Georg Friedrich of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein-Weikersheim
Encyclopedia
Count
Georg Friedrich von Hohenlohe-Neuenstein-Weikersheim (September 5, 1569 – July 7, 1645) was an officer and an amateur poet
.
, Georg Friedrich was the son of Count Wolfgang of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein and his wife Magdalena von Nassau-Dillenburg.
At the age of 17, in 1586 Count Georg Friedrich went to the University of Geneva
and studied there until 1588. He was probably the last student of Professor Francois Hotman
. Subsequently, for the purpose of study, Count Georg Friedrich went to France
and later to Italy
, where he enrolled at the universities of Siena
and Padua
.
After finishing his studies, in 1591 he fought under Henry IV of France
against the Catholic League
. In the war against the Turks in 1595, he was promoted to Colonel
. In 1605, as imperial field commander, he put down an uprising in Hungary
.
On June 18, 1607, Friedrich married Eva von Waldstein. Through this marriage he became a member of the Bohemian Estates and thereby also became involved in the resistance against King (Holy Roman Emperor
) Ferdinand II
. As General commander of the Estates, he was responsible for organization and in the Battle of White Mountain
he commanded a cavalry unit.
On January 22, 1621, he was accepted as a member of the Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft by Prince Ludwig I of Anhalt-Koethen.
In 1621, Emperor Ferdinand II proclaimed Frederick V of the Palatinate
and others to be traitors. The others included Georg Friedrich of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein-Weikersheim.
In spite of having fallen under the proclamation of outlaw
ry in 1621, Count Georg Friedrich was able to achieve peace with the emperor and with imperial approval was even able to exercise his lordship in Weikersheim
, which had fallen to him at the death of his father in 1610.
His wife Eva died May 24, 1631. On August 17, 1633, he married Maria Magdalena von Oettingen-Oettingen, who however died on May 29, 1636, after a barely three-year-long marriage.
In 1632, Count Georg Friedrich was installed as the Swedish
regent
of the Swabian Circle
. When he accepted this post, he infuriated the emperor to the point that he immediately outlawed him again. Additionally, the Teutonic Order immediately, by imperial decree, received the lordship of Weikersheim. This was only returned to the House of Hohenlohe after the Peace of Westphalia
in 1648.
Due to his outlawry, Georg Friedrich was excluded from the Peace of Prague
[1635]. Nevertheless, during a personal conversation in 1637, the emperor forgave him. Count Georg Friedrich settled in Langenburg
and avoided every form of political activity. Here in Langenburg he was also active in literature. He wrote primarily prayer
s and poems.
Count Georg Friedrich of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein-Weikersheim died on August 7, 1645, at the age of 76 years, in Langenburg
.
Count
A count or countess is an aristocratic nobleman in European countries. The word count came into English from the French comte, itself from Latin comes—in its accusative comitem—meaning "companion", and later "companion of the emperor, delegate of the emperor". The adjective form of the word is...
Georg Friedrich von Hohenlohe-Neuenstein-Weikersheim (September 5, 1569 – July 7, 1645) was an officer and an amateur poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Biography
Born in NeuensteinNeuenstein, Baden-Württemberg
Neuenstein is a town in the Hohenlohe district, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated 12 km southwest of Künzelsau, and 27 km east of Heilbronn....
, Georg Friedrich was the son of Count Wolfgang of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein and his wife Magdalena von Nassau-Dillenburg.
At the age of 17, in 1586 Count Georg Friedrich went to 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...
and studied there until 1588. He was probably the last student of Professor Francois Hotman
François Hotman
François Hotman was a French Protestant lawyer and writer, associated with the legal humanists and with the monarchomaques, who struggled against absolute monarchy. His first name is often written 'Francis' in English. His surname is Latinized by himself as Hotomanus, by others as Hotomannus and...
. Subsequently, for the purpose of study, Count Georg Friedrich went to France
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...
and later to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, where he enrolled at the universities 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...
and Padua
University of Padua
The University of Padua is a premier Italian university located in the city of Padua, Italy. The University of Padua was founded in 1222 as a school of law and was one of the most prominent universities in early modern Europe. It is among the earliest universities of the world and the second...
