Christoph von Dohna
Encyclopedia
Burgrave
Christopher von Dohna (German
: Burggraf Christoph von Dohna) (June 27, 1583 – July 1, 1637) was a German
politician and scholar during the time of the Thirty Years' War
. He came from the Prussian family of the Burgrave
s of Dohna
.
(1597), the University of Altdorf
(1598), the University of Heidelberg (1599), the University of Siena
(1601), the University of Perugia
(1602), the University of Geneva
(1604), and then in 1606 he returned to the University of Heidelberg.
Upon leaving his final university, Dohna entered the service of Christian I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg. On the death of Frederick IV, Elector Palatine
in 1610, Frederick IV was succeeded by his 14-year-old son Frederick V, Elector Palatine
. Christian of Anhalt-Bernburg became one of Frederick V's most trusted advisers, and, as Frederick's chancellor
, exercised a large degree of influence over the young Elector. Upon Christian's recommendation, Frederick made Dohna a member of his Council (Rat). Under Christian's tutelage, Dohna rose to become Frederick's Chamberlain
(Oberstkämmerer) in 1620. He married Ursula von Solms-Braunfels on March 23, 1620.
Dohna had also remained active as a scholar and was invited to join the Fruitbearing Society
in 1619 due to his learning in the healing properties of natural herbs. He adopted the oregano
plant as his emblem.
Following the collapse of Frederick V's policies in 1620 and the occupation of his territories by imperial troops later in 1620, Dohna fled to Küstrin
. He later moved to Spandau
, where his wife was entitled to an appanage
. He spent the years between 1624 and 1628 as living privately on his ancestral estate at Carwinden
. In 1628, he was forced to flee from there when the Polish–Swedish War
spread onto his property, going first to Emden
.
In October 1630, Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange
, appointed Dohna as Governor
of the Principality of Orange
, a post he held until his death on 1 July 1637.
in German
, Italian
, and Latin
. He translated several scientific works, as well as Petrus Ramus
' De militia C.J. Cæsaris
and Abraham Scultetus
' De curriculu vitae sue narratio apologetica.
Burgrave
A burgrave is literally the count of a castle or fortified town. The English form is derived through the French from the German Burggraf and Dutch burg- or burch-graeve .* The title is originally equivalent to that of castellan or châtelain, meaning keeper of a castle and/or fortified town...
Christopher von Dohna (German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Burggraf Christoph von Dohna) (June 27, 1583 – July 1, 1637) was a German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
politician and scholar during the time of the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
. He came from the Prussian family of the Burgrave
Burgrave
A burgrave is literally the count of a castle or fortified town. The English form is derived through the French from the German Burggraf and Dutch burg- or burch-graeve .* The title is originally equivalent to that of castellan or châtelain, meaning keeper of a castle and/or fortified town...
s of Dohna
Dohna
Dohna is a town in the Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district, Saxony, Germany. It is located south of Heidenau. It is located in the Müglitz valley and lies west of the Eastern Ore Mountains. It was known as Donin in 1107, 1160 and until 1206. Donyn in from 1288 to 1408. Doneyn unwil 1454...
.
Biography
Dohna was born in 1583 in Mohrungen, Prussia, (today Morąg, Poland), the son of Achatius von Dohna by his marriage to Barbara von Wernsdorf. After brief instruction by a private tutor, Dohna attended a series of educational institutions: the University of RostockUniversity of Rostock
The University of Rostock is the university of the city Rostock, in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.Founded in 1419, it is the oldest and largest university in continental northern Europe and the Baltic Sea area...
(1597), the University of Altdorf
University of Altdorf
The University of Altdorf was a university in Altdorf bei Nürnberg, a small town outside Nuremberg. It was founded in the late 16th century, received university privileges in 1622 and was closed in 1809 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria....
(1598), the University of Heidelberg (1599), the University of Siena
University of Siena
The University of Siena in Siena, Tuscany is one of the oldest and first publicly funded universities in Italy. Originally called Studium Senese, the University of Siena was founded in 1240. The University has around 20,000 students, nearly half of Siena's total population of around 54,000...
