| Love and Music and War. A Prussian Princess and an Adventurer |
Princess of Prussia Anna Amalia was born in the Hohenzollern Royal castle in Berlin, above, in
1723, one of the eight surviving children of Friedrich Wilhelm 1 and Sophie Dorothea von Hannover.
She was the younger sister of Friedrich the Great. It is he who taught her how to play the violin, flute
and harpsichord, and music would comfort her throughout her future misfortunes.
1723, one of the eight surviving children of Friedrich Wilhelm 1 and Sophie Dorothea von Hannover.
She was the younger sister of Friedrich the Great. It is he who taught her how to play the violin, flute
and harpsichord, and music would comfort her throughout her future misfortunes.
Victor Hugo copied Trenck's autobiographical description of his escape almost word for word in his
novel "Les Miserables". In 1794, Trenck was arrested as a spy in Paris, France. He was thrown in
prison and placed on trial in front of the Tribunal, where he was sentenced to death as an Austrian
spy. He was sent to the guillotine on July 25, 1794. In Charles Dickens's "Tale of Two Cities", the
author seems to describe Trenck's execution, which was among the last twenty or so to take place.
The assembled crowd was supposedly emboldened by Trenck's last words and marched off to drag
Robspierre to his own doom: "People of France, we die innocent. Our deaths will be avenged by
you. Set up liberty once more by making an end of the monsters who are desecrating her name!"
novel "Les Miserables". In 1794, Trenck was arrested as a spy in Paris, France. He was thrown in
prison and placed on trial in front of the Tribunal, where he was sentenced to death as an Austrian
spy. He was sent to the guillotine on July 25, 1794. In Charles Dickens's "Tale of Two Cities", the
author seems to describe Trenck's execution, which was among the last twenty or so to take place.
The assembled crowd was supposedly emboldened by Trenck's last words and marched off to drag
Robspierre to his own doom: "People of France, we die innocent. Our deaths will be avenged by
you. Set up liberty once more by making an end of the monsters who are desecrating her name!"
In 1795, Friedrich Wilhelm II, Friedrich the Great's nephew, posthumously awarded
Trenck the title of Count which could be inherited by his heirs. Anna Amalie, the
"Abbess of Quedlinburg", spent most of her time in Berlin where she devoted herself
to music. Only a few of her works have survived. She and Trenck are said to have
corresponded in later years. Her magnificent library was split between East and West
Germany after World War 2, much of it later destroyed by fire in 2004.
Trenck the title of Count which could be inherited by his heirs. Anna Amalie, the
"Abbess of Quedlinburg", spent most of her time in Berlin where she devoted herself
to music. Only a few of her works have survived. She and Trenck are said to have
corresponded in later years. Her magnificent library was split between East and West
Germany after World War 2, much of it later destroyed by fire in 2004.
| Another Anna Amelie |
Another Anna Amalia (1739-1807) made a strong impact on history. A niece of
Friedrich the Great and Princess Anna Amalia, she was the Duchess of Saxe-
Weimar and Saxe-Eisenach. This talented Anna Amalia was an influential cultural
force in Weimar and regent of the states of Saxe-Weimar and Saxe-Eisenach from
1759-1775.
Friedrich the Great and Princess Anna Amalia, she was the Duchess of Saxe-
Weimar and Saxe-Eisenach. This talented Anna Amalia was an influential cultural
force in Weimar and regent of the states of Saxe-Weimar and Saxe-Eisenach from
1759-1775.