.
After finishing his studies, in 1591 he fought under Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
against the Catholic League
Catholic League (French)
The Catholic League of France, sometimes referred to by contemporary Roman Catholics as the Holy League, a major player in the French Wars of Religion, was formed by Duke Henry of Guise in 1576...
. In the war against the Turks in 1595, he was promoted to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. In 1605, as imperial field commander, he put down an uprising in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
On June 18, 1607, Friedrich married Eva von Waldstein. Through this marriage he became a member of the Bohemian Estates and thereby also became involved in the resistance against King (Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
) Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
. As General commander of the Estates, he was responsible for organization and in the Battle of White Mountain
Battle of White Mountain
The Battle of White Mountain, 8 November 1620 was an early battle in the Thirty Years' War in which an army of 30,000 Bohemians and mercenaries under Christian of Anhalt were routed by 27,000 men of the combined armies of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor under Charles Bonaventure de Longueval,...
he commanded a cavalry unit.
On January 22, 1621, he was accepted as a member of the Fruchtbringende Gesellschaft by Prince Ludwig I of Anhalt-Koethen.
In 1621, Emperor Ferdinand II proclaimed Frederick V of the Palatinate
Frederick V, Elector Palatine
Frederick V was Elector Palatine , and, as Frederick I , King of Bohemia ....
and others to be traitors. The others included Georg Friedrich of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein-Weikersheim.
In spite of having fallen under the proclamation of outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
ry in 1621, Count Georg Friedrich was able to achieve peace with the emperor and with imperial approval was even able to exercise his lordship in Weikersheim
Weikersheim
Weikersheim is a town in the Main-Tauber district, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is situated on the river Tauber, 9 km east of Bad Mergentheim, Weikersheim is the location of the famous castle Schloss Weikersheim....
, which had fallen to him at the death of his father in 1610.
His wife Eva died May 24, 1631. On August 17, 1633, he married Maria Magdalena von Oettingen-Oettingen, who however died on May 29, 1636, after a barely three-year-long marriage.
In 1632, Count Georg Friedrich was installed as the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of the Swabian Circle
Swabian Circle
The Swabian Circle was an Imperial Circle of the Holy Roman Empire established in 1500 on the territory of the former German stem-duchy of Swabia. However, it did not include the Habsburg home territories of Swabian Austria, the member states of the Swiss Confederacy nor the lands of the Alsace...
. When he accepted this post, he infuriated the emperor to the point that he immediately outlawed him again. Additionally, the Teutonic Order immediately, by imperial decree, received the lordship of Weikersheim. This was only returned to the House of Hohenlohe after the Peace of Westphalia
Peace of Westphalia
The Peace of Westphalia was a series of peace treaties signed between May and October of 1648 in Osnabrück and Münster. These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire, and the Eighty Years' War between Spain and the Dutch Republic, with Spain formally recognizing the...
in 1648.
Due to his outlawry, Georg Friedrich was excluded from the Peace of Prague
Peace of Prague (1635)
The Peace of Prague of 30 May 1635 was a treaty between the Habsburg Emperor Ferdinand II and the Electorate of Saxony representing most of the Protestant states of the Holy Roman Empire...
[1635]. Nevertheless, during a personal conversation in 1637, the emperor forgave him. Count Georg Friedrich settled in Langenburg
Langenburg
Langenburg is a town in the district of Schwäbisch Hall, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on a hill above the river Jagst, 18 km northeast of Schwäbisch Hall...
and avoided every form of political activity. Here in Langenburg he was also active in literature. He wrote primarily prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
s and poems.
Count Georg Friedrich of Hohenlohe-Neuenstein-Weikersheim died on August 7, 1645, at the age of 76 years, in Langenburg
Langenburg
Langenburg is a town in the district of Schwäbisch Hall, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on a hill above the river Jagst, 18 km northeast of Schwäbisch Hall...
.
Works
- Geistliche Psalmen und Kirchengesänge ("Spiritual Psalms and Church Songs", 1648)