| Friedrich's Dogs |
Friedrich may not have been much of a womanizer, but he
certainly was a dog-izer. Since early childhood, Friedrich had
a passion for dogs. As King, although he valued a variety of
dogs for different purposes, such as the Russian dogs he used
as messengers in his army, he especially loved small Italian
Greyhounds for his own companionship. Throughout his life,
he had about sixty dogs, of which at least thirty were grey-
hounds and most were females.
certainly was a dog-izer. Since early childhood, Friedrich had
a passion for dogs. As King, although he valued a variety of
dogs for different purposes, such as the Russian dogs he used
as messengers in his army, he especially loved small Italian
Greyhounds for his own companionship. Throughout his life,
he had about sixty dogs, of which at least thirty were grey-
hounds and most were females.
In 1744, one year before the work on his palace at Sans
Souci even began, he designated the top level of the palace's
vineyard to be the royal dog tomb. When one of his beloved
dogs would pass, a coffin was made for it and placed in the
library of the King before he buried it with his own hands in
its final resting place on the terrace, each dog with its own
gravestone containing its name. Of the eleven dog stones at
Sans Souci today, only one name is still clearly visible, that of
his dog Alcmene, whose gravestone the king paid 11 crowns
and 12 pennies for from his private funds.
Souci even began, he designated the top level of the palace's
vineyard to be the royal dog tomb. When one of his beloved
dogs would pass, a coffin was made for it and placed in the
library of the King before he buried it with his own hands in
its final resting place on the terrace, each dog with its own
gravestone containing its name. Of the eleven dog stones at
Sans Souci today, only one name is still clearly visible, that of
his dog Alcmene, whose gravestone the king paid 11 crowns
and 12 pennies for from his private funds.
The theologian and geographer Friedrich Anton Büsching wrote that Friedrich consistently had three
or four dogs with him, one of them usually his favorite, and Friedrich often kissed the dogs, petted
them and even allowed his favorites on his bed to sleep with him. In the morning the other dogs
would come racing and tumbling in to greet the King and all was a scene of happy pandemonium.
The King often gave them scraps from his hands at the dining table and they sat next to him on the
terrace. It was a known fact that woe would be upon anyone that the King caught misusing a dog.
Friedrich seemed to like dogs better than people. Aside from his famous quote: "The more I see of
mankind, the more I like my dog", he also once said, "Dogs are better and truer than mankind, and
the so-called images of God could learn a great deal from them!" They brought Friedrich endless
enjoyment and fun. When his hound Diane had a litter of puppies Friedrich playfully announced the
birth to his sister Wilhelmine in a letter written by "Diane".
or four dogs with him, one of them usually his favorite, and Friedrich often kissed the dogs, petted
them and even allowed his favorites on his bed to sleep with him. In the morning the other dogs
would come racing and tumbling in to greet the King and all was a scene of happy pandemonium.
The King often gave them scraps from his hands at the dining table and they sat next to him on the
terrace. It was a known fact that woe would be upon anyone that the King caught misusing a dog.
Friedrich seemed to like dogs better than people. Aside from his famous quote: "The more I see of
mankind, the more I like my dog", he also once said, "Dogs are better and truer than mankind, and
the so-called images of God could learn a great deal from them!" They brought Friedrich endless
enjoyment and fun. When his hound Diane had a litter of puppies Friedrich playfully announced the
birth to his sister Wilhelmine in a letter written by "Diane".
