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Friedrich von der Trenck

Born

in Haldensleben, Saxony-Anhalt, Prussia

February 16, 1726

Died

July 25, 1794

Genre

Biography

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Friedrich Freiherr von der Trenck (16 February 1726 – 25 July 1794) was a Prussian officer, adventurer, and author.

Von der Trenck was born in Haldensleben, which is north of Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Prussia, on 16 February 1727. His parents were Major-General Baron Christopher Ehrenreich von der Trenck and Marie Charlotte von Derschau. His father was transferred to Königsberg in 1729. Friedrich's grandfather was Albrecht Frederick von Derschau, who was President of the Royal Law Court in Königsberg.

Documents show that Friedrich was a law student in 1741 at the University of Königsberg. In November of 1742 he became a cadet in Frederick the Great's garde de corps and six weeks later was given the commission of Cornet. In August 1744 during Friedrich Freiherr von der Trenck (16 February 1726 – 25 July 1794) was a Prussian officer, adventurer, and author.

Von der Trenck was born in Haldensleben, which is north of Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Prussia, on 16 February 1727. His parents were Major-General Baron Christopher Ehrenreich von der Trenck and Marie Charlotte von Derschau. His father was transferred to Königsberg in 1729. Friedrich's grandfather was Albrecht Frederick von Derschau, who was President of the Royal Law Court in Königsberg.

Documents show that Friedrich was a law student in 1741 at the University of Königsberg. In November of 1742 he became a cadet in Frederick the Great's garde de corps and six weeks later was given the commission of Cornet. In August 1744 during the Silesian Wars Friedrich was sent to Silesia and became an orderly officer of Frederick the Great. Unfortunately for Friedrich, his first cousin Baron Franz von der Trenck, who was on the side of Austria, nearly captured Frederick the Great and returned his cousin's horses that had been taken by an Austrian officer. Rumors spread that Friedrich was an Austrian spy and after it was learned that he was Franz von Trenck's sole heir, the rumors were impossible to silence. Friedrich was imprisoned one year later, in 1745, at Glatz under the guard of Heinrich August de la Motte Fouqué. The king ordered that Friedrich had to sit on his own gravestone.

In 1746, von der Trenck escaped from the fortress of Glatz (Kłodzko). Then, in 1749, he obtained an employment as Rittmeister of an imperial cuirassier regiment in Hungary. He traveled to Russia where he, or so he claimed, became gentleman of the bed chamber in the court of Tsarina Elizabeth of Russia. He fell in love with a married woman, whose name he never revealed.

In 1753, he went to Danzig for the funeral of his mother, but was again captured on the orders of Frederick II and was sent to the Citadel Magdeburg in Magdeburg. To prevent him from attempting to escape, they fastened his hands, feet, and body with heavy chains and manacles. In 1763, he was released through the intervention of Empress Maria Theresa.

During the next ten years, von der Trenck led an active life. He busied himself in writing literature, running a wine trading business, and travelling to England and France. His autobiography Friedrichs Freyherrn von der Trenck merkwürdige Lebensgeschichte (1787, first English translation 1788 with the title Memoirs of Frederick Baron Trenck, Written by himself. Translated from the German original, by an officer of the Royal Artillery) became popular reading in the late 18th century.

In December of 1765 he married Maria Elisabeth de Broe zu Dipenbendt, who bore him fourteen children.

In August 1787, the Prussian King Frederick Wilhelm II granted Friedrich and his wife a yearly pension. The Austrians also granted him a pension.

By the order of Austria, von der Trenck was sent as an observer of the events of the French Revolution to Paris, where he was accused as a spy and executed by the guillotine on 25 July 1794, two days before the fall of Robespierre and the end of The Terror.

The son of Friedrich von der Trenck, the Austrian Lieutenant Field Marschall Karl Albrecht's von der Trenck, inherited the title of Count, a title which the King of Prussia had awarded his father after his father's death. When Karl died the title was inherited by his brother's son Leopold von der Trenck. ...more

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Friedrich von der Trenck’s books

Average rating: 3.85 · 13 ratings · 0 reviews · 113 distinct works

	The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck, Volume 2 by Friedrich von der Trenck, Henry Morley (Editor), Thomas Holcroft (Translator) 4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 1787 — 46 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Life and Adventures of Baron Trenck, Volume 1 by Friedrich von der Trenck, Henry Morley (Editor), Thomas Holcroft (Translator) 3.50 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 1787 — 47 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Des Freiherrn Von Der Trenck Seltsame Lebensgeschichte 3.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — 183 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Des Freiherrn Friedrich von der Trenck Merkwürdige Lebensgeschichte, Vol. 1: Von Ihm Selbst als ein Lehrbuch für Menschen Geschrieben, die Wirklich ... Bedürfen (Classic Reprint) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Life of Baron Frederic Trenck; Containing his Adventures, his Cruel and Excessive Sufferings, During ten Years Imprisonment, at the Fortress of ... Historical, Political, and Personal: 3 by Friedrich von der Trenck, Franz Trenck liked it 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2015 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Merkwürdiges Leben Und Thaten Des Weltberühmten Herrn Francisci Frey-herrns Von Der Trenck, ..., Volume 2 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Meine Gedanken Über Die Unsichtbare Leibeigenschaft Des Königreichs Böheim 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sämtliche Gedichte und Schriften 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Life and Surprising Adventures of Frederick Baron Trenck, Carefully Collected and Abridged From the Last Edition of His Own Memoirs: To Which Is ... More Recent Transactions Till He Fell a Victi 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Life of Baron Frederic Trenck, Tr. by T. Holcroft , Volume 3 1789 Leather Bound 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars