#duke of silesia

[thefreelancehistorywriter]

Silesian Sainte-Chapelle: St Thomas Becket’s Chapel, Piast Castle, Racibórz ~ Guest Post by Katarzyna Ogrodnik-Fujcik

Henry IV the Righteous in Codex Manesse. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons ‘’Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest?’’ The words of King Henry II still echo ominously through the centuries and remain one of the best known in English history. The murder of Thomas Becket at the steps of his own cathedral shocked the Christian world. Henry II himself was deeply shaken. He may have not given…

[royalty-nobility]

Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen (1738-1822), Husband of Marie Christine

Artist: Anton Burger (German, 1824-1905)

Date: c. 1770

Medium: Oil painting

Collection: Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Austria

Albert Casimir, Duke of Teschen

Prince Albert Casimir of Saxony, Duke of Teschen (11 July 1738 – 10 February 1822) was a Saxon prince from the House of Wettin who married into the Habsburg imperial family. He was noted as an art collector and founded the Albertina in Vienna, one of the largest and finest collections of old master prints and drawings in the world.

Albert was a younger son of King Augustus III of Poland (who was also Elector of Saxony) and his wife, Maria Josepha of Austria, a first cousin of Empress Maria Theresa, being the eldest daughter of Emperor Joseph I. Prince Albert of Saxony, Duke of Teschen, was also one of the godparents to his namesake, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Young Albert was specifically chosen by Archduchess Maria Christina of Austria to be her husband. This was a special favour granted by her mother, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, because marriages of imperial children were usually used for diplomatic purposes. Still, the betrothal and wedding had to wait until the death of her father, Emperor Francis I, and the wedding decorations were black because it occurred during the official mourning period after his death. From his father-in-law's estate, Albert received the territory of Teschen in Austrian Silesia and was accordingly given the title of Duke of Teschen.

[jacques-le-fataliste-23]

Saint Hedwig of Silesia venerated by Duke Louis and his consort Agnes, 1353 Hedwig Codex (Codex of Lubin), fol. 12v Via: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedwig_Codex

[thegothicera]

Saint Hedwig of Silesia with Duke Ludwig of Legnica and Brieg and Duchess Agnés, from the Hedwig Codex, Polish, 1353

[kentmac]

The Seven Years' War in the Style of Dave Attell Part 1 AI Generated

The Seven Years' War, also known as the "Big One" to those of us who appreciate a good conflict, was a massive battle royale that took place all over the world. Picture this: Great Britain and France, two heavyweight contenders, duking it out for global dominance. But wait, there's more! Prussia wanted to expand its territory, Austria wanted to reclaim lost land, and Spain and France joined forces in a family affair. Meanwhile, smaller German states jumped into the mix, some fighting, some providing mercenaries. In North America, the colonists got in on the action too, with skirmishes turning into all-out war. The result? France's reign as a global power came crashing down, and Europe's power dynamics were shaken up, setting the stage for future conflicts. It was like MMA meets chess, a high-stakes game with far-reaching consequences.

Alright, folks, gather 'round for a history lesson. So we've got this thing called the Seven Years' War, right? It all started when the British decided they wanted to expand their territory in North America, but the French had other ideas. This led to the French and Indian War, with both sides, along with their Native American buddies, fighting for control. Things got real intense when this young buck named George Washington, heard of him?, and his native pals ambushed the French. This whole conflict spread like wildfire, even to the high seas where the British were seizing French ships left and right.

Alright, so back in the day, Prussia and Austria were going head to head for control in central Europe. Prussia is a lot like Germany - the biggest of the German states but not quite as fun loving. Then in 1756, everything got turned on its head with the Diplomatic Revolution. Countries were trying to hook up like it was last call and the lights haven’t come on yet. Austria buddied up with Russia and France to try and get back Silesia from Prussia. I’m assuming Silesia is some sort of wonderful to make you want to be friends with those guys. And Prussia teamed up with Great Britain to show France who's boss. So we got France, Russia with Austria on one side – the original odd couple – more than an odd couple, I don’t know. I don’t do mathies. And, Great Britain and Prussia on the other side.

Prussia got all cocky by strutting around the bar with its new friend Great Britain which led Prussia to take a swing at Saxony under the control of the Holy Roman Empire. This caused a whole lot of chaos. The Holy Roman Empire wasn't thrilled and declared war on Prussia, dragging in a bunch of German states and even Sweden. What the Holy Roman Empire was doing located in Germany and worrying about Saxony– don’t ask me. I’m not McNallys.

Spain felt lonely and wanted in on the action and asked France to team up and they became the Road Warriors and double suplexing, sorry, invading Portugal. But that didn't work out too well. Apparently, Portugal is stronger than it looks.

And Russia started with Austria, but then, get this, switched sides when a new tsar came into power. I’m all confused now. It was a messy time all around, folks.

So, like, the Brits totally kicked some French butt in this war, man. They scored big time, scooping up loads of territory - New France, Spanish Florida, Caribbean islands, and even a spot in Africa. They were like, "Yo, Frenchies, step aside, Britain's taking over!" Unfortunately, the Native American tribes got left out of the settlement. Spoiler alert , it’ll happen again. Then Pontiac's War came along, where the Odawa tribe was like, "Hey, Britain, give us back our forts and share the land!" But it didn't work out too well for them. Tough break, guys. Land distribution can be a real bummer, especially when you're on the losing side and you’ve got a soft spot for beads."

