Friedrich, Freiherr von Logau
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Freiherr von Logau (January 1605 – July 24, 1655), German epigrammatist, was born at Brockut
, near Nimptsch, in Silesia
in 1605. He who never called himself Freiherr (baron) was educated at the gymnasium of Brieg
and subsequently studied law at the university of Altdorf
. He then entered the service of the duke of Brieg. In 1644 he was made ducal councillor. He died at Liegnitz in 1655.
Logau's epigrams, which appeared in two collections under the pseudonym Salomon von Golaw (an anagram of his real name) in 1638 (Erstes Hundert Teutscher Reimensprũche) and 1654 (Deutscher Sinngedichte drei Tausend), show a marvellous range and variety of expression. He had suffered bitterly under the adverse conditions of the time; but his satire
is not merely the outcome of personal feeling. In the turbulent age of the Thirty Years' War
he was one of the few men who preserved intact his intellectual integrity and judged his contemporaries fairly. He satirized with unsparing hand the court life, the useless bloodshed of the war, the lack of national pride in the German people, and their slavish imitation of the French
in customs, dress and speech. He belonged to the Fruitbearing Society
(Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft) under the name Der Verkleinernde (literally "the diminishing one"), and regarded himself as a follower of Martin Opitz; but he did not allow such ties to influence his independence or originality.
Logau's Sinngedichte were edited in 1759 by G. E. Lessing
and K. W. Ramler, who first drew attention to their merits; a second edition appeared in 1791. A critical edition was published in 1872 by G. Eitner, who also edited a selection of Logau's epigrams for the Deutsche Dichter des XVII. Jahrhunderts (vol. iii, 1870); there is also a selection by F.L. Oesterley in Kũrschners Deutsche Nationalliteratur, vol. xxviii. (1885). See H. Denker, Beitrage zur literarischen Würdigung Logaus (1889); W. Heuschkel, Untersuchungen über Ramlers and Lessings Bearbeitung Logauscher Sinngedichte (1901).
Estate (house)
An estate comprises the houses and outbuildings and supporting farmland and woods that surround the gardens and grounds of a very large property, such as a country house or mansion. It is the modern term for a manor, but lacks the latter's now abolished jurisdictional authority...
, near Nimptsch, in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
in 1605. He who never called himself Freiherr (baron) was educated at the gymnasium of Brieg
Brieg
Brieg may refer to:* Brzeg , in Silesia, Poland** Duchy of Brzeg, a duchy of Silesia from 1311 – 1675* Briec , a town in Brittany...
and subsequently studied law at 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....
. He then entered the service of the duke of Brieg. In 1644 he was made ducal councillor. He died at Liegnitz in 1655.
Logau's epigrams, which appeared in two collections under the pseudonym Salomon von Golaw (an anagram of his real name) in 1638 (Erstes Hundert Teutscher Reimensprũche) and 1654 (Deutscher Sinngedichte drei Tausend), show a marvellous range and variety of expression. He had suffered bitterly under the adverse conditions of the time; but his satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
is not merely the outcome of personal feeling. In the turbulent age 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 was one of the few men who preserved intact his intellectual integrity and judged his contemporaries fairly. He satirized with unsparing hand the court life, the useless bloodshed of the war, the lack of national pride in the German people, and their slavish imitation of the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in customs, dress and speech. He belonged to 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...
(Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft) under the name Der Verkleinernde (literally "the diminishing one"), and regarded himself as a follower of Martin Opitz; but he did not allow such ties to influence his independence or originality.
Logau's Sinngedichte were edited in 1759 by G. E. Lessing
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing was a German writer, philosopher, dramatist, publicist, and art critic, and one of the most outstanding representatives of the Enlightenment era. His plays and theoretical writings substantially influenced the development of German literature...
and K. W. Ramler, who first drew attention to their merits; a second edition appeared in 1791. A critical edition was published in 1872 by G. Eitner, who also edited a selection of Logau's epigrams for the Deutsche Dichter des XVII. Jahrhunderts (vol. iii, 1870); there is also a selection by F.L. Oesterley in Kũrschners Deutsche Nationalliteratur, vol. xxviii. (1885). See H. Denker, Beitrage zur literarischen Würdigung Logaus (1889); W. Heuschkel, Untersuchungen über Ramlers and Lessings Bearbeitung Logauscher Sinngedichte (1901).