It was to be a fabulous day for late Spring of 1846. The morning sky broke clear blue and only the occasional fluffy cloud could be found traveling west to east by the time of the afternoon festivities. The aroma of the plants and flowers of the Great Garden filled the air with enticing fragrances and the soft mew of a peacock would occasionally break the silence. All the notables of the city were excited to attend and those in the best of favor with the Royal house were hoping to get a look at the mausoleum the elderly King had commissioned to be built in the Berggarten.
People were always astonished by the size and scope of Herrenhausen Garten at Herrenhausen Castle. Not just a single garden, it was composed of four distinct parts: The Great Garden, the Berggarten, The Welfengarten and the Georgengarten. The activities for today would be centered in the Great Garden, with its 50 hectacres of lawns, walkways, hedges and statues that was most often used for public events. It had been designed by French gardener Martin Charbonnier. Its central point was the Great Fountain which could spout water over 35m high.
As the people, in their finery, all entered the main gate to make their way towards the stage area for the event. A group of nondescript men slowly gathered to one side. Once they had been young and spry, but, now time was showing its mark as their hair had thinned and gone grey and a few had the telltale mark of previous injuries either in stooped shoulders, a limp, an empty sleeve or the slightly bowlegged walk that one gets from spending ones time often upon the back of a horse. To those in the know, they were the Kings Menagerie (or just the Zoo to the envious). Men, who in their prime, laid their lives upon the line for King and Country. The King had no less a reputation and he had bore the scars proudly for all of his long life. However, those times of daring do were in the past and the Kingdom had had many years of peace and prosperity under the reign of the King. These men had long left their military lives and gone into various trades, businesses and teachings. It had been many years since they had all gathered together.
These men would be here for only two reasons, their King or for the one that lead them so many years ago. They had heard of the event that was to transpire today and as soon as the news had reached their ears, they knew they would come. It was a high honor and so very well deserved. They all wanted to be there to witness the event, and to once again be together and feel the energy of those exciting days one more, maybe the last, time.
