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rheinsbergReport on Heinrich’s death by his niece, Ferdinand's daughter Luise von Preußen (Princess Radziwill).
From her memoirs, "Fünfundvierzig Jahre aus meinem Leben (1770 - 1815); the excerpt about Heinrich's death and the aftermath is reprinted in Nieman, Karin: "Der Bruder. Prinz Heinrich von Preußen", a booklet currently on sale in Rheinsberg. Ziebura's Heinrich biography quotes from this description, but I had not read it in its entirety before, and I bet nor has anyone else, so here it is. (As detailed as FW3's description of Fritz' death earlier.)
Reminder: „Louis“ = usually referred to by historians as Louis Ferdinand, Ferdinand’s son, Heinrich’s favourite nephew. Is destined to become the sole Hohenzollern to die in battle against Napoleon after Heinrich’s death.
August: Ferdinand’s other, surviving son and heir.
The King: FW III, i.e. Heinrich’s grand nephew. Would go on to be defeated by Napoleon.
Monsieur de la Roche-Aymon – Heinrich’s last boyfriend, aka „the last beam of the setting sun“, so use Fontane’s phrase
Bellevue: Where Ferdinand and his family resided in Berlin. Today seat of the President of Germany.
„Prince Heinrich often busied himself with the tomb he was building for himself in his garden. It was noticable how much he rushed the building, and one morning he insisted on my coming with him to it. This small and simple monument consisted of a pyramid without a top, very much lacking in style.
My Uncle told me: „I have arranged to be entombed here, but I want to be placed with my face towards the palace, so I can see what’s happening there after my death.“
This conversation made me sad, and my Uncle noticed and with a very calm disposition made fun of me because of this. He spoke of his good intentions towards Louis and of arrangements he had made in Louis‘ favour, and would not be swayed from talking about his impending death. Then he talked about the memoirs he was working on, and led me into his cabinet, where I saw several notebooks filled with his handwriting.
„I’ve now arrived at the fifth year of the Seven Years War,“ he said, „and if I continue at this pace, I have hope of actually finishing this enterprise.“
On July 18th (1802), we left the Prince. When he came to me at our last dinner to take leave of me, I sensed I was seeing this Uncle for the last time, whom I have had respect as well as gratitude for throughout my life. Only a few ays after our return to Bellevue Royer told us through a letter that the Prince was unwell, and on July 29th, a courier brought us very frightening news. Still, the Prince was fully conscious and did not believe that he was in danger. Yet a quick message on August 2nd asked Louis, August and myself to come to Rheinsberg immediately. On our way, we encountered at a village Adjudant von Jagow whom the King had sent to ask for news of the Prince. At five a.m, we arrived at Rheinsberg and were received by Royer. His changed expression told us there was no more hope.
Louis went to the Prince’s room without being seen by him, for he was no longer conscious. He found the Prince’s face so distorted he forbade me to enter. Prince Heinrich had been suffering another stroke on August 1st which had robbed him of the capacity to speak, and had been so unwell the doctor believed he would not outlast the day. My Uncle had expressedly forbidden to be given an emetic in the case of a stroke, for as he said, he did not wish to survive as an idiot. Despite this order, the Doctor regarded it as his duty to do everything in his power to prolong the Prince’s life. He therefore had prepared an emetic to which he added all kinds of drugs in order to deceive the sick man about the nature of the medicine, and carried it to the chaiselongue near the fireplace on which the Prince had been laid. My Uncle was no longer able to speak, yet his mind was as keen as ever. He took the cup offered to him in his hand, regarded it thoughtfully, gave the Doctor a punishing look and threw it into the fireplace. It certainly demands a great strength of character to reject at the age of seventy-five the only means that would enable one’s survival.
