- Hans Hermann von Katte (Wikipedia)
Hans Hermann von Katte (28 February 1704 – 6 November 1730) was a Lieutenant of the Prussian Army, and a friend, tutor and possible lover of the future King Frederick II of Prussia, who was at the time the Crown Prince. Katte was executed by Frederick’s father, the Prussian King Frederick William I, when Frederick plotted to escape from Prussia to Britain. It was possible that Frederick intended to defect to the service of the British King George II (his maternal uncle) and possibly return to Prussia to depose his father.
Please forgive me dear Katte, in God’s name, forgive me.
Frederick the Great witnessing the execution of Hans Hermann von Katte- Quantz later told writer Friedrich Nicolai that he and Hans Hermann von Katte one day had to hide in a closet during an outburst of Frederick’s domineering father, who disapproved of his son’s hairstyle, musical studies, questionable books and fancy dressing gowns.
- The king condemned Katte to death and forced Frederick to watch his beheading at Küstrin on 6 November, leading the crown prince to faint just before the fatal blow.
There is nothing to forgive, I die for you with joy in my heart!
Last words of Hans Hermann von Katte to Frederick the Great