Hans Hermann von Katte
Encyclopedia
Hans Hermann von Katte (February 28, 1704 – November 6, 1730) was a Lieutenant
of the Prussian Army
and close friend and possibly lover of the future Frederick II of Prussia
, then the Crown Prince. He was executed by Frederick's father King Frederick William I of Prussia
when he and Frederick plotted to escape from the Kingdom of Prussia
to the Kingdom of Great Britain
. Some believe that the two were fleeing to Great Britain where they would defect to the service of George II of Great Britain
(Frederick's maternal uncle) and possibly return to Prussia to depose Frederick William.
Born in the Prussian capital of Berlin
, Katte was a nobleman by birth, coming from a long line of aristocratic military men. His ancestors were squires of Wust in the Altmark
. His father, Hans Heinrich Graf von Katte, was one of Frederick William's most regarded cuirassier
s. Katte's mother, Dorothee Sophia von Wartensleben, was the daughter of a seasoned and revered field marshal, Graf Leopold Alexander von Wartensleben. Hans Hermann studied in Königsberg
and Utrecht
— his foci were French
and Law
. After completing his studies, he joined the Prussian Army
, probably where he met Frederick II.
Katte and Frederick were captured after the botched escape attempt, and Katte was found guilty of desertion by court martial. He was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment, but the king wanted him to be executed, declaring that "it would be better that Katte came to death than the justice out of the world." Katte was beheaded at the fortress of Küstrin
. Frederick was forced by his father the king to watch the execution.
Katte's last words were "Lord Jesus Christ..." On witnessing his death, Frederick was plunged into deep despair. When he emerged from it three days later, he almost never spoke of Katte again. Katte's remains rest in the crypt of the church in Wust.
Period accounts of Katte are conflicting. Frederick's sister Wilhelmina
described him as surly and anything but handsome, with thick eyebrows. Others described him as very handsome.
Hans Hermann von Katte's letter to his father, written on the eve of his execution, expresses a profound belief in God.
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
of the Prussian Army
Prussian Army
The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...
and close friend and possibly lover of the future Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
, then the Crown Prince. He was executed by Frederick's father King Frederick William I of Prussia
Frederick William I of Prussia
Frederick William I of the House of Hohenzollern, was the King in Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg from 1713 until his death...
when he and Frederick plotted to escape from the Kingdom of Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
to the Kingdom of Great Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
. Some believe that the two were fleeing to Great Britain where they would defect to the service of George II of Great Britain
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
(Frederick's maternal uncle) and possibly return to Prussia to depose Frederick William.
Life
Born in the Prussian capital of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Katte was a nobleman by birth, coming from a long line of aristocratic military men. His ancestors were squires of Wust in the Altmark
Altmark
The Altmark is a historic region in Germany, comprising the northern third of Saxony-Anhalt. As the initial territory of the Brandenburg margraves, it is sometimes referred to as the "Cradle of Prussia", as by Otto von Bismarck, a native from Schönhausen near Stendal.- Geography :The Altmark is...
. His father, Hans Heinrich Graf von Katte, was one of Frederick William's most regarded cuirassier
Cuirassier
Cuirassiers were mounted cavalry soldiers equipped with armour and firearms, first appearing in late 15th-century Europe. They were the successors of the medieval armoured knights...
s. Katte's mother, Dorothee Sophia von Wartensleben, was the daughter of a seasoned and revered field marshal, Graf Leopold Alexander von Wartensleben. Hans Hermann studied in Königsberg
Königsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
and Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
— his foci were French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. After completing his studies, he joined the Prussian Army
Prussian Army
The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...
, probably where he met Frederick II.
Katte and Frederick were captured after the botched escape attempt, and Katte was found guilty of desertion by court martial. He was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment, but the king wanted him to be executed, declaring that "it would be better that Katte came to death than the justice out of the world." Katte was beheaded at the fortress of Küstrin
Kostrzyn nad Odra
Kostrzyn nad Odrą is a town in western Poland, at the confluence of the Oder and Warta rivers, on the border with Germany. Located in the Lubusz Voivodeship, in Gorzów County, it had 19,952 inhabitants as of 2007.- History :...
. Frederick was forced by his father the king to watch the execution.
Katte's last words were "Lord Jesus Christ..." On witnessing his death, Frederick was plunged into deep despair. When he emerged from it three days later, he almost never spoke of Katte again. Katte's remains rest in the crypt of the church in Wust.
Period accounts of Katte are conflicting. Frederick's sister Wilhelmina
Wilhelmine of Bayreuth
Princess Wilhelmine of Prussia was a German noblewoman and composer. She was the eldest daughter of Frederick William I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. In 1731, she married Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth...
described him as surly and anything but handsome, with thick eyebrows. Others described him as very handsome.
Hans Hermann von Katte's letter to his father, written on the eve of his execution, expresses a profound belief in God.
Further reading
- Hergemöller, Bernd-Ulrich(1998) "Katte, Hans Hermann von". In: Mann für Mann. Biographisches Lexikon zur Geschichte von Freundesliebe und mann-männlicher Sexualität im deutschen Sprachraum, pp. 411/412. Hamburg: MännerschwarmSkript ISBN 3-92898365-2
- Kloosterhuis, Jürgen (2006) "Katte. Ordre und Kriegsartikel: Aktenanalytische und militärhistorische Aspekte einer „facheusen“ Geschichte". From: Forschungen zur Brandenburgischen und Preußischen Geschichte. N. F., 15., Berlin ISBN 978-3-428-12193-9
- Merten, Detlef Der Katte-Prozeß, Berlin: De Gruyter ISBN 3-11-008290-X (PDF at Juristischen Gesellschaft Berlin)