From this moment onwards, the Prince’s strength steadily declined. Everyone who took care of him, he gave touching proofs of his friendship and gratitude. He hardly consumed anything anymore, but did not seem to suffer. On August 3rd, he signalled at dawn that he wanted the drapes to be torn back. One of his people did so and said: „It’s going to be a beautiful day,“ to which he made a negative movement with his hand as if to say „not for me.“ Louis stood at the head of the bed, and Monsieur de la Roche-Aymon, Royer and his brother were in the room as well. When I saw Louis and Royer leave, I understood that everything was over, and cried sincere tears for the great man who had just expired and who had always been my most benevolent relation. His death was a great loss to all who depended on him, and thus there was a great grief among his people and the poor of Rheinsberg, who were entirely dependent on him for their survival as he had bread and money donated to those in need every week. The morning on which he died was just the day of the week on which such donations were given. All these unfortunates had assembled below the window of the dying man, and when my brother exited and told them about his death, there was great wailing. Louis himself was deeply shaken and cried hot tears for this Uncle who had loved him so much, and whom he owed so many thanks.
Monsieur de la Roche-Aymon left immediately for Berlin in order to bring the King a letter which Prince Heinrich himself had written to (the King) for the occasion of his birthday which happened to be on this day, the third of August. My Uncle had ordered (Roche-Aymon) to deliver the letter himself on the evening before his final stroke. Now, the Prince’s rooms and furniture was sealed off in my brother’s presence, after a sealed document was found on his desk following an order he had given repeatedly, and on which it was said „to be opened immediately after my death!“
This touching document, of which I have kept a transcription, contained detailed instructions about the way he wanted to be buried. It forbade any ceremonies, demanded a simple coffin and forbade all the formalities etiquette demands for the princes of the blood. It also said in which way the seals should be attached to his desk, and when his last will was tob e read. Furthermore, the Prince assured the members of his court and his servants that he had taken care of their future, thanked them for their devotion, asked them to remain friends and good allies of each other, and ordered Monsieur de la Roche-Aymon to depart immediately after his death to the King in order to give the King his sword and a letter attached to it.
My brother went with Monsieur de la Roche-Aymon in ordert o bring my father the sad news to Bellevue. August and myself remained until the funeral, which was to take place four days after his death. The wake was to take place on August 6th. After his return, Louis told me that the King was deeply shaken over the Prince’s death and deeply touched by his letter. On the other hand, Louis was very angry about my mother. Baron von Geertz had told him that my mother had ordered Herrn von Alvensleben to tell the King that Prince Heinrich seemed to have made Louis the heir of all his fiefdoms and possessions, and to ask the King to declare this will invalid as it went against the interests of the King and the family. The King’s servants who were only too eager to diminish the fortune of this branch of the family of course joyfully used the opportunity my deluded mother was offering them, and I despaired at this news and tembled thinking of all the disagreeableness ahead of us now.
My Uncle’s funeral took place at 4 pm. All happened according to his instructions. The humble coffin was decorated only by a laurel wreath I myself had created, and was carried by his servants; my brothers and the cavaliers and civil servants of the Prince’s court followed. Thus he was lain at rest in the tomb he himself had comissioned. Then the door was to be closed by the stone which was carrying the inscription he had written, but as the interior of the crypt had not yet been finished, de la Roche-Aymon, Royer and Brancion offered to stand guard at the tomb until it could be closed for good.
After this ceremony, Louis assembled the entire court in the salon and promised them in the name of my father that all the wishes of his brother would be fulfilled, and that he himself would take care oft hem. Louis then did his best to comfort everyone and to calm them regarding their future. He was so moved and so open about his passionate feelings on this occasion that everyone present did not only cry out of grief but out of gratitude. I, too, went to the salon before my departure and said goodbye to everyone assembled there. Their pain and leaving Rheinsberg, where I had spent such happy days and where my marriage had been decided, and to which I most likely would never return again shattered me to my bones. Louis was deeply moved as well and cried with me. Even August was not unmoved, but he was too little sensitive by nature and had not been much loved by his Uncle in order for him to grieve for him as we did.
