Michael Gabriel Fredersdorf

Deceased Person

1708 – 1758

 Credit »
48

Who was Michael Gabriel Fredersdorf?

Michael Gabriel Fredersdorf, is famous as the longest-standing valet and companion of Frederick II of Prussia. The two met when the future Frederick II was still in prison for having attempted to run off with his former companion, Hans Hermann von Katte. At the time, Fredersdorf was four years older than the heir to the throne.

Both contemporaries and historians have speculated that Fredersdorf and Frederick II had a homosexual relationship, yet there is no definitive proof. Voltaire would later describe the relationship in his Memoires as, "This soldier, young, handsome, well made, and who played the flute, served to entertain the prisoner in more than one fashion." Frederick named Fredersdorf his valet, then director of the royal theatre, and eventually chancellor of Prussia. This last move shocked Prussian snobs, as Fredersdorf had been the heir of a peasant and the title of chancellor brought with it an estate.

Fredersdorf eventually sought to marry, a move which disenchanted the king.

We need you!

Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web!

Born
1708
Gartz
Nationality
  • Germany
Died
Jan 12, 1758
Potsdam

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

Citation

Use the citation below to add to a bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"Michael Gabriel Fredersdorf." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/michael_gabriel_fredersdorf>.

Discuss this Michael Gabriel Fredersdorf biography with the community:

0 Comments

    Browse Biographies.net