His close friend Friedrich von Rothenburg shared his strong affection for dogs, and
von Rothenburg gave Friedrich a bitch appropriately named Biche. She was the most
famous of his dogs. A nice Italian greyhound, she accompanied Friedrich everywhere,
including recognizance missions during the War of Austrian Succession. On one such
occasion in October of 1745, Biche was by the King's side as he found himself in a
dangerous situation. He spotted a squad of enemy soldiers approaching and had to
dive for cover under a bridge. To avoid detection, he and the dog had to remain
perfectly still. Normally, Biche barked at horses coming toward her, but this time she
seemed to sense danger and sat with her master in total quiet. Biche was also once
captured by Hungarian soldiers, but she was returned after intense negotiations.
von Rothenburg gave Friedrich a bitch appropriately named Biche. She was the most
famous of his dogs. A nice Italian greyhound, she accompanied Friedrich everywhere,
including recognizance missions during the War of Austrian Succession. On one such
occasion in October of 1745, Biche was by the King's side as he found himself in a
dangerous situation. He spotted a squad of enemy soldiers approaching and had to
dive for cover under a bridge. To avoid detection, he and the dog had to remain
perfectly still. Normally, Biche barked at horses coming toward her, but this time she
seemed to sense danger and sat with her master in total quiet. Biche was also once
captured by Hungarian soldiers, but she was returned after intense negotiations.
When she died in 1752, exactly one year after the death of his friend von Rothenburg, the King
wrote to his sister on December 29: "I have lost Biche, and her death has reawakened in me the loss
of all my friends, particularly of him who gave her to me. I was ashamed that a dog could so deeply
affect my soul; but the sedentary life I lead and the faithfulness of this poor creature had so strongly
attached me to her, her suffering so moved me, that, I confess, I am sad and afflicted. Does one
have to be hard? Must one be insensitive? I believe that anyone capable of indifference towards a
faithful animal is unable to be grateful towards an equal, and that, if one must choose, it is best to be
too sensitive than too hard." Even a year later, in 1753, a guest at the palace wrote: "We met
Frederick the Great a few days ago, still mourning the death of his dog Biche."
wrote to his sister on December 29: "I have lost Biche, and her death has reawakened in me the loss
of all my friends, particularly of him who gave her to me. I was ashamed that a dog could so deeply
affect my soul; but the sedentary life I lead and the faithfulness of this poor creature had so strongly
attached me to her, her suffering so moved me, that, I confess, I am sad and afflicted. Does one
have to be hard? Must one be insensitive? I believe that anyone capable of indifference towards a
faithful animal is unable to be grateful towards an equal, and that, if one must choose, it is best to be
too sensitive than too hard." Even a year later, in 1753, a guest at the palace wrote: "We met
Frederick the Great a few days ago, still mourning the death of his dog Biche."
Thirty years after Biche's death, Friedrich was still very attached to his dogs. When his beloved dog
Thisbe died in 1783, Frederick wrote sadly, "One might be surprised how an old man like me could
loose his heart to a little dog. For fourteen years, Thisbe was my companion, and whenever I
couldn't sleep at night, she laid next to me and watched me as if she was a concerned human being.
I'll never forget her eyes!" His dogs even comforted him at his death. In the early morning of August
17, 1786, an old and almost completely debilitated Friedrich sat in his armchair. He noticed that his
greyhound Superbe was shivering, and although he found it difficult to speak, he requested that she
be covered with a pillow and be kept warm. Those were his last words before he closed his eyes and
peacefully died at 2.20 AM.
Thisbe died in 1783, Frederick wrote sadly, "One might be surprised how an old man like me could
loose his heart to a little dog. For fourteen years, Thisbe was my companion, and whenever I
couldn't sleep at night, she laid next to me and watched me as if she was a concerned human being.
I'll never forget her eyes!" His dogs even comforted him at his death. In the early morning of August
17, 1786, an old and almost completely debilitated Friedrich sat in his armchair. He noticed that his
greyhound Superbe was shivering, and although he found it difficult to speak, he requested that she
be covered with a pillow and be kept warm. Those were his last words before he closed his eyes and
peacefully died at 2.20 AM.
| Dem Bones |
Friedrich left clear instructions for his funeral in his will that he be buried next to his favorite hounds.
