August Franz von Haxthausen

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August von Haxthausen in armor with a Maltese cross . Painting by Hugo Denz 1860.

August Franz Ludwig Maria Freiherr von Haxthausen (born February 3, 1792 in Bökendorf , Prince Diocese of Paderborn , † December 31, 1866 in Hanover ) was a German agricultural scientist , economist , lawyer, farmer and writer as well as a folk song collector .

origin

August Franz came from the noble family Haxthausen . He was the last of eight sons of the drosten of the Paderborn office in Lichtenau , Werner Adolf Freiherr von Haxthausen , Lord of Thienhausen , Bökendorf, Abbenburg and Hellersen, and the baroness Marie Anne von Wendt -Papenhausen. One of his four brothers was the Prussian state official and philologist Werner von Haxthausen . He also had nine sisters. A step-niece of about the same age was the poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff .

Born on Gut Abbenburg in the prince-bishopric of Paderborn , Haxthausen first studied in Halle an der Saale , where he joined the Corps Guestphalia in 1810 , and from 1811 he studied mining at the Clausthal Mountain School , took part in the Wars of Liberation and then settled in Göttingen from 1815 to 1818 continued his studies. The focus of his studies was a comprehensive work on the agricultural constitution , of which only the first part: On the agricultural constitution in the principalities of Paderborn and Corvey (Berlin 1829) appeared later. In 1818 he returned to Bökendorf because of the critical financial situation of the family estates, without being able to complete his studies, and managed them in his homeland, which has now finally become Prussian, before his older brother Werner von Haxthausen took over as its owner in 1825 . He remained unmarried. In 1843 he bought the neighboring Thienhausen Castle , where he lived as the so-called "Tyrant of Thienhausen". August von Haxthausen died on New Year's Eve 1866 with his sister Anna von Arnswaldt in Hanover. He is buried in the Bellersen cemetery.

Public work in Prussia and Russia

Haxthausen had already dealt with agricultural history during his studies. In 1829 Haxthausen was introduced to Berlin by the later Prussian Minister of the Interior, Gustav von Rochow . He gained the favor of the then Crown Prince and later King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. As a result, appointed Privy Councilor in 1834, he toured the Prussian state for nine years on behalf of the government to research the rural constitution in the various provinces. Because of its conservative-Catholic sentiments he lost in 1838 in connection with the Cologne event 's diets and returned to the paternal estate Abbenburg. A last attempt to get permanent employment in 1842 ended with his retiring from the Prussian civil service with a pension of 800 thalers.

As a connoisseur of agriculture , Haxthausen was invited by the Russian Tsar Nicholas I in 1843/44 to travel to Russia to examine the rural conditions there. To finance this trip, the state paid him his salary for a year in advance; he had to raise the rest privately. This resulted in two travel books, "Studies on Russia" and " Transcaucasia ".

He published the results of his research in various writings. The work he edited, Four Essays on the Constitutional Principle (Leipzig 1864, 2 volumes) contains monographs by Karl Biedermann , Joseph von Held , Rudolf von Gneist , Georg Waitz and Wilhelm Kosegarten . His last work: The Rural Constitution of Russia (Leipzig 1866), referred to the peasant emancipation that has now been completed . With his reports, memoranda and suggestions, August von Haxthausen prepared the way for the Russian peasant liberation of 1861. In addition, an extensive collection of sacred and secular folk songs that he had compiled was created .

