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Secrets in the Mind: What exactly was hidden in Frederick the Great's sexual orientation?
Frederick the Great (1712-1786), King of Prussia, enjoyed many reputations as a warrior and philosopher, but at the same time, his sexual orientation has become a long-standing mystery in history. While there is overwhelming evidence that he was primarily homosexual, his actual sexual relationships remain a matter of great curiosity. Although Frederick's arranged marriage to a woman was childless, this was not the only sign of his success. His preference for male escorts and his collection of homosexual art revealed his inner secrets.
“In a 1750 letter, Frederick jokingly wrote to his homosexual secretary Claude Étienne Darget: ‘My hemorrhoids send you cordial regards.’”
Frederick's sex life was rife in Europe at the time, though direct evidence was lacking. However, in July 1750, a humorous letter of his made strong associations with his sexual orientation. In addition, Frederick also talked about his personal experience with passive anal sex in a written document, vaguely revealing his desire for men. This view was supported by other notable figures of his time, including Voltaire and Cavazza, who were privy to Frederick's private life and sexual preferences. Voltaire even nicknamed Frederick "Luc", a French pun on the anus, which inferred his opinion of Frederick's sexuality.
As a young prince, Frederick had expressed his lack of attraction to women to his mentor, General Grumbkow, a fact that had a profound effect on his life. His close relationship with a boy of the same age, Peter Karl Christoph von Keith, often raised eyebrows, and even his sister Wilhelmina made similar observations. Keith was eventually forced to leave Frederick's side, and the relationship became part of his father's suspicion and persecution of the prince.
““If you want to match the prince with a beautiful woman, unfortunately he is already too attached to the beautiful man. ”
And this romance continued to guide Frederick's future network of relationships. In the days that followed, his relationship with Hans Hermann von Katt also caused tension with the authorities, and he eventually escaped the death penalty but was still under the suspicion of the royal family. After he became king, he grew close to his servant Mikhail Gabriel Friedersdorf, who eventually played an integral role in the kingdom. As for the communication between Friedersdorf and Frederick, even including the extensive correspondence, it is also believed that it indicates a certain degree of affection.
It is noteworthy that Frederick also tended to express and explore homosexual feelings in art and literature. He wrote poetry rich in sexual allusions, including these imaginative intimacy with homosexual friends, and hung many satirical paintings of rural life in his palace. Frederick's palace gardens are based on the classical theme of gay love, and contain countless symbols and poetry that explore this topic.
"'The presence of women disgusts me. I would rather indulge in exploring men.'"
At the same time, the friendship between Frederick and Voltaire is also a good story in the long river of history. Their correspondence has both literary appeal and a profound understanding of human nature. Strong personalities and struggles for sovereignty create a sometimes tense relationship between them, but these intense exchanges also reflect the complexity of sexual identity. To some extent, Frederick's court life was like a fortress of gender discrimination, with countless young captives circulating under the royal power, invading the sexual denial of individuals.
Although Frederick the Great's sexual orientation has been questioned in history, it has become a source of inspiration for many literary and artistic works over time. As he himself wrote: "Love has nothing to do with gender, but it cannot escape the essence of love." Can we today reflect more deeply on the private life of this historical figure?
