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GRAF VON FABER CASTELL PEN OF THE YEAR 2015 PALACE OF SANSSOUCI ROLLERBALL PEN
A royal drama took place in Prussia in 1730 that captivated the whole of Europe.
The young Crown
Prince Frederick rebelled against his father, fled with a friend, was
arrested and found himself facing execution. This sent a ripple through
the royal houses of Europe. Emperor Charles VI and Prince Eugene
personally interceded
for the Crown Prince by letter and the drama took a happy turn: after
the initial arrest, Frederick was completely vindicated. This paved the
way for one of the most extraordinary ruling figures of this and every
other period: philosopher,
artist, musician, strategist, lawmaker, enlightened monarch – Frederick
II, later called the Great (1712 - 1786), King of Prussia and Elector
of Brandenburg, took to the European stage.
THE MANY TALENTS OF THE "ROI CHARMANT"
When he took
office in 1740, the young king displayed a remarkable open-mindedness
that resurfaced time and again during his reign.
Inside this ruler
coolly pursuing his interests was a fine mind with astonishing talents.
Frederick devoted himself to the study of philosophy, history and
poetry. He designed his private apartments to suit his own taste, right
down to the last detail, sketched floor plans for Sanssouci and founded Frederician Rococo.
He regularly
exchanged letters with Catherine the Great and dedicated several poems
to her. His intensive correspondence with the great French Enlightenment
philosopher Voltaire, deemed by historians as an “epochmaking
dialogue”, has survived the centuries.
THE STRATEGIES OF A GREAT MONARCH
Frederick II showed extraordinary strategical skills in the eventful ups and downs of European power politics.
Under his rule,
Prussia acceded to the circle of the major powers. He also incorporated
his enlightened ideas into his politics. He described himself as the
“first servant of the State” and caused a sensation in Europe as a young
monarch when he abolished torture.
Tolerance and
openness were the main tenets of his attitude: “Everyone should be free
to pursue their own happiness,” was his motto. He also demonstrated
remarkable foresight in foreign policy: he concluded a treaty of amity
and commerce with the distant United States, signed by the American founding fathers Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson
AT THE PEAK OF FAME
After the Seven
Years’ War and victory over the powerful Habsburg monarchy, large and
influential Silesia became part of Prussia.
Frederick was
hailed as a military genius and henceforth called “the Great”. As a sign
of his victory he ordered the construction of his largest and most
ambitious building: the New Palace of Sanssouci.
Magnificent
ballrooms, impressive Galleries – everything to ensure that guests from
the German and European aristocracy could celebrate in style. Precious
decorative natural stones played a special role in this splendour,
something Prussia had
in abundance thanks to the conquest of Silesia: wall coverings made
from multi-coloured marble, floors inlaid with jasper, amethyst and
serpentine – the interiors of the New Palace are unparalleled in Europe!
THE APOTHEOSIS OF NATURAL STONE
Frederick the
Great, as king and connoisseur of decorative natural stones, cultivated a
personal and simultaneously regal interest in the rich Silesian
deposits then used to do justice to Prussia’s new status.
By special
sovereign right, the monarch reserved all precious stones and
chrysoprase in particular for himself: these stones with their emerald
to apple green colouration are considered the most valuable variety of
quartz. Frederick the Great himself travelled to Silesia to choose the most beautiful. The New Palace was the culmination of the royal interest.
This magnificent
building is home to a greater variety of natural stones than any other
Frederician palace. Its fascinating architecture was the inspiration for
the creation of the “Sanssouci, Potsdam” Pen of the Year.
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