Re-establishment of the Order of Malta in Germany

August von Haxthausen already in his youth, like his older brother Werner, demonstratively wore the medal insignia of the Order of Malta , which was lost in Germany , with which both could later be painted. It is possible that August's contacts to the Order of Malta and the Holy See were initiated by Werner von Haxthausen, who z. B. stayed in Rome in 1831 and was also friends with the Bavarian King Ludwig I (Bavaria) , who stayed regularly in Rome, where he had acquired the "Villa Malta" in 1827. Since August was not married, he was accepted into the order as a professed knight . At an advanced age (from 1857) he became the driving force behind the restoration of the German branch of this old knightly order, which had perished through secularization. Only then did he come into contact with other knights living in Germany such as Clemens August von Westphalen zu Fürstenberg and sympathizers of the order. As the representative of the Holy See , August von Haxthausen conducted long and tough negotiations with the government of Prussia . Encouraged by the reestablishment of the Protestant Brandenburg Balli by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV., August made personal contact with the Order's leadership in Rome during a trip to Italy in 1857. Authorized by this, he wrote a memorandum in 1858 in which he laid down his thoughts on the re-establishment of the order in Germany and which he sent to like-minded members of the Rhenish-Westphalian nobility. Among them were u. a. Count Franz Egon von Hoensbroech , who was most involved, Ferdinand von Galen and August's relative Werner-Constantin von Droste zu Hülshoff and Hermann von und zu Brenken . His tough efforts led to the recognition of the Order of Malta by Rome in 1859 and not until 1900 to state recognition as an association.

Relatives to Annette von Droste-Hülshoff

Haxthausen was a step-uncle of the poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff , who was about the same age and who lived with her mother's family for a long time in her youth. Baroness von Haxthausen , the oldest (half) sister of August, stayed. In the course of time, the poet's dislike, which was due to August's involvement in their “youth disaster”, dissolved and gave way to mutual respect. There was also a selective cooperation. The " History of an Algier slave " documented by Haxthausen from the family records gave the impetus for his niece to write the novella " Die Judenbuche ", which is part of world literature . For him she wrote a report in Meersburg about the Sonderbund war raging in Switzerland , which he published. August von Haxthausen was also involved in the preparation of publications from the poet's estate.

Personality and aftermath

August von Haxthausen's character is described as energetic, restless, even unsteady. On the other hand, Annette von Droste-Hülshoff emphasizes his generous willingness to help friends. He had no sense in poetry in general. His attitude was highly conservative in terms of class politics. The strong-willed and original personality of August von Haxthausens inspired writers. Lulu von Strauss and Torney described Haxthausen in their novel "From Biedermeier to Bismarck's Era" as "Tyrant von Thienhausen". Levin Schücking paints his image as “Baron Bellersheim” in his novel “Herberge der Gerechtigkeit”.

The restoration of the German branch of the religious knightly order of the Maltese, which was significantly promoted by Haxthausen, has had an impact up to the present day.

Works

  • About the agrarian constitution in the principalities of Paderborn and Corvey and their conflicts at the present time, along with proposals to dissolve the rights and obligations that burden the land there . Reprint of the edition Berlin, Reimer, 1829. Bökendorf: Bökerhof-Ges., 1992. ( digitized )
  • The rural constitution in the individual provinces of the Prussian monarchy .
    • Volume 1: The rural constitution in the provinces of East and West Prussia . Königsberg: Bornträger, 1839 ( digitized version )
    • Volume 2: The rural constitution in the province of Pomerania in the official commission of Alexander Padberg . Szczecin, 1861.
  • About the origin and the foundations of the constitution in the former Slavic countries of Germany in general and of the Duchy of Pomerania in particular: a letter of invitation for discussion and literary discussion . Berlin: Krause, 1842 ( digitized version )
  • The war power of Russia in its historical, statistical, ethnographic and political relationship . Berlin: Behr, 1852.
    • Études sur la situation intérieure, la vie nationale et les institutions rurales de la Russie . Hanovre: Hahn, 1847–53.
    • The Russian Empire . (New impr.) (London :) Cass, 1968.
  • Studies on the internal conditions, the people's life and especially the rural institutions of Russia . Hanover: Hahn, 1847-1852. Microfiche output Hildesheim [u. a.]: Georg Olms Verlag, 1994–1998. ISBN 3-487-29018-9 .
    • Les forces militaires de la Russie sous les rapports historiques, statistiques, ethnographiques et politiques . Berlin, 1853.
  • Transcaucasia: travel memories a. total Notes . 2 parts in 1 vol. Reprint. Ed. Leipzig, Brockhaus, 1856. Hildesheim: Olms, 1985.
  • Will Russia's Church recognize the papacy ?: after La Russie sera-t-elle catholique…; together with an excerpt by Cardinal Baronius on the origin of the Russians by Jean Gagarin. With a foreword from August Freiherrn von Haxthausen. Münster: Theissing, 1857.
  • An exchange of letters in the background of the Russian peasant liberation in 1861 . Paderborn: Schöningh, 1975
  • The constitutional principle, its historical development and its interactions with the political and social conditions of states and peoples . Leipzig: Brockhaus, 1864
  • The rural constitution of Russia . Leipzig 1866 ( digitized version ), Reprint Hamburg 1993
  • La question religieuse en Pologne: mémoire rédige en 1856 by feu le Baron Auguste de Haxthausen. Précédé d'une introduction et accompagné de notes par le Jean Gagarin, de la Compagnie de Jésus . Berlin: Behr, 1877.
  • History of an Algier slave: original version of the “Judenbuche” / by August von Haxthausen . Translated to Hochdt. by Gerta Thier. Brakel / Westf .: G. Thier, 2000. See also appendix in: Annette von Droste-Hülshoff: Die Judenbuche; Frankfurt am Main / Leipzig 2005; P. 77ff; ISBN 3-458-34796-8 .