Her husband, Duke Ernst August, died in 1758, making her regent for their infant son, Karl August,
and she did a fine job administering the duchy and strengthening its resources in the midst of the
Seven Year's War. As a patron of the arts and literature, she brought together in Weimar many of the
most eminent men in Germany, including Herder, Goethe and Schiller. The Duchess, seeking a tutor
for her son, hired poet and noted translator of Shakespeare, Christopher Wieland. Wieland's
Shakespeare volumes formed the core of her literary collection. Weimar only had 6,000 residents in
the early 19th century, but it was a great intellectual center, an Athens of the day and home to
Goethe, Schiller, Liszt, Carl Maria von Weber and Nietsche for at least part of their lives. Here,
Johann Sebastian Bach had composed, played the organ and acted as music director. German opera
later came into being here under Anna Amalia's encouragement. This Anna Amalia was also a notable
composer. Of her own works the largest surviving piece is a Singspiel called 'Erwin und Elmire'. She
wrote it in 1776, to be set in a text by Goethe. Anna had the main building, the Grünes Schloss, built
between 1562 and 1565, converted into a library in 1761.
and she did a fine job administering the duchy and strengthening its resources in the midst of the
Seven Year's War. As a patron of the arts and literature, she brought together in Weimar many of the
most eminent men in Germany, including Herder, Goethe and Schiller. The Duchess, seeking a tutor
for her son, hired poet and noted translator of Shakespeare, Christopher Wieland. Wieland's
Shakespeare volumes formed the core of her literary collection. Weimar only had 6,000 residents in
the early 19th century, but it was a great intellectual center, an Athens of the day and home to
Goethe, Schiller, Liszt, Carl Maria von Weber and Nietsche for at least part of their lives. Here,
Johann Sebastian Bach had composed, played the organ and acted as music director. German opera
later came into being here under Anna Amalia's encouragement. This Anna Amalia was also a notable
composer. Of her own works the largest surviving piece is a Singspiel called 'Erwin und Elmire'. She
wrote it in 1776, to be set in a text by Goethe. Anna had the main building, the Grünes Schloss, built
between 1562 and 1565, converted into a library in 1761.
In 1763, almost ten years later, Maria Theresa secured Trenck's release and would later knight him.
In 1780, he owned two estates where from he wrote his autobiography which was a success and
translated into several languages. He would wed with a second love and have eight more children.
He travelled in Europe extensively, visiting France and England in 1774-7, and then Paris where he
was very popular in Paris society: "Wherever I dined or supped all the friends and relatives of the
family were invited that they might have a sight of me; and after meals the company immediately
crowded round me with the same view." Two plays were written about him, and he was presented
at the Court at Versailles. He then retired to his estates, but unwisely returned again to Paris in 1791.
In 1780, he owned two estates where from he wrote his autobiography which was a success and
translated into several languages. He would wed with a second love and have eight more children.
He travelled in Europe extensively, visiting France and England in 1774-7, and then Paris where he
was very popular in Paris society: "Wherever I dined or supped all the friends and relatives of the
family were invited that they might have a sight of me; and after meals the company immediately
crowded round me with the same view." Two plays were written about him, and he was presented
at the Court at Versailles. He then retired to his estates, but unwisely returned again to Paris in 1791.
He engraved a small group of objects with old nails while imprisoned. Trenck gave an account of
these items in his autobiography "The Life and Surprising Adventures of Friedrich Baron Trenck".
One beaker shows him sitting in a chair chained to the wall with a collar symbolically weighing '68
lbs.' Speaking of General Borch, the prison commander, Trenck wrote: "This cruel man came
immediately to my prison, but like a hangman about to take charge of his victim. He was
accompanied by locksmiths, carrying a weighty collar, which they put round my neck and a strong
chain that was joined to that I had already at my feet; and to these were added two additional ones,
so that I was really chained like a savage beast."
these items in his autobiography "The Life and Surprising Adventures of Friedrich Baron Trenck".
One beaker shows him sitting in a chair chained to the wall with a collar symbolically weighing '68
lbs.' Speaking of General Borch, the prison commander, Trenck wrote: "This cruel man came
immediately to my prison, but like a hangman about to take charge of his victim. He was
accompanied by locksmiths, carrying a weighty collar, which they put round my neck and a strong
chain that was joined to that I had already at my feet; and to these were added two additional ones,
so that I was really chained like a savage beast."
The Guillotine was not as romantic for Madame Du Barry, the famous Mistress of the former King Louis XV. She did not
die as gracefully as she lived, and lacked the strength to make a final political statement as she was flung upon the
guillotine to be executed simply due to her former association with the King. She lost all of her bodily control and
composure as she was dragged before the blood-thirsty mob and she screamed, shouted, wept and begged for mercy,
crying to the executioner, "Encore un moment, monsieur le bourreau, un petit moment!"
die as gracefully as she lived, and lacked the strength to make a final political statement as she was flung upon the
guillotine to be executed simply due to her former association with the King. She lost all of her bodily control and
composure as she was dragged before the blood-thirsty mob and she screamed, shouted, wept and begged for mercy,
crying to the executioner, "Encore un moment, monsieur le bourreau, un petit moment!"
| Germany's Peaceful Neighbor |
Von Trenck managed to escape in 1746 and, making his way to Vienna in the hope of finding a job
with his cousin, he finally met a Russian general who took him into the Russian service. Trenck's
next adventures occurred as a Captain of the Russian Army Calvary, and as an appointed Gentleman
of the Chamber by Empress Elizabeth. He met and became friends with the future Catherine II
"The Great" of Russia. In 1754, when Trenck sneaked home to attend the funeral of his mother in
Prussia, he was captured by agents of the king who threw him in prison once again, this time in a
specially cell built for him in the prison in Magdeburg where he lived for nine years and five months.
He said: "When I lay in the Bastille of Magdeburg, the mighty Friedrich the Great said: 'Whilst my
name is Friedrich, Trenck shall never see day'." After Trenck made several attempts to escape and
was chained to the wall in his dank, leaking cell.
with his cousin, he finally met a Russian general who took him into the Russian service. Trenck's
next adventures occurred as a Captain of the Russian Army Calvary, and as an appointed Gentleman
of the Chamber by Empress Elizabeth. He met and became friends with the future Catherine II
"The Great" of Russia. In 1754, when Trenck sneaked home to attend the funeral of his mother in
Prussia, he was captured by agents of the king who threw him in prison once again, this time in a
specially cell built for him in the prison in Magdeburg where he lived for nine years and five months.
He said: "When I lay in the Bastille of Magdeburg, the mighty Friedrich the Great said: 'Whilst my
name is Friedrich, Trenck shall never see day'." After Trenck made several attempts to escape and
was chained to the wall in his dank, leaking cell.
Anna Amalia apparently entered into a secret union with Prussian Baron Friedrich von der Trenck in
1743. Trenck had a distinguished academic career at the university when he was presented at age
nineteen to Anna Amalia's brother Friedrich of Prussia as one of the elite Life- Guards, a Prussian
cavalry regiment of men all over six feet tall. An expert duellist as well as an intellectual, he was
appointed an orderly officer on Friedrich the Great's own staff. The story goes that when the King
discovered that his sister was pregnant, he had her whisked off to the Abbey of Quedlinburg. As for
Trenck, after his famous Austrian cousin Franz gave him a horse and began corresponding with him,
he was arrested as a spy and confined in the fortress of Glatz. Anna Amalie was said to have been
delivered of twins, a boy and a girl, in 1744.
1743. Trenck had a distinguished academic career at the university when he was presented at age
nineteen to Anna Amalia's brother Friedrich of Prussia as one of the elite Life- Guards, a Prussian
cavalry regiment of men all over six feet tall. An expert duellist as well as an intellectual, he was
appointed an orderly officer on Friedrich the Great's own staff. The story goes that when the King
discovered that his sister was pregnant, he had her whisked off to the Abbey of Quedlinburg. As for
Trenck, after his famous Austrian cousin Franz gave him a horse and began corresponding with him,
he was arrested as a spy and confined in the fortress of Glatz. Anna Amalie was said to have been
delivered of twins, a boy and a girl, in 1744.
Although she was a devoted patron, she didn't begin composing herself until she was 44. She wrote
'Du, dessen Augen flossen' for Ramler's Passion Cantata 'Der Tod Jesu' which was set as a chorale
by Kühnau and appeared in many hymnals as a setting for Neander's poem 'Christ, alles, was dich
kränket'. Her compositions include chamber music and even regimental marches. She is best
remembered for her music library, a Bibliothek which still exists. Kirnberger, when in her services,
founded the Bibliothek, which began by preserving over 600 volumes of works she collected of
notable Handel, Telemann and Bach,and turned into an important repository of Bach manuscripts.
'Du, dessen Augen flossen' for Ramler's Passion Cantata 'Der Tod Jesu' which was set as a chorale
by Kühnau and appeared in many hymnals as a setting for Neander's poem 'Christ, alles, was dich
kränket'. Her compositions include chamber music and even regimental marches. She is best
remembered for her music library, a Bibliothek which still exists. Kirnberger, when in her services,
founded the Bibliothek, which began by preserving over 600 volumes of works she collected of
notable Handel, Telemann and Bach,and turned into an important repository of Bach manuscripts.
He was accused of bad conduct, brutality and disobedience and condemned to death for defying an
order to retreat while serving against the Turks as a captain and major of cavalry. But, despite his
insubordination, he was popular and his sentence was commuted to imprisonment. Trenck returned
to Austria, where his father was governor of a small fortress, but with his bad manners and surly
disposition, he soon came into greater conflicts and had to take sanctuary in a Vienna convent. After
obtaining an amnesty and a commission in a corps of irregulars, he was cited for bravery and
eventually promoted to lieutenant-colonel and then colonel in 1744. In February, 1745, he was given
a reception and paid high respects by Maria Therese in Vienna.
order to retreat while serving against the Turks as a captain and major of cavalry. But, despite his
insubordination, he was popular and his sentence was commuted to imprisonment. Trenck returned
to Austria, where his father was governor of a small fortress, but with his bad manners and surly
disposition, he soon came into greater conflicts and had to take sanctuary in a Vienna convent. After
obtaining an amnesty and a commission in a corps of irregulars, he was cited for bravery and
eventually promoted to lieutenant-colonel and then colonel in 1744. In February, 1745, he was given
a reception and paid high respects by Maria Therese in Vienna.
Court martialed in Vienna, he was convicted of having sold and withdrawn commissions to his
officers without royal permission, having breeched military code when punishing his men and having
drawn pay and allowance for fictitious men. His brutality and theft made him detested throughout
Austria and Silesia. The death sentence which followed was commuted by the Empress and he spent
the remainder of his life in mild captivity in the fortress of Spielberg in Brünn, where he died on
October 4, 1749.
officers without royal permission, having breeched military code when punishing his men and having
drawn pay and allowance for fictitious men. His brutality and theft made him detested throughout
Austria and Silesia. The death sentence which followed was commuted by the Empress and he spent
the remainder of his life in mild captivity in the fortress of Spielberg in Brünn, where he died on
October 4, 1749.
He bequeathed the sum of 30,000 Gulden to the small town of Marienburg which his troops had
sacked and burned. In the catacombs under the Capucine-church in Brünn, von der Trenck's
skeleton is displayed under glass, although its head was switched long time ago with another.
sacked and burned. In the catacombs under the Capucine-church in Brünn, von der Trenck's
skeleton is displayed under glass, although its head was switched long time ago with another.
He had captured 4,500 soldiers and non-commissioned officers, 27 officers and 9 staff officers as
well as seizing 22 guns, 7 flags, 3 mortars and 3 standards. During the War of Austrian Succession,
Trenck gained fame as leader and commander of the "Pandur", a paramilitary regiment of the
Austrian army, which specialized in frontier warfare and guerrilla tactics. He recruited experienced
Croatian and Serbian mercenaries from the Austro-Ottoman border, infamous for the civilian
atrocities they committed. During the War of the Austrian Succession, despite the fact that Trenck
rallied volunteers to assist Maria Theresa, he and his irregulars had so busied themselves plundering
at the battle of Soor that the king of Prussia was allowed to escape.
well as seizing 22 guns, 7 flags, 3 mortars and 3 standards. During the War of Austrian Succession,
Trenck gained fame as leader and commander of the "Pandur", a paramilitary regiment of the
Austrian army, which specialized in frontier warfare and guerrilla tactics. He recruited experienced
Croatian and Serbian mercenaries from the Austro-Ottoman border, infamous for the civilian
atrocities they committed. During the War of the Austrian Succession, despite the fact that Trenck
rallied volunteers to assist Maria Theresa, he and his irregulars had so busied themselves plundering
at the battle of Soor that the king of Prussia was allowed to escape.
