Stratemann writes: Berlin, July 28th 1731: Supposedly General Lieutenant v. Katte after leading his regiment at the revue before the King got off his horse and put his sword at the King's feet, and asked again for his demission, whereupon his majesty showed himself very much displeased. Rumor even has it (Hans Heinrich) got arrested as a consequence.
selenak comments: Now, obviously the arrest didn't happen - I don't think biographers would have overlooked that! -, but this is also the first time I heard about Hans Heinrich making this gesture. Since the revue was a really big public spectacle (this is also why Fritz was pissed off when Heinrich didn't salute him properly in the after the 7 Years War, remember), such a gesture would have been quite something. And does argue it's FW Hans Heinrich is struggling for forgive. Not to mention that it gives the lie to the "Hans Heinrich totally on board with FW executing his son!" version. All the more so since Stratemann is really the most FW friendly envoy ever.
And now that we've seen the full context for the "my son has granted his forgiveness, so must I" quote, it's preeeeetty darn clear it's FW he's struggling to forgive. Not, like, Fritz (whose only mention is having a melancholy parting from Katte, which makes it sound like HH's sympathies are rather with Fritz than against him on the subject of his son's death).
Also, did everyone notice Hans Heinrich saying 1) everyone pities and mourns for Katte, and 2) describing Katte as a *sacrifice*?? This is like Besser stopping just short of describing him as a martyr, all clad in white before the throne of God.
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For those just joining:
Stratemann writes: Berlin, July 28th 1731: Supposedly General Lieutenant v. Katte after leading his regiment at the revue before the King got off his horse and put his sword at the King's feet, and asked again for his demission, whereupon his majesty showed himself very much displeased. Rumor even has it (Hans Heinrich) got arrested as a consequence.
Rheinsberg post here.
And now that we've seen the full context for the "my son has granted his forgiveness, so must I" quote, it's preeeeetty darn clear it's FW he's struggling to forgive. Not, like, Fritz (whose only mention is having a melancholy parting from Katte, which makes it sound like HH's sympathies are rather with Fritz than against him on the subject of his son's death).
Also, did everyone notice Hans Heinrich saying 1) everyone pities and mourns for Katte, and 2) describing Katte as a *sacrifice*?? This is like Besser stopping just short of describing him as a martyr, all clad in white before the throne of God.
Fucking FW.