Carrying On With the Cousins: More about the Hannovers of Britain

[selenak]

When last I wrote about the Ha(n)nover cousins, I had only various dictionaries and the occasional aside in Prussian-centric biographies to go by. However, due to needing to check out the non-Prussian, non-Austrian perspectives on the period, I've been browsing through "Das Europa der Könige" by Leonhard Horowski. Who is tremendosly entertaining and fantastic with unexpected cross connections. For example: future arch schemer Grumbkow shows first up as a six years old child dancing (along with other courtier children) ballet at the wedding of Fritz' grandparents, F1 and Sophie Charlotte. Meanwhile, Fritz' mother, Sophia Dorothea, also shows up as a six years old some years later, at the same table with Grumbkow's future wife (same age); she (SD) was being entertained by her mother's soon to be murdered lover Köngsmarck who build a house of cards for her and future Mrs. Grumbkow . (We know this because there are two letters mentioning this, one by a lady in waiting and one by Königsmarck himself to SD the older.) And guess who was a direct descendant of Lord Hervey, the one in a triangle with Algarotti and Lady Mary? Nancy Mitford. (And thus of course also her sisters, Diana the fascist, Decca the Communist and Unity the Hitler-Groupie.)

But most memorably, I now know more of the Hannover cousins and their dysfunction.

( Gorgeous and not so gorgeous Georgians )

Fritz of Prussia, to Mitchell: Am I glad my family is so normal and harmonious, compared to the Hannover cousins!