Once I had arrived at Bellevue, I immediately went to my father, who was deeply grieved by his brother’s death. He spoke of it with accute pain and it pleased him to talk to me about his brother, as he could recall so many details of him which the rest of the family did not know about. My mother and August, on the other hand, were only worried about the last Will.“
(The rest of the report as reprinted in the Rheinsberg booklet is about the big family argument re: Heinrich’s last will which ends with the decision that Ferdinand instead of Louis is made the immediate heir – with the justification being that Louis will inherit after Ferdinand’s death anyway - , which since Louis will die soon on the battlefield means in efffect August will inherit Rheinsberg instead after Ferdinand’s death and will totally neglect it and sell it out. Luise is very bitter about this.)
From her memoirs, "Fünfundvierzig Jahre aus meinem Leben (1770 - 1815); the excerpt about Heinrich's death and the aftermath is reprinted in Nieman, Karin: "Der Bruder. Prinz Heinrich von Preußen", a booklet currently on sale in Rheinsberg. Ziebura's Heinrich biography quotes from this description, but I had not read it in its entirety before, and I bet nor has anyone else, so here it is. (As detailed as FW3's description of Fritz' death earlier.)
Reminder: „Louis“ = usually referred to by historians as Louis Ferdinand, Ferdinand’s son, Heinrich’s favourite nephew. Is destined to become the sole Hohenzollern to die in battle against Napoleon after Heinrich’s death.
August: Ferdinand’s other, surviving son and heir.
The King: FW III, i.e. Heinrich’s grand nephew. Would go on to be defeated by Napoleon.
Monsieur de la Roche-Aymon – Heinrich’s last boyfriend, aka „the last beam of the setting sun“, so use Fontane’s phrase
Bellevue: Where Ferdinand and his family resided in Berlin. Today seat of the President of Germany.
„Prince Heinrich often busied himself with the tomb he was building for himself in his garden. It was noticable how much he rushed the building, and one morning he insisted on my coming with him to it. This small and simple monument consisted of a pyramid without a top, very much lacking in style.
My Uncle told me: „I have arranged to be entombed here, but I want to be placed with my face towards the palace, so I can see what’s happening there after my death.“
This conversation made me sad, and my Uncle noticed and with a very calm disposition made fun of me because of this. He spoke of his good intentions towards Louis and of arrangements he had made in Louis‘ favour, and would not be swayed from talking about his impending death. Then he talked about the memoirs he was working on, and led me into his cabinet, where I saw several notebooks filled with his handwriting.
„I’ve now arrived at the fifth year of the Seven Years War,“ he said, „and if I continue at this pace, I have hope of actually finishing this enterprise.“
On July 18th (1802), we left the Prince. When he came to me at our last dinner to take leave of me, I sensed I was seeing this Uncle for the last time, whom I have had respect as well as gratitude for throughout my life. Only a few ays after our return to Bellevue Royer told us through a letter that the Prince was unwell, and on July 29th, a courier brought us very frightening news. Still, the Prince was fully conscious and did not believe that he was in danger. Yet a quick message on August 2nd asked Louis, August and myself to come to Rheinsberg immediately. On our way, we encountered at a village Adjudant von Jagow whom the King had sent to ask for news of the Prince. At five a.m, we arrived at Rheinsberg and were received by Royer. His changed expression told us there was no more hope.
Louis went to the Prince’s room without being seen by him, for he was no longer conscious. He found the Prince’s face so distorted he forbade me to enter. Prince Heinrich had been suffering another stroke on August 1st which had robbed him of the capacity to speak, and had been so unwell the doctor believed he would not outlast the day. My Uncle had expressedly forbidden to be given an emetic in the case of a stroke, for as he said, he did not wish to survive as an idiot. Despite this order, the Doctor regarded it as his duty to do everything in his power to prolong the Prince’s life. He therefore had prepared an emetic to which he added all kinds of drugs in order to deceive the sick man about the nature of the medicine, and carried it to the chaiselongue near the fireplace on which the Prince had been laid. My Uncle was no longer able to speak, yet his mind was as keen as ever. He took the cup offered to him in his hand, regarded it thoughtfully, gave the Doctor a punishing look and threw it into the fireplace. It certainly demands a great strength of character to reject at the age of seventy-five the only means that would enable one’s survival.