 

Prussia managed to turn things around like a magician pulling a rabbit out of their hat. They were like, "Hey Austria, put that schnitzel down, because we're about to kick some Habsburg butt!" And that's exactly what they did. Prussia came out on top, gaining some extra territory and flexing their military muscles. It was a classic case of the underdog rising up and proving everyone wrong.

So, we got Frederick the Great doing his thing, you know, retrieving stuff and retaining the swanky Prussian position. And Austria, they tried but failed to get back their precious little Silesia from Prussia. Poor Portugal and Sweden, they thought jumping in would give 'em their great power status back, but nope, sorry guys, your still Sweden and Portugal. France, oh buddy, they lost a bunch of colonies and ended up with a mountain of debt they couldn't handle. Spain may have lost Florida, but hey, they snagged Louisiana and got their colonies back. Now, some smartypants historians say this was the first global war, The called it the Great War before World War 1 decided enough was enough and started digging trenches. Nevertheless, the Seven Years War had ripple effects, man. Changed up the European political order, set the stage for British world domination in the 19th century, kicked off some tension in good ol' North America, and let everyone know that France was a total mess. Sssshhh, is that a horde of stinky peasants storming the Bastille that I hear? It was a wild ride, with sieges, town fires, and battles that left a whole lotta folks dead.

The North American Background:

The boundary between British and French possessions in North America was about as clear as an empty bottle of whiskey at last call. France thought they owned the whole dang Mississippi River basin, but Britain wasn't having it. So, the French, being the stubborn folks they are, started building forts in the Ohio River Valley to flex their muscles and protect their Native American friends from the growing British influence. Well, them British settlers along the coast didn't take too kindly to having French troops in their backyard, and they had a sneaking suspicion the French were gonna stir up trouble with their Native American buddies. Plus, they wanted that sweet Ohio River Valley land for all those new settlers pouring into the colonies. Things started getting real messy when the Brits tried to stop the construction of a fancy fort the French were building at "the Forks" where a couple of rivers meet to form the Ohio River. George Washington, bless his heart, tried to wrangle up some militia to take care of the French, but it all blew up in their faces. Next thing you know, we got a full-blown war on our hands, and it ain't gonna end pretty.

The European Background

 

So, back in the day, there was this War of the Austrian Succession, which lasted from 1740 to 1748. And in this war, King Frederick the Great of Prussia was like, "Screw it, I'm taking Silesia from Austria." And Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, not one to stand still, was all like, "Hold up, let me rebuild my forces and make some new alliances." So, you got these traditional enemies, France, Great Britain, and Austria, all teaming up or switching sides like a game of musical chairs to garner the most power and influence. And Prussia was like, "I got Silesia, peace out." But then France and Prussia joined forces in 1747, just to make things even more confusing. And let's not forget about Russia, who was all like, "Yeah, we'll help you out, Austria, but only if we get Silesia and East Prussia." Crazy times, my friends, crazy times.

Alright folks, let me break it down for you in my own Attell-style way. So, we got King George II of Britain, right? He's all about his German holdings, but he's also got these British colonies that need his attention. Now, France is sniffing around, eyeing Hanover, and they're willing to use any chance they get to mess with Britain. But here's the thing - France has their own little secret club going on, called the Secret du Roi, where they're doing their own private diplomacy without their foreign minister even knowing. Sneaky, right? Louis XV, the French king, has agents all over the place, trying to score personal wins. He wants his cousin to grab the Polish crown, and he also wants to keep Poland, Sweden, and the Ottoman Empire as French allies against Russia and Austria.

 

Meanwhile, the Prussian king, Frederick, is eyeing Saxony and Polish west Prussia for himself. But hey, he knows he can't count on French support if he starts a war for them. And if he sides with the French against the British, he's opening himself up to an Austro-Russian attack. It's a tricky situation, people. Saxony is stuck between Prussia and Austria, and Poland is being pulled in different directions by pro-French and pro-Russian folks. Easy pickings for anyone, really. So, Frederick comes up with this grand plan to give Augustus III of Saxony Bohemia in exchange for Saxony. But hold on a second, that means Austria gets screwed over again. And Austria, guess what? They're not happy.

 

Then, there's Britain. Oh, Britain. They're trying to keep Hanover safe from the French, so they throw their electoral vote in Hanover for Maria Theresa's son, Joseph II, to become the Holy Roman Emperor. But wait, that doesn't make Frederick and Prussia too happy. And guess who Britain ends up teaming up with later? Russia, my friends. They promise money and troops to Russia to station on the border, all in the name of Hanover's defense. In the midst of all this chaos, King George II decides to make nice with Frederick, because they're both scared of the Austro-Russian axis. So, they sign the Convention of Westminster, promising to help each other out. They want peace, but honestly, it looks like war is knocking on the door.

 

Then comes the big smackdown. France is pissed at Britain for backstabbing Prussia, and Russia is mad at Britain too for their shady moves. Austria, seeing this mess, decides to make their move. France has no choice but to join the Austro-Russian team to avoid total destruction. They sign the First Treaty of Versailles, pledging troops to each other in case of attack. It's a full-on diplomatic revolution, my friends. And all these treaties, they might say they're defensive, but we all know they're leading us straight into war. The game is on, and it's gonna get messy. Stay tuned.

