Hans Hermann von Katte

Hans Hermann von Katte (February 28, 1704 – November 6, 1730) was a Lieutnant of the Prussian Army and a close friend of Frederick II of Prussia. 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 and possibly return to Prussia to depose Frederick William. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... February 28 is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Building of the Students Monument in Aiud, Romania. ... is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Pope Clement XII elected September 17 - Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Ahmed III (1703-1730) to Mahmud I (1730-1754) Anna Ivanova (Anna I of Russia) became czarina Births April 16 - Henry Clinton, British general (d. ... Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ... A standard of the Prussian Army. ... Frederick II (German: ; January 24, 1712 – August 17, 1786) was a King of Prussia (1740–1786) from the Hohenzollern dynasty. ... Frederick William I (German: Friedrich Wilhelm I) (August 14, 1688 – May 31, 1740) of the House of Hohenzollern, was the King in Prussia from 1713 until his death. ... Anthem Preußenlied, Heil dir im Siegerkranz (both unofficial) The Kingdom of Prussia at its greatest extent, at the time of the formation of the German Empire, 1871 Capital Berlin Government Monarchy King  - 1701 — 1713 Frederick I (first)  - 1888 — 1918 William II (last) Prime minister  - 1848 Adolf Heinrich von Arnim... For an explanation of terms such as Scotland, Wales, England, (Great) Britain and United Kingdom, see British Isles (terminology). ... George II (George Augustus; 10 November 1683 – 25 October 1760) was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Hanover) and Archtreasurer and Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death. ...

Life

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 cuirassiers. 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, where he probably met Frederick II. This article is about the capital of Germany. ... Wust is a town in the district of Stendal in Saxony-Anhalt in Germany. ... Altmark is a region in Germany, between Hamburg and Magdeburg, the northern third of Saxony-Anhalt (the districts of Altmarkkreis Salzwedel and Stendal). ... French cuirassier armour, 1854 Cuirassiers were mounted cavalry soldiers equipped with armour and firearms, first appearing in late 15th-century Europe. ... Former German name of the city of Kaliningrad. ... Utrecht ( (help· info)) is a municipality and the capital city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. ... For other uses, see Law (disambiguation). ... A standard of the Prussian Army. ...

Katte and Frederick were captured after the botched escape attempt, and Katte was found guilty of desertion by a court martial. He was sentenced to a life-long 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 to watch the execution at the behest of his father Frederick William. Kostrzyn nad OdrÄ… (German: ) is a town in western Poland, about 40 km west of Gorzów Wielkopolski, at the confluence of the Oder and Warta rivers, on the border with Germany. ...

Katte's last words were "Lord Jesus Christ..." Upon 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. Friederike Sophie Wilhelmine, Princess of Prussia (Berlin, July 3, 1709 - Bayreuth, October 14, 1758), was a daughter of Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia. ...

Katte did have a reputation as a womanizer.

Hans Hermann von Katte's letter to his father, written on the eve of his execution, expresses a profound belief in God. Refer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Hans_Hermann_von_Katte

References