According to Count Khevenhüller (1706–1776), the Easter celebrations at court in 1757 were not particularly joyous. His famous diary offers a little amusing story: on Maundy Thursday, 7th April, Chancellor Kaunitz was late to the service and had to take part in the next one, standing right behind Khevenhüller’s chamberlain. This man, the Count says, did not recognize him first, but when he did, he was astonished by the presence of such a high-status person. This led me to believe that this particular service was meant for courtiers of a lower rank. However, it is easy to imagine the scene, the chamberlain describing the episode to his master and the Count noting it down in his diary, very likely smirking.
Otherwise, the Easter holydays passed rather quietly. Khevenhüller does not give more details here, other than to mention that due to Marianne’s worsening prognosis, the celebrations were reduced to the minimum and held in a withdrawn manner.
At Marianne’s anointment, the Count does not name the papal nuncio by name but specifies that the same cleric had performed the rite for Marianne’s young maternal aunt and namesake when she died after childbirth complications in 1744. Consulting some other sources, it was easy to find his name: Ignazio Michele Crivelli (1698–1768).
Access to the Metatext via placing an order for an augmented product. See Terms of Use
