 63, 72, 111

  Ferdinand, Prince (brother), 90, 171, 220, 231; and Wilhelmine’s death, 179

  Fermor, Marshal, 176

  Finc
k von Finckenstein, Gen. Count, 9, 14, 21, 185, 187–8, 201; resignation of, 23

  Flemming, Field Marshal, 18

  Flemming, Mme, 18

  Fleury, Cardinal 57, 66, 72, 85, 92, 93; death of, 94

  Fontainebleau, Treaty of, 196

  Fouqué, Capt. Baron de La Motte, 33, 50–1, 72, 188, 198, 200–1, 204, 219

  Fox, Henry, 125

  France, 55, 77–82 passim, 151–2; England’s fleeting moments of friendship with, 16; England’s undeclared war with, 147; Fontainebleau treaty signed by, 196; Frederick II seen to hold balance between Austria and, 121; Frederick II’s letter to Voltaire concerning, 97; Frederick II’s rage against, 60; Frederick William I abominates, 4–5, 10; lack of mercenaries in army of, 86; Maria Theresa’s treaty with, 147; Maritime Powers gather to invade, 94; peace longed for by, 196; and Prague, see Prague; preponderant power, 1; Quebec lost by, 186; Schönhausen besieged by, 45; and Seven Years’ War, see Seven Years’ War; and Treaty of Versailles, 151; treaty between Prussia and, 99; winning of colonial war with, 193

  Francis of Brunswick, 179

  Francis, Duke of Lorraine (later Grand Duke of Tuscany; Holy Roman Emperor), 44, 47, 63–4, 65, 69, 70, 73, 74, 103, 146; becomes Holy Roman Emperor, 105; death of, 215; Frederick II’s deal with, 78–9

  Franco-Prussian alliance, 77, 78, 147

  Frankfurt, 187; Voltaire detained in, 140–1

  Frederick I of Prussia (grand-father), 51, 57, 130; beautiful buildings left by, 3; Berlin Academy founded by, 58; death of, 3–4; disastrous finances of, 3; models himself on Louis XIV (Sun King), 3

  Frederick II of Prussia (‘the Great’; ‘Fritz’): agrarian reforms of, 200; Algarotti’s effect on, 52; appointed Major of Potsdam Grenadiers, 14; and Arnold, 221–3; Augustus III’s treaty with, 155; Austrian army attack camp of, 189; at Battle of Hochkirch, 178–9; at Battle of Kolin, 158–60; at Battle of Kunersdorf, 184–5, 199; at Battle of Leignitz, 189; at Battle of Leuthen, 168–70; at Battle of Prague, 157–9; at Battle of Rossbach, 166; at Battle of Torgau, 191; at Battle of Zorndorf, 176–8; Battles of Hohenfriedberg and Soor won by, 104; becomes King, 56; birth of, xvi, 1, 3; Canada and India won for England by, 196; Catherine the Great meets, 216; and Catt, 172–4; chefs of, 116; and Chotusitz, 83; command handed to Finck by, 185; contempt for religions displayed by, 10; controversy surrounding popularity of, 225; convicted of desertion, 34; coronation forgone by, 57; Crown Prince Cadets given to, 11; Daun attacked by, 159; death contemplated by, 69–70; death of, 231; debts of, 25, 28; Dresden marched on by, 153; Duhan’s influence on, 9; early life of, 4–42; early scepticism of, 13; early theological arguments of, 13; Elizabeth of Russia hates, 152; Elizabeth of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel’s engagement to, 43–4; engagement of, 43–4; enthusiastic reading by, 50; escape attempts by, 24–5, 30–1; family devotion of, 90; father almost strangles, 22; father plotted against by, 15; father teased by, 13, 22; and father’s illness, 55; on father’s Dresden state visit, 19–20; father’s rages terrify, 13; ‘Fédéric’ signature of, 52–3; first play and opera seen by, 19; flute played by, 9, 14, 46, 96, 115, 117; Frederick William I gives stud farm to, 52; Frederick William I sends gift of bed to, 51; Frederick William I’s reconciliation with, 39–40; French adored by, 15; French tax-gatherers imported by, 201; and friends’ deaths, 105–6; fruit loved by, 116; fun made of poetry of, 164; gardening loved by, 41; and George II’s ‘both or neither’ marriage offer, 16, 26; Germany tour by, with father, 29–32; growing eccentricity of, 204; growing intelligence of,14; Hanbury Williams’s view of, 126–7; Henry under command of, 190; Henry’s views of, 183; homosexual atmosphere at court of, 66; horses given to peasants by, 199; hunting disliked by, 13–14; illnesses of, 54–5, 60, 62, 157–8, 171, 180, 188, 209–10, 219, 222, 229; immigrants encouraged by, 199; incognito trip to Strasbourg by, 59–60; Jordan’s letters to, 67–8; Joseph II meets, 215, 216; and Katte’s execution, 35; king’s oath taken by, 57; Küstrin council position of, 36–8; Küstrin imprisonment of, 33, 34–6; Küstrin release of, 36; law reforms of, 203; library of, xvi, 14–15, 25; literary work of, 54, 67, 94, 107–12, 130, 135, 164–5, 180, 194; made regimental colonel, 41; man of letters, 52–3; marriage of, 45; Moravia invaded by, 82; and mother’s death, 152; mother’s influence on, 12; music composed by, 118; Nivernais’s company delights, 148; Nivernais’s pen portrait of, 149; occupants of household of, 50; Orzelska’s affair with, 20, 23–4; painted by Pesne, 51; peasants helped by, 199–200; Peter III’s idolatry of, 195; at Philippsburg siege, 45; and Prague, see Prague; Prague taken by, 100; and predestination, 37; Prussia tour of inspection by, 47; regiment of hussars raised by, 78; religions tolerated by, 59; revelation of Voltaire’s hatred towards, 225; Rheinsberg property bought for, 49; riding loved by, 13–14; Rousseau’s books disliked by, 212; Sans Souci built by and becomes chief residence of, 114; Schönhausen palace given to, 45; Scriptures mocked by, 13; and Seven Years’ War, see Seven Years’ War; sexuality of, xvii, 52, 143; and Silesia, see Silesia; snuff boxes owned by, 115; on spies, 111; suicide contemplated by, 163, 185–6, 194; teenage illness of, 21; timetable of, 115–17; torture of civilians outlawed by, 58–9; Treaty of Breslau signed by, 85; Treaty of Westminster signed by, 148; Upper and Lower Silesia acquired by, 85; Voltaire evicted from Sans Souci by, 132; Voltaire met by, 60; Voltaire moves to Berlin to live with, 129–30; Voltaire paid to spy on, 95; Voltaire revealed as spy by, 96–7; Voltaire visits, 95–7; Voltaire visits Bayreuth with, 97; and Voltaire’s departure from Berlin, 139; in Voltaire’s Mémoires, 142–3; Voltaire’s more frequent correspondence with, 128; warfare essays of, 107–12; and Wilhelmine’s death, 179–80; Wilhelmine’s musical duets with, 21–2; at Wusterhausen, 20–1