From this moment onwards, the Prince’s strength steadily declined. Everyone who took care of him, he gave touching proofs of his friendship and gratitude. He hardly consumed anything anymore, but did not seem to suffer. On August 3rd, he signalled at dawn that he wanted the drapes to be torn back. One of his people did so and said: „It’s going to be a beautiful day,“ to which he made a negative movement with his hand as if to say „not for me.“ Louis stood at the head of the bed, and Monsieur de la Roche-Aymon, Royer and his brother were in the room as well. When I saw Louis and Royer leave, I understood that everything was over, and cried sincere tears for the great man who had just expired and who had always been my most benevolent relation. His death was a great loss to all who depended on him, and thus there was a great grief among his people and the poor of Rheinsberg, who were entirely dependent on him for their survival as he had bread and money donated to those in need every week. The morning on which he died was just the day of the week on which such donations were given. All these unfortunates had assembled below the window of the dying man, and when my brother exited and told them about his death, there was great wailing. Louis himself was deeply shaken and cried hot tears for this Uncle who had loved him so much, and whom he owed so many thanks.
Monsieur de la Roche-Aymon left immediately for Berlin in order to bring the King a letter which Prince Heinrich himself had written to (the King) for the occasion of his birthday which happened to be on this day, the third of August. My Uncle had ordered (Roche-Aymon) to deliver the letter himself on the evening before his final stroke. Now, the Prince’s rooms and furniture was sealed off in my brother’s presence, after a sealed document was found on his desk following an order he had given repeatedly, and on which it was said „to be opened immediately after my death!“
This touching document, of which I have kept a transcription, contained detailed instructions about the way he wanted to be buried. It forbade any ceremonies, demanded a simple coffin and forbade all the formalities etiquette demands for the princes of the blood. It also said in which way the seals should be attached to his desk, and when his last will was tob e read. Furthermore, the Prince assured the members of his court and his servants that he had taken care of their future, thanked them for their devotion, asked them to remain friends and good allies of each other, and ordered Monsieur de la Roche-Aymon to depart immediately after his death to the King in order to give the King his sword and a letter attached to it.
My brother went with Monsieur de la Roche-Aymon in ordert o bring my father the sad news to Bellevue. August and myself remained until the funeral, which was to take place four days after his death. The wake was to take place on August 6th. After his return, Louis told me that the King was deeply shaken over the Prince’s death and deeply touched by his letter. On the other hand, Louis was very angry about my mother. Baron von Geertz had told him that my mother had ordered Herrn von Alvensleben to tell the King that Prince Heinrich seemed to have made Louis the heir of all his fiefdoms and possessions, and to ask the King to declare this will invalid as it went against the interests of the King and the family. The King’s servants who were only too eager to diminish the fortune of this branch of the family of course joyfully used the opportunity my deluded mother was offering them, and I despaired at this news and tembled thinking of all the disagreeableness ahead of us now.
My Uncle’s funeral took place at 4 pm. All happened according to his instructions. The humble coffin was decorated only by a laurel wreath I myself had created, and was carried by his servants; my brothers and the cavaliers and civil servants of the Prince’s court followed. Thus he was lain at rest in the tomb he himself had comissioned. Then the door was to be closed by the stone which was carrying the inscription he had written, but as the interior of the crypt had not yet been finished, de la Roche-Aymon, Royer and Brancion offered to stand guard at the tomb until it could be closed for good.
After this ceremony, Louis assembled the entire court in the salon and promised them in the name of my father that all the wishes of his brother would be fulfilled, and that he himself would take care oft hem. Louis then did his best to comfort everyone and to calm them regarding their future. He was so moved and so open about his passionate feelings on this occasion that everyone present did not only cry out of grief but out of gratitude. I, too, went to the salon before my departure and said goodbye to everyone assembled there. Their pain and leaving Rheinsberg, where I had spent such happy days and where my marriage had been decided, and to which I most likely would never return again shattered me to my bones. Louis was deeply moved as well and cried with me. Even August was not unmoved, but he was too little sensitive by nature and had not been much loved by his Uncle in order for him to grieve for him as we did.
