In this special episode, we travel outside of France, to Prussia, guided by Alec Avdakov from the podcast "The Life and Times of Frederick the Great". Make sure to check out his podcast.
Voltaire was in Berlin, at the court of Prussia from 1750 to 1753, invited by the Prussian King Frederic II, known as Frederic the Great. This is a perfect example of the global effect of the French Enlightenment and how various monarchs reacted differently to the movement.
I've had the chance to conduct an interview with Alec regarding's Voltaire's Prussian experience. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Correction: I called Voltaire an atheist although he was in fact a deist. Sorry about that.
Timecodes:
Introduction
03:10 - What is Prussia?
08:40 - Voltaire and Frederick, the French Connection
15:35 - Arrival at the Prussian Court
27:08 - Voltaire's Prussian Experience
33:15 - The Consequences of Voltaire's Stay in Prussia
40:02 - Conclusion
The Life and Times of Frederick the Great Podcast by Alec Avdakov: https://anchor.fm/frederick-the-great
Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.
Art: Frederick II of Prussia and Voltaire, by Pierre Charles Baquoy, circa 1800
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