There was another Von Trenck in German history. Franz Freiherr (Baron) von
der Trenck was an Austrian soldier and cousin to Friedrich von Trenck. Born in
1711 in Reggio di Calabria (Italy) to a military family and educated by Jesuits,
he entered the Imperial army in 1728, but resigned in disgrace three years later.
He married and lived on his estates until his wife died in the plague of 1737. He
then offered to raise a corps of "pandures" for service against the Turks but,
after being refused, entered the Russian army as a mercenary.
der Trenck was an Austrian soldier and cousin to Friedrich von Trenck. Born in
1711 in Reggio di Calabria (Italy) to a military family and educated by Jesuits,
he entered the Imperial army in 1728, but resigned in disgrace three years later.
He married and lived on his estates until his wife died in the plague of 1737. He
then offered to raise a corps of "pandures" for service against the Turks but,
after being refused, entered the Russian army as a mercenary.
| Another Trenck, another Town |
In World War Two, most of Anna Amalia's collection was fortunately hidden
elsewhere to preserve it from Allied bombs. Today, the library is a public
research library for literature and art history. The main focus is German literature
from the Classical and the late Romantic eras. A tragic fire of undetermined origin
destroyed 30,000 rare, irreplaceable volumes, with another 20,000 severely
damaged in 2004. However, some 6,000 historical works were saved by being
passed hand-over-hand out of the building.
elsewhere to preserve it from Allied bombs. Today, the library is a public
research library for literature and art history. The main focus is German literature
from the Classical and the late Romantic eras. A tragic fire of undetermined origin
destroyed 30,000 rare, irreplaceable volumes, with another 20,000 severely
damaged in 2004. However, some 6,000 historical works were saved by being
passed hand-over-hand out of the building.
Goethe was one of the library's famous patrons and worked there
from 1797 to 1832. The library included the world's largest Faust
collection. The Library held her aunt's significant 13,000-volume
music collection as well. In 1775, she retired into private life, her
son having attained adulthood, where he would be an influential
German leader. Goethe's memorial work to her is titled "Zum
Andenken der Fürstin Anna-Amalia".
from 1797 to 1832. The library included the world's largest Faust
collection. The Library held her aunt's significant 13,000-volume
music collection as well. In 1775, she retired into private life, her
son having attained adulthood, where he would be an influential
German leader. Goethe's memorial work to her is titled "Zum
Andenken der Fürstin Anna-Amalia".
Weimar 1945
A quick snap of the Guillotine would have been a blessing for beautiful and smart Princess Therese de
Lamballe. An intimate friend of Marie Antoinette, she provided comfort to the Queen until the end
with remarkable personal courage and loyalty. It cost her her life. Princess de Lamballe was turned
over to an angry mob armed with hammers, swords, and crude weapons in an alleyway outside La
Force. As she stepped out the door, they immediately attacked her. The mob sexually violated her
and then excitedly hacked her to death alive.
Lamballe. An intimate friend of Marie Antoinette, she provided comfort to the Queen until the end
with remarkable personal courage and loyalty. It cost her her life. Princess de Lamballe was turned
over to an angry mob armed with hammers, swords, and crude weapons in an alleyway outside La
Force. As she stepped out the door, they immediately attacked her. The mob sexually violated her
and then excitedly hacked her to death alive.
After mounting her head, breasts and genitalia up on pikes and parading through the streets, they displayed their gruesome
treasures before the window of the imprisoned Marie Antoinette, whose hair had turned white after their capture in
Varennes, and she is said to have fainted away on seeing the horrible fate of her friend.
treasures before the window of the imprisoned Marie Antoinette, whose hair had turned white after their capture in
Varennes, and she is said to have fainted away on seeing the horrible fate of her friend.
