| 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, 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.
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.
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 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, King Friedrich Wilhelm II 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.
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.
| 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 after her husband, Duke Ernst August, died in 1758.
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 after her husband, Duke Ernst August, died in 1758.
She was 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 once composed, played
the organ and acted as music director, and 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' written in 1776, set in a text by Goethe.
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 once composed, played
the organ and acted as music director, and 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' written in 1776, set in a text by Goethe.
In 1763, almost ten years later, Maria Theresa secured Trenck's release and would later knight him.
By 1780, he owned two estates and wrote his autobiography which was a success and translated into
several languages. He would wed his second love and have eight 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.
By 1780, he owned two estates and wrote his autobiography which was a success and translated into
several languages. He would wed his second love and have eight 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."
Von Trenck managed to escape in 1746 and while making his way to Vienna in the hope of finding a
job with his cousin, he 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 Prussia to attend his mother's funeral, he
was captured by agents of the king who threw him in prison once again, this time in a cell specially
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.
job with his cousin, he 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 Prussia to attend his mother's funeral, he
was captured by agents of the king who threw him in prison once again, this time in a cell specially
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.
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. 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 Glatz fortress. Anna Amalie was rumored to have been delivered of twins 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. 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 Glatz fortress. Anna Amalie was rumored to have been delivered of twins 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, begun by preserving over 600 volumes of works she collected of notables
Handel, Telemann and Bach, and becoming 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, begun by preserving over 600 volumes of works she collected of notables
Handel, Telemann and Bach, and becoming an important repository of Bach manuscripts.
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.
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.
Anna had the main building, the Grünes Schloss, built between
1562 and 1565, converted into a library in 1761.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".
1562 and 1565, converted into a library in 1761.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".