Methods and technologies

European warfare in the early modern period was all about guns, swords, and mayhem. Flintlock muskets and bayonets were the weapons of choice for infantry, while cavalrymen brandished sabres and pistols. Artillery played a big role in siege warfare, and strategic battles revolved around control of key fortifications. Wars were fought by disciplined regular armies, supplied and equipped by the state. France had a strategy of focusing on European battles and trading territorial acquisitions in Europe for lost overseas possessions, while Britain sought alliances and used its naval power to its advantage. Austria and Russia wanted to reduce the power of Prussia. It was a time of shifting alliances, epic battles, and high-stakes negotiations. Is that what you were looking for? I hope so, because that's what you're gonna get with me, Dave Attell.

 

Strategies From Different Countries

 

So there's this dude named William Pitt the Elder, right? This dude had a freakin' genius plan for kicking France's ass in a way that no one had ever seen before. As prime minister, Pitt was all like, "Yo, let's take the whole damn French Empire for ourselves!" And this guy knew he had the Royal Navy on his side - this bad boy could control the freakin' seas. So he's gonna sail over to North America and India and take those French possessions like it's nobody's business. But wait, there's more! Pitt's got this crazy idea to use the American colonists to help him out, with the British regulars leading the charge. Smart move, Pitt. And to make sure the French couldn't escape, he's throwing some cash at his European allies. This guy knows what he's doing! And guess what? It actually freakin' worked! Pitt was like the head honcho from 1756 to 1761, and his British peeps kept following his strategy even after he left. And man, did it pay off! Pitt knew the value of empire and he figured out France's weak spots. This dude was a freakin' genius, I tell ya!

A Year by Year Breakdown of the Way on the British Side

 

So, we got this British Prime Minister, the Duke of Newcastle, thinking he can prevent war in Europe with some alliances. But then the French come out swinging and attack Minorca in the Mediterranean. The British try to come to the rescue, but they fail, and the French take the island. It's a mess, really. And then, old Frederick II of Prussia gets wind of all this chaos and decides to join forces with the Brits. He boldly crosses the border into Saxony, trying to get the jump on Austria. This guy has big plans, you know? He wants to snatch up Saxony, set up camp in Bohemia, and invade Moravia. It's a wild ride, folks. And it turns out, Frederick was underestimated. He ends up in a sticky situation at the Battle of Lobositz. He flees the battlefield, leaving his buddy Keith in charge. Classic Frederick move. But you won't believe it, he still claims it as a Prussian victory! Talk about spin doctoring. Anyway, Prussia occupies Saxony, and the Austrians take partial control of Silesia. It's a messy situation out there, folks. Meanwhile, the Brits are trying to help their Prussian buddy, sending supplies and some serious cash. They even get some German states together to protect Hanover from the French. But the Dutch, they want no part in this mess - they just wanna stay neutral. And let's not forget, while all this continental chaos is happening, the Brits aren't doing too hot in North America. Tough year all around.

1757

So, back in the day, Frederick II of Prussia was like "I'm gonna march into Bohemia and give those Austrian forces a whooping!" And that's exactly what he did. After this bloody Battle of Prague, where both sides suffered major casualties, the Prussians forced the Austrians back into Prague. But hold up, Austrian commander Leopold von Daun wasn't having it, and he gathered 30,000 troops to come to the rescue of Prague. Meanwhile, the Russians were besieging Memel with 75,000 troops, and after five days of intense bombardment, they stormed it. They even invaded East Prussia but still couldn't take Königsberg. With all these battles happening, it wasn't looking good for Prussia, especially when Sweden decided to join the party and invade Pomerania. To make matters worse, the Hanoverian army got defeated and had to surrender. Prussia was feeling the pressure, and Frederick was desperately asking Britain for help. But wait, things took a turn when Frederick scored some major wins at the Battle of Rossbach and the Battle of Leuthen. Rossbach was the only time the French faced the Prussians during the whole war, and let's just say it didn't go well for the French. Leuthen was Frederick's greatest victory, even though he missed the chance to completely destroy the Austrian army. With these wins, Frederick once again solidified himself as a top-notch general. Out in the east, Frederick shifted his forces to counter the Swedish invasion, while Hanover regrouped and launched offensives against the French. Great Britain also got its act together and formed a coalition government to give direction to the war effort. And just to add a touch of drama, a Hungarian general named Hadik decided to have some fun and occupy part of Berlin. But don't worry, Frederick wasn't having any of that and sent in a bigger force to free the city. Hadik escaped and ended up getting promoted in the Austrian Army.

[nordleuchten]

In the case of my historical favourites that actually happened – in a rather comical incident:

La Fayette to George Washington, February 6, 1786:

I [Marquis de La Fayette] went to Silesia where He [Frederick II (the Great)] Reviewed an army of 31 Bataillons, and 75 squadrons, Making in all thirty thousand men, seven thousand five hundred of whom were on Horse Back—for eight days I made dinners of three Hours with Him, when the Conversation was pretty much Confined at first to the duke of York [Frederick Augustus, duke of York, second son of George III] the King and myself, and then to two or three more—which gave me the opportunity to Hear Him throughout, and to admire the Vivacity of His wit, the endearing charms of His adress and politness, so far that I did Conceive people could forget what a tyrannic, Hard Hearted, and selfish Man He is—lord Cornwallis being there, He took Care to invite Him at table to a seat By me, Having the British King’s son on the other side, and to Make thousand questions on American affairs—Among others I Remember He Asked the duke of York if it was trüe you intended taking an House in London.

