Alcmène
Alcmène (also Alkmene ; † 1785 in Sanssouci ) was one of the favorite bitches of the Prussian King Friedrich II. She is referred to in contemporary sources as a greyhound and was named by Friedrich after Alkmene ("The Strong"), a figure in Greek mythology .
In addition to Friedrich's first greyhound bitch Biche and the Superbe who was present on his deathbed, Alcmène was one of the king's favorite bitches. Like Biche before her, Alcmène was allowed to do a lot at the court in Sanssouci. She was tolerated on armchairs and pillows, was allowed to sleep in the king's bed and was valued by him for her (alleged) instincts towards people. She is said to have jumped up at an interview with the Italian scholar Girolamo Lucchesini and thus expressed her affection - which is why he got the post of chamberlain.
Sickness and death
There have been many reports, some of them controversial, on the illness and death of Alcmène.
It is certain that the king was in Silesia in 1785 for an annual troop muster. Alcmène was sick of old age when he left and the ruler worried about her. He had already written to his brother Heinrich in advance:
"I have a domestic grief, my poor dog is going to die, and to console myself I tell myself that since death does not spare even crowned heads, my poor Alcmène cannot expect a better lot."
During the maneuver he was informed about the condition of the bitch daily by mounted chamber hussars. When he was told of Alcmènen's death, he broke off his presence during the maneuver and traveled back to Sanssouci.
According to various sources, the dog had already been buried after her death and was dug up again by order of Friedrich and laid out in the library in Sanssouci. Other sources report laying out immediately after death. When the king arrived, the body of the dog had already started to decompose, and a corresponding stench is reported. Nevertheless, the arriving Friedrich took the dog's corpse in his arms immediately after arrival and said goodbye with kisses in tears. According to a novella from 1886, the king is said to have mourned his dog for three days.
On Frederick's instructions, Alcmène was buried in a coffin in the crypt under the top vineyard terrace of the Sanssouci park. She was the only one of the king's dogs buried on the terrace to receive this special token of favor. A massive sandstone slab with her name on it was laid alongside those of the other dogs. The grave slab was cleaned and preserved in 2005.
Literary and artistic representation
In the story cycle Days of the King by Bruno Frank from 1924, one of three stories is dedicated to Friedrich's relationship with Alcmène. The story is about the above-mentioned inspection of the Green Regiment on a military training area near Neisse , during which the king learns of the death of the bitch, his hasty return trip to Potsdam and the farewell to Alcmène in Sanssouci Palace. Saying goodbye to the animal becomes a goodbye to one's own life.
Hasenfuß and Alcmène were modeled by Johann Gottfried Schadow as an accompaniment to an ensemble with the king figure. While working, Schadow noted:
"As an accessory I will add a few of the little greyhounds, qui faisant la distraction du grand Monarque."
Schadow noted their names on the dogs' collars. The original was copied many times.
In the history silent film The Old Fritz by Gerhard Lamprecht from 1928 it is shown how the death of Alcmène upsets the lonely king.
Others
At the castle in Potsdam and on the Jägerhof, which was located in front of the Jägertor and the Excise Wall, which still stands today, greyhounds were bred in a "nursery" with around 40 to 80 dogs; Two hunters were responsible for care and supervision, one of whom was also responsible for the health of these animals. The most beautiful “pupils” of this “nursery” were delivered to the royal court.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Renate Hoffmann, Friedrich and the dogs , July 21, 2008, Das Blättchen , issue 15
- ^ A b E. Hohenstein, Friedrichs vierbeinige Freunde , January 27, 2005, Der Tagesspiegel
- ↑ Christoph Stollowsky , Der Alte Fritz: Das Gute Herrchen , February 7, 2012, Der Tagesspiegel
- ↑ Ernst Floessel, Der Hund, a collaborator on the works of humans: A contribution to the history of the dog , A. Hartleben, 1906, p. 380 (snippet)
- ↑ Katja Bauer, Jubilee Show: His misogyny was proverbial , April 28, 2012, Stuttgarter Zeitung
- ↑ Simon Benne, Friedrich the Great was an animal lover , June 29, 2012, Hannoversche Allgemeine
- ↑ KF Reiche, Friedrich the Great and His Time , Kollmann, 1840, p.190
- ^ Animal protection: Sprinter's slave market , October 20, 1997, Der Spiegel , No. 43/1997
- ↑ Honoré Gabriel de Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau , Lexicon of all offenses and boasting appearances in the so-called writings of Friedrich des Zweyten, which appeared in fifteen volumes in Berlin , Schönfeld, 1790, p. 64
- ↑ Karl Friedrich Tzschucke, Brandenburgisch-Prussische Regenten- und Volksgeschichte: from the oldest to the most recent times , From Friedrich II to Friedrich Wilhelm II , Volume 2, Flittner, 1821 P. 282 f.
- ↑ Christoph Stollkowski, History of keeping dogs in Berlin from the royal court to the backyard , July 17, 2015, Der Tagesspiegel
- ^ Conrad von Bolanden , Die Freidenker: Historical novella about Friedrich II. Von Prussen and his time , Franz Kirchheim, 1866, p. 316 f.
- ↑ JC Freier (ed.), Life and Character of Friedrich II, King of Prussia: In addition to a useful excerpt from all of his works, with additions and own comments , Voss , Berlin 1795, p. 89
- ↑ Katharina von der Leyen , Friedrich II., The great dog friend , July 12, 2012, Bild.de
- ↑ Bruno Frank, Digital Works, Friedrich-Erzählungen ( Memento of the original from February 16, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ Fritz Endemann, The Prussian King and His Swabian Chronicler , Literature Journal for Baden-Württemberg, Edition 6/2012, p. 12
- ↑ Volker Weigold, Preussen, attempt to take stock: Preussen im Film , Axel Marquardt and Heinz Rathsack (eds.), Exhibition of the Berliner Festspiele, August 15 - November 15, 1981, Gropius-Bau (Museum), Rowohlt Verlag , 1981 ( Snippet)
- ↑ on this: potsdam-chronik.de, Lemma Jägerhof
- ↑ Hans Räber , Die Windspiele Friedrichs der Große in Enzyklopädie der Rassehunde, Volume 2: Origin, History, Breeding Goals , Suitability and Use , 2nd edition provided as an eBook, Kosmos 2014, pp. 842-844 (limited preview on Google Books; Quoting there broadly from: Anton Friedrich Büsching , Contributions to the life stories of memorable people, especially learned men, Volume 5 , Halle, Curt 1788, pp. 22-24 )
- ↑ Ludwig Pflaum, Friedrich the Great. A biography for young men , Volume 3 of: Biographies of Strange Men , Verlag JF Steinkopf , 1815, p. 273