literature

  • Alexander Reifferscheid :  Haxthausen, August Freiherr von . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 11, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1880, pp. 119-121.
  • An exchange of letters in the background of the Russian peasant liberation in 1861. August von Haxthausen - Editha von Rahden. With an introduction ed. by Alfred Cohausz . Schöningh, Paderborn 1975
  • Urs Buhlmann: "Malteserkreuz und Preußenadler", Peter Lang-Verlag, 1999, ISBN 3-631-35575-0
  • Wilderich von Droste zu Hülshoff : “Annette v. Droste-Hülshoff in the field of tension between her family ”. CA Starke Verlag, Limburg (Lahn) 1997, ISBN 3-7980-0683-0
  • Ludwig von der Osten: Franz Ludwig August Maria Freiherr von Haxthausen: a photographic attempt . Hanover: Klindworth, 1868.
  • Josepha Grauheer: August von Haxthausen and his relationships with Annette von Droste-Hülshoff . Altena, 1933.
  • Adalbert Elschenbroich:  Haxthausen, August Franz Ludwig Maria Freiherr von. In: New German Biography (NDB). Volume 8, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1969, ISBN 3-428-00189-3 , pp. 140 f. ( Digitized version ).
  • Günter Tiggesbäumker: On the cultural geography of Transcaucasia and Armenia in the 1st half of the 19th century according to the records of Baron August v. Haxthausen . Münster (Westphalia), Univ., Philos. Fak., Diss., 1980.
  • Martina Stoyanoff-Odoy: The Grand Duchess Helene of Russia and August Freiherr von Haxthausen: two conservative reformers in the age of the Russian peasant liberation . Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1991. ISBN 3-447-03151-4 .
  • Peter Heßelmann, Walter Gödden: August Freiherr von Haxthausen (1792–1866). Collector of fairy tales, sagas and folk songs, agricultural historians and travelers to Russia from Westphalia . Catalog for an exhibition in the University Library of Münster February 24, 1992 - March 25, 1992. Regensburg, Münster 1992. ISBN 3-9801781-1-0
  • Rolf Wilhelm Brednich: "As the grain awaits May rain, we hope for freedom and peace". The stud book of August von Haxthausen (1812-1860) . In: The Power of Things. Symbolic communication and cultural action. Commemorative publication for Ruth-E. Mohrmann and Andreas Hartmann (eds.). Waxmann, Münster 2011, pp. 245–260 ISBN 978-3-8309-2470-8 (contributions to popular culture in north-west Germany 116)
  • Gothaisches genealogical pocket book of the baronial houses for the year 1860. Tenth year, p.319

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Kösener Corpslisten 1960, 116 , 499

Web links

Commons : August von Haxthausen  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
Wikisource: August Franz von Haxthausen  - Sources and full texts
personal data
SURNAME Haxthausen, August Franz von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Haxthausen, August Franz Freiherr von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German agronomist, economist, lawyer, farmer and writer
DATE OF BIRTH February 3, 1792
PLACE OF BIRTH Bökendorf , Principality of Paderborn
DATE OF DEATH December 31, 1866
Place of death Hanover