“To George Washington from Lafayette, 6 February 1786,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series, vol. 3, 19 May 1785 – 31 March 1786, ed. W. W. Abbot. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1994, pp. 538��547.] (06/15/2023)

One day I have to go and see if we have reports from Frederick as well. He was pretty consistent with his letter writing home, what gives me hope that there is something.

Imagine your favorite historical figure meeting your other favorite historical figure

[roehenstart]

Henryk IV Probus by Aleksander Lesser.

[suetravelblog]

Giselle Ballet Bucharest Romania National Opera

Giselle Ballet Bucharest Romania National Opera

Giselle Act I – northernballet.com Photo Bill Cooper Giselle is one of the world’s most popular romantic tragedies. Since its 1841 Parisian premier – characterized as an “unqualified triumph” – the “universal passion of the ballet’s storyline has stood the test of time”. Many emotions – love, betrayal, jealousy, hurt – are portrayed in this beautiful classical ballet. Carlotta Grisi First Giselle…

[reunionsdereve]

Vaslav Nijinsky as Duke Albrecht of Silesia in the Ballets Russes production Giselle, 1910

[blueiscoool]

A Rare 1000-Year-Old Knights Sword Found in Poland

A 1,000-year-old sword thought to have belonged to a knight in the service of Poland's first king Bolesław the Brave has been found in Lower Silesia.

Described by archaeologists as a ‘sensation’, the metre-long weapon was found on Monday in Lewin Kłodzki by three local history enthusiasts searching the area.

Discovering what resembled a sword head lying about 30 centimetres underground, they camouflaged the site and immediately notified archaeologists in Wałbrzych.

Marek Kowalski, an archaeologist from the Wałbrzych branch of the Provincial Office for Monument Protection in Wrocław, said: “I’ve been working in this office for 27 years and no one has ever reported anything like this to me.

“It is known that during this period the Piasts and the Bohemians fought battles over this area.

“Maybe we are actually dealing with Boleslaw the Brave.

Adding that there is no information that there were any castles or strongholds in the area, he told Radio Wrocław: “It’s a sword from the early Middle Ages. It dates to the early 11th century. It is all there, but in three parts.

“It undoubtedly belonged to some knight. Such things were not simply abandoned. Swords were symbols of power of rulers and knights.”

Bolesław the Brave was Duke of Poland from 992 to 1025, and was crowned the first King of Poland in 1025.

One of the most warlike monarchs in the country's history, he created a vast kingdom based on conquest and conducted long-term conflicts with most of his neighbours: with the Germans over the borderlands, with the Czechs over control of their state and over Moravia, and with the Ruthenians.

The sword has now been inspected by Dr. Lech Marek of the Institute of Archaeology at the University of Wroclaw.

According to him, the same type of swords have been found at island Ostrów Lednicki, one of a few sites suggested as the place where Mieszko I was christened in 966 and one of the most important fortifications of the early Piast kingdom.

A similar sword, which features a Christian cross, also dated to the 11th century, was found at the bottom of the surrounding lake in 2020.

The most recent find is significant because of the sword’s great value in the 11th century.

Kowalski said that at the time it would have had a value equivalent to ‘several villages’.

Though it dates to the 11th century, it is not known when it went underground.

No other objects were found next to the sword, which rules out that it was a burial gift.

The exact location is being kept a closely guarded secret to deter treasure hunters from spoiling the archaeological site.

Kowalski hopes that CT scans will reveal whether the sword has any inscriptions, which could lead to identifying its owner.

At the moment, it is heavily corroded as it was lying directly in the ground not covered by any other material, which has led to significant corrosion.

By Stuart Dowell.

[kattestrophe]

Hiiiii! Do you know Fritz's full titles by the end of his reign? As in like "Frederick , King of Prussia, Prince of this and that and duke of this and thatetc etc"? Thank you!

Hi! I've been looking through my books and didn't really find a proper list. I could have sworn I had one, but apparently I was mistaken. So then I was considering looking for official documents that would have used the title but couldn't really find the right one either.

What I knew for sure beforehand was "Frederick, King of Prussia, Margrave of Brandenburg, Elector and Arch-Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Empire", because those are the important ones that are always listed, and "Duke of Magdeburg" because I've worked with documents from Magdeburg before. Then there was the whole thing with Silesia and Glatz, and that Prince of Orange title that I wasn't sure he ever got officially, something about Jülich and Berg that his dad was already pissed about, terribly complicated bullshit-

But luckily Frederick's flute teacher Quantz wrote a book about flute playing in 1752 and dedicated it to Frederick, providing a neat little list that is quoted on the Wikipedia page of the titles of the German Emperor post 1873 (not the best source, but I'll take what I can get):

"Allerdurchlauchtigsten Großmächtigsten Fürsten und Herrn, Herrn Friederich, Könige in Preußen; Markgrafen zu Brandenburg; Des heiligen Römischen Reichs Erzkämmerern und Churfürsten; Souverainen und Obersten Herzoge von Schlesien; Souverainen Prinzen von Oranien, Neufchatel und Valengin, wie auch der Grafschaft Glaz; in Geldern, zu Magdeburg, Cleve, Jülich, Berg, Stettin, Pommern, der Cassuben und Wenden, zu Mecklenburg, auch zu Crossen Herzoge; Burggrafen zu Nürnberg; Fürsten zu Halberstadt, Minden, Camin, Wenden, Schwerin, Ratzeburg, Ostfriesland und Moeurs; Grafen zu Hohenzollern, Ruppin, der Mark, Ravensberg, Hohenstein, Tecklenburg, Lingen, Schwerin, Bühren und Lehrdam; Herrn zu Ravenstein, der Lande Rostock, Stargard, Lauenburg, Bütow, Arlay und Breda"

