Hans Erasmus Aßmann, Freiherr von Abschatz
Encyclopedia
Hans Erasmus Aßmann, Freiherr von Abschatz (4 February 1646 – 22 April 1699) was a German
statesman
and poet
from the second Silesia
n school.
Abschatz was born at Würbitz (Wierzbnica
) in Lower Silesia
. Even though his parents died early, Abschatz attended college in Liegnitz and then studied law at the universities of Strasbourg
and Leyden. This was followed by a three-year travel to Belgium
, France
, and Italy
. Returning to Silesia at the age of 23, he assumed the administration of his estate and married Anna von Hund in 1669. His financial condition was favourable and his private life fortunate, only disturbed by the death of few close relatives.
With the death of the last Silesian Piast (Duke George William
) and the annexation of Silesia to Austria, the talent he showed in the administration of his manors led Abschatz to enter political life. He was twice a representative to the imperial court at Vienna: the first time as a syndic for the Duchy of Liegnitz, the second time as a representative for all Silesian lands. Emperor Leopold I
made him a baron (Freiherr
). In 1679, Abschatz was elected to be a permanent deputy of Legnica to the diet
of the Silesian sovereigns (the so-called Fürstentage in Breslau).
Through his public service, he gained the respect of his fellow countrymen and acquired what he once claimed to be the highest tribute to a life's work - an inscription on his tombstone saying he was an honest man in his fatherland.
, Andreas Gryphius
, Gottfried Benjamin Hancke and Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau
. He was a close friend of Lohenstein. Abschatz was also an accurate translator.
Today, Abschatz is notable by the very fact that he - a nobleman - was interested in poetry at all. At that time, it was seen as a sign of change in the attitude towards literature and signaled that Germany
could keep pace with the literary development of France
and England
. He also alluded to his hopes in this direction. He is quoted that:
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
and 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...
from the second 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...
n school.
Life
Wierzbnica, Lubusz Voivodeship
Wierzbnica is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Bytom Odrzański, within Nowa Sól County, Lubusz Voivodeship, in western Poland. It lies approximately south of Bytom Odrzański, south-east of Nowa Sól, and south-east of Zielona Góra....
) in Lower Silesia
Lower Silesia
Lower Silesia ; is the northwestern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia; Upper Silesia is to the southeast.Throughout its history Lower Silesia has been under the control of the medieval Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Austrian Habsburg Monarchy from 1526...
. Even though his parents died early, Abschatz attended college in Liegnitz and then studied law at the universities of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
and Leyden. This was followed by a three-year travel to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, 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 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...
. Returning to Silesia at the age of 23, he assumed the administration of his estate and married Anna von Hund in 1669. His financial condition was favourable and his private life fortunate, only disturbed by the death of few close relatives.
With the death of the last Silesian Piast (Duke George William
George William, Duke of Liegnitz
George William of Legnica was the last Duke of Legnica and Brieg since 1672 until his death.He was the eldest but only surviving son of Christian, Duke of Legnica-Brzeg-Wołów-Oława by his wife Louise, daughter of John Casimir, Prince of Anhalt-Dessau.-Life:Duke Christian, who spent many years in...
) and the annexation of Silesia to Austria, the talent he showed in the administration of his manors led Abschatz to enter political life. He was twice a representative to the imperial court at Vienna: the first time as a syndic for the Duchy of Liegnitz, the second time as a representative for all Silesian lands. Emperor Leopold I
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
| style="float:right;" | Leopold I was a Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. A member of the Habsburg family, he was the second son of Emperor Ferdinand III and his first wife, Maria Anna of Spain. His maternal grandparents were Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria...
made him a baron (Freiherr
Freiherr
The German titles Freiherr and Freifrau and Freiin are titles of nobility, used preceding a person's given name or, after 1919, before the surname...
). In 1679, Abschatz was elected to be a permanent deputy of Legnica to the diet
Diet (assembly)
In politics, a diet is a formal deliberative assembly. The term is mainly used historically for the Imperial Diet, the general assembly of the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire, and for the legislative bodies of certain countries.-Etymology:...
of the Silesian sovereigns (the so-called Fürstentage in Breslau).
Through his public service, he gained the respect of his fellow countrymen and acquired what he once claimed to be the highest tribute to a life's work - an inscription on his tombstone saying he was an honest man in his fatherland.
Poet
Abschatz is considered to be a member of the school of poetry called second Silesian school (Zweite Schlesische Schule), together with writers such as Daniel Casper von LohensteinDaniel Casper von Lohenstein
Daniel Caspar , also spelled Daniel Casper, and referred to from 1670 as Daniel Caspar von Lohenstein, was a Baroque Silesian playwright, lawyer, diplomat, poet, and chief representative of the Second Silesian School.-Family:The Casper and/or Caspar family came from the Brieg principality, first...
, Andreas Gryphius
Andreas Gryphius
Andreas Gryphius was a German lyric poet and dramatist.Asteroid 496 Gryphia is named in his honour.-Life and career:...
, Gottfried Benjamin Hancke and Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau
Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau
Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau was a German poet of the Baroque era.He was born and died in Breslau in Silesia. During his education in Danzig and Leiden, he befriended Martin Opitz and Andreas Gryphius, both leading figures in 17th century German poetry...
. He was a close friend of Lohenstein. Abschatz was also an accurate translator.
Today, Abschatz is notable by the very fact that he - a nobleman - was interested in poetry at all. At that time, it was seen as a sign of change in the attitude towards literature and signaled that Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
could keep pace with the literary development of 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 England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He also alluded to his hopes in this direction. He is quoted that:
Sources
- Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie - online version at WikisourceWikisourceWikisource is an online digital library of free content textual sources on a wiki, operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Its aims are to host all forms of free text, in many languages, and translations. Originally conceived as an archive to store useful or important historical texts, it has...