In principle, this small book of some one hundred and thirty pages treats a rather trite subject: how did the Prussian electors and later kings issue their absolutist orders, there were several forms, and how did this get archived?

This material, which should be of interest to archivist, for instance trained at the academy in Detmold, is generally not very accessible. But the author took the case of Katte who, together with the crown prince, had tried to flee Prussia, was then accused of high treason and executed while the pardoned prince had to look on.

This is all prepared in careful detail, there is even the coat of arms of the field marshal von Katte, his uncle, and the whole book is actually a veritable “who is who” in Prussian history. It is stunning how many names still prevail in contemporary modern German politics.