20 years later, the title would change from "König in Preußen" to "König von Preußen", but other than that the list should remain unchanged. So overall we have:

King of Prussia

Margrave of Brandenburg

Arch-Chamberlain and Elector of the HRE

Duke of Silesia

Prince of Orange

Prince of Neuchatel

Prince of Valengin

Prince of the County of Glatz

Duke of Geldern

Duke of Magdeburg

Duke of Cleve

Duke of Jülich

Duke of Berg

Duke of Stettin

Duke of Pommerania

Duke of Kashubia

Duke of Wenden

Duke of Mecklenburg

Duke of Crossen

Burgrave of Nuremberg (that's a super old Hohenzollern title, pre-Brandenburg)

Prince of Halberstadt

Prince of Minden

Prince of Camin

Prince of Wenden (again?)

Prince of Schwerin

Prince of Ratzeburg

Prince of East-Frisia

Prince of Moers

Count of Hohenzollern

Count of Ruppin

Count of the Mark

Count of Ravensberg

Count of Hohenstein

Count of Tecklenburg

Count of Lingen

Count of Schwerin (again)

Count of Bühren

Count of Lehrdam

Lord of Ravenstein

Lord of Rostock

Lord of Stargard

Lord of Lauenburg

Lord of Bütow

Lord of Arlay

Lord of Breda

As @estomia said: More titles than friends

[cruger2984]

THE DESCRIPTION OF SAINT ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY The Symbol of Christian Charity and Patron of Hungary Feast Day: November 17

"As in heaven, Your will is punctually performed, so may it be done on earth by all creatures, particularly in me and by me."

Elizabeth of Thuringia, a symbol of Christian charity, an early member of the Third Order of St. Francis and is today honored as its patroness, the patroness of Hungary, the Archdiocese of Bogotá in Colombia, and of the Archdiocese of Jaro in Iloilo, was born on July 7, 1207 in Pozsony, Kingdom of Hungary (modern-day Bratislava, Slovakia), and is the daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary (Andrew of Jerusalem) and Gertrude of Merania, who was killed at the hands of the nobles led by Peter, son of Töre. Her mother's sister was Hedwig of Andechs, the wife of Duke Heinrich I of Silesia. Her ancestry included many notable figures of European royalty, going back as far as Vladimir the Great of the Kievan Rus'.

According to a different tradition, Elizabeth lived in the Castle of Posonium until the age of four. After she was brought to the court of the rulers of Thuringia in central Germany, Elizabeth was married at a young age in 1221 to Louis IV, Landgrave of Thuringia (Ludwig IV), the son of Hermann I, giving birth to three children, and a future union which would reinforce political alliances between the two families. She was raised by the Thuringian court and would have been familiar with the local language and culture. That same year, Louis was enthroned as landgrave. Their marriage appears to have been happy.

Her husband was fascinated by her charm and holiness. Whenever he went back from an official trip, he would always give her a present; and used to say that he would rather cast away a mountain of gold than give her up. In 1223, Franciscan friars arrived, and the teenage Elizabeth not only learned about the ideals of Francis of Assisi, but started to live them. Louis was not upset by his wife's charitable efforts, believing that the distribution of his wealth to the poor would bring eternal reward; he is venerated in Thuringia as a saint, though he was never canonized by the church.

It was also about this time that the priest and later inquisitor Konrad von Marburg gained considerable influence over Elizabeth when he was appointed as her confessor and later, spiritual father. When floods, famine and plague wrought havoc in Thuringia in the spring of 1226, Louis, a staunch supporter of the Hohenstaufen Frederick II, the Holy Roman Emperor, represented Frederick II at the Imperial Diet held in Cremona. Elizabeth assumed control of affairs at home and distributed alms in all parts of their territory, even giving away state robes and ornaments to the poor.

A few years later, Elizabeth's life begins to irrevocably changed forever. On September 11, 1227, when her husband Louis, en route to join the Sixth Crusade, died of a fever in Otranto at the age of just 26 years old, just a few weeks before the birth of her daughter Gertrude. 

Upon hearing the news of her husband's death and Louis' body returned to Germany, she reportedly said and cried: 'He is dead. He is dead. It is to me as if the whole world died today!'

His remains were returned to Elizabeth in 1228 and entombed at the abbey of Reinhardsbrunn. After Louis' death, his brother, Henry Raspe, assumed the regency during the minority of Elizabeth's eldest child, Hermann. After bitter arguments over the disposal of her dowry—a conflict in which Konrad was appointed as the official Defender of her case by Pope Gregory IX—Elizabeth left the court at Wartburg and moved to Marburg in Hesse.

