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Wilhelmsgymnasium (Munich)
Encyclopedia
The Wilhelmsgymnasium
of Munich
is a school of academic secondary education. It is very famous for various reasons: it is the oldest grammar school in Munich; it has had several famous (and infamous) students; since 2004 it has been the only school in Bavaria that can claim to be a "Humanistisches Gymnasium"; and the level of education in this school is very good (according to the 2006 year book, the students were best of all in Bavaria
in the Abitur
).
It calls itself a "Humanistisches Gymnasium" as it focuses on the Classics
: each of the approximately 600 students will need to study Latin
, English
, and Ancient Greek
.
The Gymnasium was founded in 1559 by Duke Albrecht V
of Bavaria as a "Paedagogium", but was renamed in 1849 after its probable sponsor, Duke Wilhelm V
. By 1773, the Gymnasium was under Jesuit direction ("Jesuit Gymnasium"). The present building on Thierschstraße
(corner of Maximilianstraße) was erected in 1879 in Neorenaissance style.
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
of Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
is a school of academic secondary education. It is very famous for various reasons: it is the oldest grammar school in Munich; it has had several famous (and infamous) students; since 2004 it has been the only school in Bavaria that can claim to be a "Humanistisches Gymnasium"; and the level of education in this school is very good (according to the 2006 year book, the students were best of all in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
in the Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
).
It calls itself a "Humanistisches Gymnasium" as it focuses on the Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
: each of the approximately 600 students will need to study 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...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, and Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
.
The Gymnasium was founded in 1559 by Duke Albrecht V
Albert V, Duke of Bavaria
Albert V was Duke of Bavaria from 1550 until his death. He was born in Munich to William IV and Marie Jacobaea of Baden.-Early life:Albert was educated at Ingolstadt under good Catholic teachers...
of Bavaria as a "Paedagogium", but was renamed in 1849 after its probable sponsor, Duke Wilhelm V
William V, Duke of Bavaria
William V, Duke of Bavaria , called the Pious, was Duke of Bavaria from 1579 to 1597.- Education and early life :...
. By 1773, the Gymnasium was under Jesuit direction ("Jesuit Gymnasium"). The present building on Thierschstraße
Friedrich Thiersch
Friedrich Wilhelm Thiersch , was a German classical scholar and educationist.-Biography:He was born at Kirchscheidungen...
(corner of Maximilianstraße) was erected in 1879 in Neorenaissance style.
Famous students or graduates (alphabetical order)
- Johannes R. BecherJohannes R. BecherJohannes Robert Becher was a German politician, novelist, and poet.-Early life:Johannes R. Becher was the son of Judge Heinrich Becher. In 1910 he tried to commit suicide with a friend; only Becher survived. From 1911 he studied medicine and philosophy in Munich and Jena...
- Count Otto von Bray-SteinburgCount Otto von Bray-SteinburgOtto Kamillus Hugo Gabriel Count of Bray-Steinburg was a Bavarian politician. He was a son of the diplomat François Gabriel Count of Bray who was of French origin.- Biography :...
- Anton DiabelliAnton DiabelliAnton Diabelli was an Austrian music publisher, editor and composer of Italian descent. Best known in his time as a publisher, he is most familiar today as the composer of the waltz on which Ludwig van Beethoven wrote his set of thirty-three Diabelli Variations.-Early life:Diabelli was born in...
- Lion FeuchtwangerLion FeuchtwangerLion Feuchtwanger was a German-Jewish novelist and playwright. A prominent figure in the literary world of Weimar Germany, he influenced contemporaries including playwright Bertolt Brecht....
- Franz Xaver GabelsbergerFranz Xaver GabelsbergerFranz Xaver Gabelsberger was a German inventor of a shorthand writing system, named Gabelsberger shorthand after him....
- Carl JungCarl JungCarl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of Analytical Psychology. Jung is considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as "by nature religious" and make it the focus of exploration. Jung is one of the best known researchers in the field of dream analysis and...
- Golo MannGolo MannGolo Mann , born Angelus Gottfried Thomas Mann, was a popular German historian, essayist and writer. He was the third child of the novelist Thomas Mann and his wife Katia Mann.-Life:...
- Klaus MannKlaus Mann- Life and work :Born in Munich, Klaus Mann was the son of German writer Thomas Mann and his wife, Katia Pringsheim. His father was baptized as a Lutheran, while his mother was from a family of secular Jews. He began writing short stories in 1924 and the following year became drama critic for a...
- Max von Pettenkofer
- Richard RiemerschmidRichard RiemerschmidRichard Riemerschmid was a German architect, painter, designer and city planner from Munich. He was a major figure in Jugendstil, the German form of Art Nouveau, and a founder of architecture in the style...
- Carl SpitzwegCarl SpitzwegCarl Spitzweg was a German romanticist painter and poet. He is considered to be one of the most important artists of the Biedermeier era....
- Ludwig ThomaLudwig ThomaLudwig Thoma was a German author, publisher and editor, who gained popularity through his partially exaggerated description of a Bavarian workday....
- Gunnar B. SticklerGunnar B. SticklerGunnar B. Stickler is a pediatrician who has made substantial contributions to the field of pediatrics. He was the first scientist to describe a hereditary condition now known as Stickler syndrome.-Early life:...
- Konstantin WeckerKonstantin WeckerKonstantin Alexander Wecker is one of the best-known German singer-songwriters ; he also works as a composer, author, and actor.- Life and work :...