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Royal Taboo: Why Did Frederick the Great's Private Life Become a Historical Taboo?
Frederick the Great (1712–1786) was the monarch of the German Kingdom of Prussia and is generally considered to be primarily homosexual in his private life. Although he had a political marriage, he had no children and was succeeded by his nephew after his death. Most of the courtiers who were friendly with him were men, and his art collection also included some homosexual works that he admired. However, his actual emotional relationship has always been a mystery, and can only be speculated.
"My hemorrhoids greet your fork cordially."
This is a passage written by Frederick to his homosexual secretary and reader Claude-Étienne Darget in July 1750, strongly suggesting that he may have had intimate relationships with men. In addition, Frederick also advised his nephew in a written document when he was old that he had experienced "unpleasant" sexual behaviors. This all points to his desire for men.
Historians consider Frederick's sexual orientation a taboo subject, and it seems to have cast a constant shadow over his life. Rumors of Frederick's homosexuality spread throughout Europe during his lifetime, although we lack hard evidence to prove his sexual relationships. However, many diplomats of the time reported Frederick's "unnatural tastes", and some of these countries attempted to place handsome young men around him, further confirming his preference for men.
Possible homosexual relationshipWhen Frederick was young, he confided to his mentor, Field Marshal Grünbruckau, that he had little attraction to women and therefore could not imagine entering into married life. At about the age of 16, he appears to have begun a teenage romance with his valet, Peter Carl Christoph von Kitt, who was 17 at the time. The news of this intimacy spread quickly throughout the court and attracted the attention of Frederick's sister, Wilhelmine, who had mentioned that her brother was too close to the boy.
"Although I noticed that he and this attendant were too close, I didn't know how many secrets were involved."
Due to his father King Frederick's firm belief in hyper-masculinity, he was very dissatisfied with his son's "disdain for women" and expelled Kit. Afterwards, Frederick was sent to the palace to "repent". Frederick's relationship with Hans Hermann von Katt also attracted attention, and the attendant's misfortune may ultimately have been due to Frederick's father's suspicion of their relationship. Many friends later recalled his relationship with Carter and described their attitude as like that of a couple.
Relationship between Voltaire and Frederick
Soon after Frederick ascended the throne, he invited the French philosopher Voltaire to live in his palace in Potsdam. The friendship lasted nearly fifty years, with the two men attracted to each other and developing a deep literary connection. Voltaire was rumored to have had relationships with men, but there is no definitive evidence of the extent of her intimacy with Frederick.
"I wonder if there is a deeper emotional connection between these two great minds?"
While there were lively intellectual debates and exchanges between them, the denigration of Frederick's sexuality was perhaps more direct. In Voltaire's autobiography, he occasionally criticized Frederick and the aristocratic circle around him, establishing the complex dependence and distance between them.
Frederick's artistic taste
Frederick was also a monarch with a passion for art, and many of his works contain homosexual references. In 1739, he met the Venetian philosopher Francesco Arcarotti, and both of them were strongly attracted to each other. Frederick even wrote a love poem for Arcarotti, which was profound and hinted at the feelings between them.
"In his eyes, love is not just sexual desire, but a more subtle and noble emotion in human nature."
Frederick's palace was filled with famous works of art, including some murals celebrating homosexual beauty, which not only showed his aesthetic taste, but also revealed his desire for men.
Contemporary Perspectives and Conclusions
Frederick the Great's sexuality has been marginalized in the works of many historians, but there are many supporters who believe that he was an outstanding leader in a homosexual relationship. Some scholars point out that Frederick was to some extent well aware of the subtle differences between various gender preferences and social norms, and used this unique situation to carry out political activities.
Frederick's private life is a topic that is strictly forbidden to discuss in history, which inspires us to think about how to understand and re-examine this role. How did the complex issues of gender and love in his life affect his position and image in history, prompting us to think: In historical writing, how should the secrets of private life be put under the microscope?