Following her husband's death, Elizabeth made solemn vows to Konrad similar to those of a nun. These vows included celibacy, as well as complete obedience to Konrad as her confessor and spiritual director. Konrad's treatment of Elizabeth was extremely harsh, and he held her to standards of behavior which were almost impossible to meet. Among the punishments he is alleged to have ordered were physical beatings; he also ordered her to send away her three children. Her pledge to celibacy proved a hindrance to her family's political ambitions. Elizabeth was more or less held hostage at Pottenstein, the castle of her uncle, Bishop Ekbert of Bamberg, in an effort to force her to remarry. Elizabeth, however, held fast to her vow, even threatening to cut off her own nose so that no man would find her attractive enough to marry.

Sophie of Thuringia, Elizabeth's second child who will later on becoming one of the figures in the War of the Thuringian Succession and founder of the Brabant dynasty of Hesse, married Henry II, Duke of Brabant, and was the ancestress of the Landgraves of Hesse. Elizabeth's third and youngest child, Gertrude of Altenberg, was born several weeks after the death of her father; she became abbess of the monastery of Altenberg Abbey, Hesse near Wetzlar.

Thereafter, Elizabeth entered the Third Order of St. Francis (Secular Franciscan Order) in 1228, and promised never to marry again. Elizabeth spent her final years attending to the sick at the hospital of Marburg, which she had built, and supporting hundreds of poor people.

Perhaps Elizabeth is best known for her miracle of the roses. While taking bread to the poor in secret, she met her husband Ludwig on a hunting party. Ludwig, to quell suspicions of the gentry that she was stealing treasure from the castle, asked her to reveal what was hidden under her cloak. In that moment, her cloak fell open and a vision of white and red roses could be seen, which proved to Ludwig that God's protecting hand was at work. According to the Vitae, Louis was never troubled by her charity and always supported it. In some versions of this story, her brother-in-law, Heinrich Raspe, questions her. Hers is one of many miracles that associate Christian saints with roses.

Her health started to declined, and died on November 17, 1231 in Marburg, Landgraviate of Thuringia, Holy Roman Empire (modern-day Hesse, Germany). She was just only 24 years old. Elizabeth's popularity and legacy on caring of the poor was so great resulted in her canonization as a saint on May 27, 1235 in Perugia, Italy by Pope Gregory IX. There are two major shrines in her honor - in Košice, Slovakia and in Marburg, Germany.

Konrad commented these words: 'In spite of her many active works for the sick and the poor. I have seldom seen a more contemplative woman.'

[josefavomjaaga]

Happy Birthday, Marshal Mortier! This birthday calendar for the marshals really is a great idea (many thanks to @northernmariette!) as it makes me take a look at those among the gentlemen who I knew little about before. Today's birthday boy Mortier I knew almost exclusively as the commander of the Young Guard during the Russian campaign; I was only dimly aware that he was a marshal at all.

Yet he even belonged to the first batch of marshals of 1804. And he is interesting in other respects, too, if only because among the marshals he happened to be the tallest: either 193 or, according to other accounts, even 202 cm (6 ft 3 or 6 in)! He truly must have towered over his emperor. Moreover, he was apparently very affable and friendly and had a reputation for great righteousness (that I will later dedicate an extra post to).

Perhaps for this reason he was repeatedly entrusted with the occupation of other states, a task that required not only military assertiveness but also a portion of political tact. He occupied Hanover in 1803 and the Electorate of Hesse in 1806, and after the victory over Prussia he was military governor of Silesia. He also received a title of nobility, that of Duke of Treviso, and with this new dignity Napoleon then sent him off to Spain. Then came Russia. In March 1814 he defended Paris together with Marmont, as far as a defence was possible at all. He then had a long career under the Bourbons and Orleans, even if he briefly (1815 - 1819) lost his rank as peer because he refused to join the military tribunal that would judge Ney. He was sent to Russia as French ambassador and even for four months succeeded Soult in the Ministry of War in 1834, though I understand people agreed that he was completely out of his depths in politics.

Mortier fell victim to an assassination attempt in 1835. However, the attack by Corsican adventurer Joseph Fieschi (one of Joachim Murat's companions at his landing in Pizzo!) was not aimed at him, but at King Louis-Philippe. Mortier died in the explosion of an infernal machine, along with ten other people, seven others later succumbed to their injuries.

[sparreaux]

It is not unknown to you, gentlemen, what disasters have befallen here while we were busy with the French and Reichs army. Schweidnitz is gone; Duke of Bevern beaten; Breslau gone, and all our war stores there; a good part of Silesia gone; and in fact my embarrassment would be at the impossible pitch, had not I boundless trust in you and your qualities which have been so often manifested as soldiers and sons of your country. Hardly one among you but has distinguished himself by some nobly memorable action: all these services to the State and to me I know well and will never forget. I flatter myself, therefore, that, in this case, too, nothing will be wanting which the State has a right to expect of your valor. The hour is at hand. I should think I had done nothing if I left the Austrians in possession of Silesia. Let me apprise you, then: I intend, in spite of the rules of art, to attack Prince Karl’s army, which is nearly twice our strength, wherever I find it. The question is not of his numbers or the strength of his position; all this by courage, by the skill of our methods, we will try to make good. This step I must risk, or everything is lost. We must beat the enemy, or perish all of us before his batteries. So I read the case; so I will act in it.  Make this, my determination, known to all officers of the army: prepare the men for what work is now to ensue and say that I hold myself entitled to demand exact fulfilment of orders. For you, when I reflect that you are Prussians, can I think that you will act unworthily? But if there should be one or another who dreads to share all dangers with me, he can have his discharge this evening, and shall not suffer the least reproach from me! Hah! I knew it; none of you would desert me. I depend on your help, then, and on victory as sure. The cavalry regiment that does not on this instant, on orders given, dash full plunge into the enemy, I will, directly after the battle, unhorse and make it a garrison regiment. The infantry battalion which, meet with what it may, shows the least sign of hesitancy, loses its colors and its sabers, and I cut the trimmings from its uniform! Now, good night, gentlemen: shortly we have either beaten the enemy, or we never see one another again.