"I want to be buried at midnight in the park at Sans Souci without fuss and without the slightest
ceremony, accompanied by my dog and by two valets bearing torches. I have lived as a philosopher
and wish to be buried as such, without circumstance, without solemn pomp, without splendour. I
want to be neither opened nor embalmed. Bury me in Sanssouci at the same level with terraces in a
tomb, which I have prepared for myself... Should I die in time of war or whilst on a journey, I
should be buried in the first convenient place and brought to Sanssouci in the winter." Alas, the spirit
of the great Prussian king would have to wait a long time to find peace.
"I want to be buried at midnight in the park at Sans Souci without fuss and without the slightest
ceremony, accompanied by my dog and by two valets bearing torches. I have lived as a philosopher
and wish to be buried as such, without circumstance, without solemn pomp, without splendour. I
want to be neither opened nor embalmed. Bury me in Sanssouci at the same level with terraces in a
tomb, which I have prepared for myself... Should I die in time of war or whilst on a journey, I
should be buried in the first convenient place and brought to Sanssouci in the winter." Alas, the spirit
of the great Prussian king would have to wait a long time to find peace.
“He was a great man, especially in critical situations. It’s the highest
praise one can give of his character” was Napoleon’s homage to the
King of Prussia, Friedrich the Great, as he stood at his coffin. Napoleon
then went into Friedrich's personal library, rifled through his belongings
and took what he wanted, as was his habit. Saying."We would not be
here if he were alive," Napoleon took Friedrich's sword. It went back to
Paris where it was later destroyed.
praise one can give of his character” was Napoleon’s homage to the
King of Prussia, Friedrich the Great, as he stood at his coffin. Napoleon
then went into Friedrich's personal library, rifled through his belongings
and took what he wanted, as was his habit. Saying."We would not be
here if he were alive," Napoleon took Friedrich's sword. It went back to
Paris where it was later destroyed.
Then, in the chaos of World War Two's approaching close, German soldiers moved the coffin of
Friedrich the Great for safekeeping to an underground bunker in Potsdam-Eiche in 1943, and then to
a salt mine in Thuringia in March of 1945. After the war's end, the bones were carried off by Allied
soldiers for some reason to be stashed at Elizabeth Church at Marburg-in-Hesse's. There was even
talk among the Allies of destroying the mortal remains of the king as a display of their new authority
over Germany, but the Bones were instead transferred to Burg Hohenzollern at Hechtigen in 1952.
Friedrich the Great for safekeeping to an underground bunker in Potsdam-Eiche in 1943, and then to
a salt mine in Thuringia in March of 1945. After the war's end, the bones were carried off by Allied
soldiers for some reason to be stashed at Elizabeth Church at Marburg-in-Hesse's. There was even
talk among the Allies of destroying the mortal remains of the king as a display of their new authority
over Germany, but the Bones were instead transferred to Burg Hohenzollern at Hechtigen in 1952.
However, the wishes of Friedrich the Great were at last fulfilled, despite shrill protests that he should
not be honored at all because his reburial might result in a "resurgence of German nationalism". On
August 17, 1991, over 200 years after his death, the sarcophagus with the mortal remains of the King
was laid out in the forecourt of Sanssouci palace, escorted by an honour guard. The burial took place
that night in the tomb Friedrich had planned for the purpose since 1744: "Once I am there, I shall be
carefree". He is now carefree..and next to his beloved dogs.
not be honored at all because his reburial might result in a "resurgence of German nationalism". On
August 17, 1991, over 200 years after his death, the sarcophagus with the mortal remains of the King
was laid out in the forecourt of Sanssouci palace, escorted by an honour guard. The burial took place
that night in the tomb Friedrich had planned for the purpose since 1744: "Once I am there, I shall be
carefree". He is now carefree..and next to his beloved dogs.
Friedrich's successor Friedrich Wilhelm II did not abide by the King's wishes, and instead ordered
him buried in the Potsdam garrison church next to his father, Friedrich Wilhelm I. Many years later,
Napoleon visited his tomb while the French occupied Germany.
him buried in the Potsdam garrison church next to his father, Friedrich Wilhelm I. Many years later,
Napoleon visited his tomb while the French occupied Germany.
Friedrich's Grave at top left of photo