Once I had arrived at Bellevue, I immediately went to my father, who was deeply grieved by his brother’s death. He spoke of it with accute pain and it pleased him to talk to me about his brother, as he could recall so many details of him which the rest of the family did not know about. My mother and August, on the other hand, were only worried about the last Will.“
(The rest of the report as reprinted in the Rheinsberg booklet is about the big family argument re: Heinrich’s last will which ends with the decision that Ferdinand instead of Louis is made the immediate heir – with the justification being that Louis will inherit after Ferdinand’s death anyway - , which since Louis will die soon on the battlefield means in efffect August will inherit Rheinsberg instead after Ferdinand’s death and will totally neglect it and sell it out. Luise is very bitter about this.)
no subject
Date: 2026-06-02 11:08 pm (UTC)I'm glad I finally got to see the famous pyramid in person! <3 As well as the room in which he died.
Then the door was to be closed by the stone which was carrying the inscription he had written
Interesting, so it sounds like this door and not the other one was the one he was carried through. We thought it was the other one!
I want to be placed with my face towards the palace, so I can see what’s happening there after my death.“
Ooh, I really wish I had known this when I was there! I did wonder. And every time I visit Fritz's grave, I wonder which direction he's facing.
My Uncle had expressedly forbidden to be given an emetic in the case of a stroke, for as he said, he did not wish to survive as an idiot.
Reminds me of my grandfather, who said he wasn't afraid to die, but he didn't want to have a stroke that would paralyze him. The subtext here was 1) this had happened to his brother, 2) my grandmother was abusive enough that I can see why being trapped in a house with her would be a fate worse than death.
Given 18th century medicine? Yeah, no, I don't blame Heinrich.
One of his people did so and said: „It’s going to be a beautiful day,“ to which he made a negative movement with his hand as if to say „not for me.“
Kind of the opposite of MT's "What bad weather for the great journey!"
His death was a great loss to all who depended on him, and thus there was a great grief among his people and the poor of Rheinsberg, who were entirely dependent on him for their survival as he had bread and money donated to those in need every week.
</3 Thank you for the write-up! Whatever may have in Ziebura, I had long since forgotten since I read it 6 years ago.
no subject
Date: 2026-06-03 06:46 am (UTC)(Obviously Ms. Pangels of "everyone was straight in this family, including Heinrich, and only Voltaire said otherwise about Fritz!" fame in her book about the sibs evidently hasn't read this account, because she claims Heinrich died alone and hated by everyone as he deserved. I mean, I immediately knew it wasn't true because Fontane and Ziebura said the Comte was there, but it's nice to find the first hand account to prove it.)
Fritz: could see an argument for both the palace/Antinoos side and the garden overview, but my guess would be the palace/Antinoos. Speaking of Fritz, like Ziebura I think all of Heinrich's detailed instructions and especially that it was to happen immediately after his death etc was because he'd witnessed Fritz' funeral wishes being completely ignored. Now of course Heinrich wasn't a national idol, so the chances were always better he'd be entombed like and where he wanted to be be, but still.
I don't blame Heinrich either for not wanting to live paralyzed in the 18th century. And good for him to figure it out about the Doctor's attempt to slip him an emetic nonetheless.
Evidently Luise the niece has her own biases - I mean, if Heinrich didn't love August as he did Louis (and presumably Luise herself), there is really no reason for August to be as upset over his death -, but it's still depressing, if not that unusual, that the inheritance arguments basically started as soon as he'd closed his eyes (well, as soon as that was reported to Ferdinand's wife/niece. Who really seems to have had a bad relationship with her oldest son if she was that insistent Louis should not get a dime in his father's life time.
I did know about the Comte being instructed to hand over Heinrich's sword along with a letter before, but reading it again it brought home that for all that Heinrich did his own thing as often as he could, he was a part of that 18th century military culture and etiquette and had internalized it.
The poor citizens of Rheinsberg. Somehow I doubt Mrs. Ferdinand and later August took care to continue the donations after Heinrich's death.
no subject
Date: 2026-06-03 07:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-06-03 08:14 am (UTC)