Pt 2

[drosera-nepenthes]

The prescriptive Empress of Germany, Princess Augusta Victoria Amelia Louisa Marie Constance, is the eldest of five children of the late Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg. She was born in the little parish of Dantzig, near Frankfort on the Oder, on the 22nd October 1858. Her mother, daughter of Ernest, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, is sister of Count Gleichen, who married Queen Victoria's half-sister Feodora, niece of the Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. Related to the royal House of Denmark, the Princess counts other honourable, if humbler, connections, her aunt, the Princess Henriette, having married the celebrated Dr. Esmarck, professor of surgery at Kiel. The fallen fortunes of her father, the Grand Duke compelled him to live in strict retirement and to order his household with an austere simplicity. In the adversity that had befallen him, the ruined prince found a solace and an interest in devoting himself to the education of his children. The high mental training they received is principally due to the direction he gave to their studies. An accomplished English lady resided for years with the princesses, and helped in the task of their education. The Princess Augusta-Victoria passed a studious youth in the castle overlooking the quiet village. Doubtless the frugal surroundings of her childhood and girlhood, the sense of her illustrious birth and connections, helped form her character, and to give to it seriousness and dignity. When in later years, she left that retired home to appear before the German nation as the bride of the grandson of the Emperor, the reputation of her solid attainments and womanly accomplishments had preceded her, and the people proudly said of her that she was “a real German princess.” It must have appeared an instance of poetic justice to the Grand Duke when the Kaiser's brilliant and beloved grandson, whose hardy spirit and heroic carriage made him bear so strong a likeness to that sovereign who had despoiled him of his dominions, in pursuance of the ideal he had set to himself of reigning over a united Germany, came over and over again to the simple home at Dantzig. There was no mistaking the devotion of the gallant young prince to the fair and tall princess, the eldest of the family group there. At a hunting party given in the late autumn of 1879 at Castle Prinkinan, the seat of the Augustenberg family in Silesia, it is believed that the Grand Duke was left in no further doubt as to the likelihood of his his being ranked in the years to come as one of the ancestors of future German emperors. He did not live, however, to see the consummation of the union that would have gone far to copensate him for the shadows that had gathered about his lot. He died in January 1880. In the following June the Princess Augusta-Victoria was formally betrothed to Prince Wilhelm in the presence of the royal family of Prussia at the castle of Babelsburg, the Emperor's beautiful country seat set at the wooded heights dominating Potsdam. The greater part of the time between her betrothal and marriage the Princess spent in England at Cumberland Lodge. Many may remember the blonde-haired blue-eyed lady, of tall and elegant stature, whose natural stateliness of bearing was softened by a kind and courteous address. In person she appeared to be the type of what the folk of the Fatherland called her, “a real German princess.” On the 21st of February 1881, the marriage of Prince Wilhelm of Prussia and Princess Augusta-Victoria was celebrated in the chapel of the Imperial Palace at Berlin, in the presence of a notable gathering of potentates, princes, and of the wisest and bravest men in the empire. Among those present none, it was said, rejoiced more at the marriage than did the aged Emperor, or gave a heartier welcome to the dowerless bride of Prince Wilhelm. M. de Vassili gives, in the Revue Nouvelle, a portrait sketch of this prince, who seems to possess an irrestitable power of attraction over all who approach him. The description is sullied with some pages Mme. Adam would have done well not to publish, yet even the French count is forced to pay a reluctant homage to the brilliant wit, the high spirit, the genial sympathetic nature, the indomitable courage, enterprise, and ambition the young prince has given proof of. Idolised by his grandfather, for whom he nourishes a sort of hero-worship, Prince Wilhelm is adored by the army, and to the welfare of that army he is devoted.

On the 6th of May, 1882, the eldest son of Prince Wilhelm and Princess Augusta-Victoria, Prince Frederick William, was born at Potsdam.

[nordleuchten]

The English Sandwich or La Fayette in Prussia 1785

Sooo, here is something that I wanted to write about for so long. In Prussia, King Fredrick II (better known as Frederick the Great) had begun holding annual reviews of his troops. This reviews took place in late summer and autumn and consisted of parades and mock battles. They soon became a staple event in Europe and many foreign dignitaries and high-ranking officers travelled to Prussia just to witness these review … and in 1785 one of these officers was our dear Marquis - but I let him tell the tale. He wrote George Washington a letter on July 14, 1785:

Before I leave the borders of france, I wish once more to Remind you of your absent friend, and to let You Hear that I am well and just Begining my German travels—I Have Been lately Visiting Some french towns where I Spoke grat deal about American trade (…) Now I am on my way to the deux ponts where Resides our friend the future elector of Baviera, to Cassel where I will See Again the Hessian Regiments, to Berlin where I am told lord Cornwallis is also going—from there I will wait on the King of prussia on His Grand Maneuvres in Silesia—Visit Saxony—See the austrian Camps in Bohemia—pay my Respects to the Emperor at Vienna—Return to Berlin, where grand Maneuvres are to take place at the end of September—and after I Have on My Way examined all the fields of Battle, I will Return through Holland and Be again in paris By the Middle of October

