Spiridion Lusi
Encyclopedia
Spiridion Lusi was a Greek scholar, diplomat
, politician
and naturalized ambassador of Prussia
.
. He migrated to Italy
where he resided for many years and was educated in the Greek College at Venice, and later at the University of Padua
. He was eventually sent as Venice's minister to London
, and in Prussia
and Berlin
. From 1763 to 1765, he translated the four volumes of a translation of Lucian
from the Greek language into Italian, in four volumes published in London and Venice in 1764. Louzis added some dialogue translated by Gasparo Gozzi
. Several years later he moved to Vienna
.
In 1775, whilst Spiridion was in Breslau he made the acquaintance of Frederick the Great. He came to Berlin
in 1777, where he was introduced into society and presented to the king at Potsdam
. During the War of the Bavarian Succession, he joined the volunteer corps
as a Captain, he fought with distinction against the Austrians
and was soon promoted to Major
. In 1780 Spiridione was hired as Prussian ambassador to London, a position he assumed in February 1781. With the improvement of Prussia's relations with England, which occurred in the last years of Frederick's reign, Lusi managed to exert a more fruitful ambassadorial activity. In 1784 he was appointed Colonel. He was recalled in October 1788 from London
, in 1790 he accompanied the king Friedrich Wilhelm II, who contracted an army against Austria. In January of 1792 he had a son, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig August Spiridion (Φρειδερίκος Λούζης), who would eventually become captain in the 1st Guards Regiment
. In 1792 he was appointed Major General by King Friedrich Wilhelm III, and Lieutenant General in 1798. In 1800 he was appointed ambassador at St. Petersburg, however, dismissed two years later, at his request again. He lived quietly and then withdrawn in Potsdam
, where he died in 1815.
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and naturalized ambassador of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
.
Biography
Spiridion Lusi was of Greek origin on the island of Cephalonia in 1741, at that time a possession of the Republic of VeniceRepublic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
. He migrated 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 resided for many years and was educated in the Greek College at Venice, and later at the University of 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...
. He was eventually sent as Venice's minister to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and in Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. From 1763 to 1765, he translated the four volumes of a translation of Lucian
Lucian
Lucian of Samosata was a rhetorician and satirist who wrote in the Greek language. He is noted for his witty and scoffing nature.His ethnicity is disputed and is attributed as Assyrian according to Frye and Parpola, and Syrian according to Joseph....
from the Greek language into Italian, in four volumes published in London and Venice in 1764. Louzis added some dialogue translated by Gasparo Gozzi
Gasparo Gozzi
Gasparo, count Gozzi was an Italian critic and dramatist.The brother of Carlo Gozzi, he was born in Venice. In 1739, he married the poet Luise Bergalli, and she undertook the management of the theatre of Sant'Angelo, Venice. Her husband supplied the performers with dramas chiefly translated from...
. Several years later he moved to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
In 1775, whilst Spiridion was in Breslau he made the acquaintance of Frederick the Great. He came to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1777, where he was introduced into society and presented to the king at Potsdam
Potsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
. During the War of the Bavarian Succession, he joined the volunteer corps
Freikorps
Freikorps are German volunteer military or paramilitary units. The term was originally applied to voluntary armies formed in German lands from the middle of the 18th century onwards. Between World War I and World War II the term was also used for the paramilitary organizations that arose during...
as a Captain, he fought with distinction against the Austrians
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
and was soon promoted to Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
. In 1780 Spiridione was hired as Prussian ambassador to London, a position he assumed in February 1781. With the improvement of Prussia's relations with England, which occurred in the last years of Frederick's reign, Lusi managed to exert a more fruitful ambassadorial activity. In 1784 he was appointed Colonel. He was recalled in October 1788 from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, in 1790 he accompanied the king Friedrich Wilhelm II, who contracted an army against Austria. In January of 1792 he had a son, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig August Spiridion (Φρειδερίκος Λούζης), who would eventually become captain in the 1st Guards Regiment
1st Foot Guards (German Empire)
The 1st Foot Guards was an infantry regiment of the Royal Prussian Army formed in 1806. The regiment considered itself the most noble regiment of Christendom . The regiment was disbanded in 1919, with the Infantry Regiment 9 Potsdam of the new Reichsheer bearing its tradition...
. In 1792 he was appointed Major General by King Friedrich Wilhelm III, and Lieutenant General in 1798. In 1800 he was appointed ambassador at St. Petersburg, however, dismissed two years later, at his request again. He lived quietly and then withdrawn in Potsdam
Potsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
, where he died in 1815.