(1601), the University of Perugia
University of Perugia
University of Perugia is a public-owned university based in Perugia, Italy. It was founded in 1308, as attested by the Bull issued by Pope Clement V certifying the birth of the Studium Generale....
(1602), the University of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
(1604), and then in 1606 he returned to the University of Heidelberg.
Upon leaving his final university, Dohna entered the service of Christian I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg. On the death of Frederick IV, Elector Palatine
Frederick IV, Elector Palatine
Frederick IV, Elector Palatine of the Rhine , only surviving son of Louis VI, Elector Palatine and Elisabeth of Hesse, called "Frederick the Righteous" .-Life:Born in Amberg, his father died in October 1583 and...
in 1610, Frederick IV was succeeded by his 14-year-old son Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V was Elector Palatine , and, as Frederick I , King of Bohemia ....
. Christian of Anhalt-Bernburg became one of Frederick V's most trusted advisers, and, as Frederick's chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
, exercised a large degree of influence over the young Elector. Upon Christian's recommendation, Frederick made Dohna a member of his Council (Rat). Under Christian's tutelage, Dohna rose to become Frederick's Chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
(Oberstkämmerer) in 1620. He married Ursula von Solms-Braunfels on March 23, 1620.
Dohna had also remained active as a scholar and was invited to join the Fruitbearing Society
Fruitbearing Society
The Fruitbearing Society was a German literary society founded in 1617 in Weimar by German scholars and nobility to emulate the idea of the Accademia della Crusca in Florence and similar groups already thriving in Italy, to be followed in later years also in France and Britain...
in 1619 due to his learning in the healing properties of natural herbs. He adopted the oregano
Oregano
Oregano – scientifically named Origanum vulgare by Carolus Linnaeus – is a common species of Origanum, a genus of the mint family . It is native to warm-temperate western and southwestern Eurasia and the Mediterranean region.Oregano is a perennial herb, growing from 20–80 cm tall,...
plant as his emblem.
Following the collapse of Frederick V's policies in 1620 and the occupation of his territories by imperial troops later in 1620, Dohna fled to Küstrin
Küstrin
Before 1945 Küstrin was a town in the former Prussian province of Brandenburg in Germany, situated on both sides of the Oder river...
. He later moved to Spandau
Spandau
Spandau is the fifth of the twelve boroughs of Berlin. It is the fourth largest and westernmost borough, situated at the confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers and along the western bank of the Havel, but the least populated.-Overview:...
, where his wife was entitled to an appanage
Appanage
An apanage or appanage or is the grant of an estate, titles, offices, or other things of value to the younger male children of a sovereign, who would otherwise have no inheritance under the system of primogeniture...
. He spent the years between 1624 and 1628 as living privately on his ancestral estate at Carwinden
Karwiny, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship
Karwiny is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Wilczęta, within Braniewo County, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in northern Poland.Before 1945 the area was part of Germany ....
. In 1628, he was forced to flee from there when the Polish–Swedish War
Polish–Swedish War (1626–1629)
The Polish–Swedish War of 1626–1629 was the fourth stage in a series of conflicts between Sweden and Poland fought in the 17th century...
spread onto his property, going first to Emden
Emden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
.
In October 1630, Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange
Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange
Frederick Henry, or Frederik Hendrik in Dutch , was the sovereign Prince of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel from 1625 to 1647.-Early life:...
, appointed Dohna as Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the Principality of Orange
Principality of Orange
The Principality of Orange was a feudal state in Provence, in the south of modern-day France, on the left bank of the River Rhone north of the city of Avignon....
, a post he held until his death on 1 July 1637.
Literary output
A man of letters, Dohna composed poetryPoetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
, and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
. He translated several scientific works, as well as Petrus Ramus
Petrus Ramus
Petrus Ramus was an influential French humanist, logician, and educational reformer. A Protestant convert, he was killed during the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.-Early life:...
' De militia C.J. Cæsaris
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
and Abraham Scultetus
Abraham Scultetus
Abraham Scultetus was a German professor of theology, and the court preacher for the Elector of the Palatinate Frederick V.- Early life :...
' De curriculu vitae sue narratio apologetica.