Fancy plans if I may say so. Considering that travelling was way more difficult, dangerous, expensive and uncommon in the 18th century than it is today, that is quite a roundtrip. The more important part though is that La Fayette thinks he might meet Lord Cornwallis - the same Cornwallis that La Fayette helped to defeat fair and square at the battle of Yorktown … But we are getting ahead of ourselves - because La Fayette really enjoyed his travels and he met quite a few interesting people on the way. He wrote to Washington back in Paris on February 6, 1786:

My summer has been devoted to princes, soldiers and post Horses—and while I Have Been Rambling through Cassel, Brunswick, Berlin, Breslaw, Vienna, prague dresden, potsdam Again and Berlin, no opportunity offered that I could trust, nor even any that I could Hear of—since I am returned Home, no Packet Has Sailed, and this day for the first time, I can Safely write By a Packet Boat (…) Altho’ my former letters Have Given You an Account of My journey, I must repeat to you, my dear General, that at Cassel I saw our Hessian friends, old Knip Among them, I told them they were very fine Fellows—they Returned thanks and Compliments—Ancient foes ever meet with pleasure, which However, I should think must be greater on the side that fought a successfull cause

The aforementioned “old Knip” was the Lieutenant-General Baron Wilhelm von Knyphausen, commander of Hessian troops in America during the Revolution. He was the veteran of the infamous Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Brandywine, the Battle that La Fayette himself was wounded at, and many more battles. - Oh, and yes, I think La Fayette enjoyed their meeting far more than the Baron did.

La Fayette continues describing his stay at Brunswick and Berlin before he talks about his visit to Silesia:

(…) I went to Silesia where He [Fredrick the Great] Reviewed an army of 31 Bataillons, and 75 squadrons, Making in all thirty thousand men, seven thousand five hundred of whom were on Horse Back—for eight days I made dinners of three Hours with Him, when the Conversation was pretty much Confined at first to the duke of York the King and myself, and then to two or three more—(…) lord Cornwallis being there, He took Care to invite Him at table to a seat By me, Having the British King’s son on the other side, and to Make thousand questions on American

We have a few things to unpack here. First of all, as it was expected, Cornwallis was in attendance. So far so unspectacular. But Fredrick, the Duke of York, second son of George III of Great Britain (and definitely one of his favourite children) was also present. He had departed England for Hannover to continue his military education on the mainland. He travelled to Prussia for the Manoeuvres and was the one who introduced Lord Cornwallis to Frederick the Great.

I really have to applaud Fredrick the Great for his attitude here. Placing the Duke of York, La Fayette and Lord Cornwallis all beside each other for dinner (and a dinner in the 18th century could and would easily last a few hours) and then stir the conversation towards America? That is certainly one way of handling things. Where La Fayette remarked that Frederick the Great had been “Most peculiarly Kind” to him, Cornwallis was less enthusiastic. He wrote to Lieutenant-Colonel Ross on October 5, 1785:

My reception in Silesia was not flattering; there was a most market preference for La Fayette; whether it proceeded from the King's knowing more of France, and liking better to talk about it, I know not. (…) I shall not quit Germany with much regret.

Cornwallis was really not feeling it. In their letters, La Fayette and Cornwallis both go on and describe the Prussian army in great detail. In short La Fayette was impressed but Cornwallis less so. He even called some of the manoeuvres and tactics “ridicules” at one point. La Fayette also further writes about the continuation of his travels but that is all really less interesting. Before I close this post, there is one last thing I wanted to show you. Cornwallis assessment Duke of York and La Fayette’s assessment of Frederick the Great. Both men are definitely … opinionated.

Cornwallis writes about the Duke of York:

In the first place, the Royal Person [the Duke of York] whom I saw first does not give much hopes, further than a great deal of good nature and a very good heart. His military ideas are those of a wild boy of the Guards, the uniforms and promotions of that corps, about which He is vehement to excess. One cannot, however, help loving him. There is no maintien — no distance — any impudent blackguard may be as familiar as he pleases. There is no chance of any good coming but by his being kept abroad, and of the English being kept from him.

I have read this letter so often now, and I still can not decide whether the statement is quite harsh or actually rather adorable. Nevertheless, after all that I have read about Frederick, this statement is rather accurate. Still, as someone who is quite taken with the Duke of York, I have mixed feelings in regard to this statement. But enough about that. Let us see what La Fayette writes about Frederick the Great.

I went to Make my Bow to the King, and notwisdanding what I Had Heard of Him, could not Help Being struck By that dress and Appearance of an old, Broken, dirty Corporal, coverd all over with Spanish snuff, with His Head almost leaning on one shoulder, and fingers quite distorted By the Gout. But what surprised me much more is the fire and some times the softeness of the most Beautifull Eyes I ever saw, which give as charming an expression to His phisiognomy as He Can take a Rough and threatening one at the Head of His troops (…) which gave me the opportunity to Hear Him throughout, and to admire the Vivacity of His wit, the endearing charms of His adress and politness, so far that I did Conceive people could forget what a tyrannic, Hard Hearted, and selfish Man He is (…)

Honestly, after reading the letter for the first time, I did not saw the second part coming - but I have to admit that it sounds very much like La Fayette.