Charles Hector de Saint George Marquis de Marsay

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Charles Hector de Saint George Marquis de Marsay (* 1688 in Paris ; † February 3, 1753 in Ampleben ) was an officer, watchmaker, quietist and radical pietist soul leader, translator and writer .

Title page of a Marsay font printed in 1740 (probably in Berleburg)

Life

Marsay came from a noble Huguenot family near La Rochelle . According to his own statement, he was born in Paris in 1688, where the family had gone into hiding from anti-reformist persecutions. In his earliest childhood, since his father had died, he was placed in the care of foster parents in Maastricht . In 1705 he was a page in Hanover . He entered the Hanoverian military service, in 1705 he was in the rank of ensign .

Already in Maastricht he came under the influence of pious writings. During his military service he found like-minded people in the lieutenant François Cordier and the chaplain François Baratier (1684-1750), who introduced him to the writings of Madame Guyon (1648-1717). The three decided to withdraw into silence and to lead a quiet life according to quietistic ideals. Through the mediation of relatives from Marsay's Maastricht foster family, they found a suitable location in 1711: Schwarzenau in the county of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein . But the attempt failed and after a short time they separated.

A year later, de Marsay entered into a "spiritual marriage" with Clara von Callenberg (1675–1742), also a pietist-minded woman and former follower of the former Eisenach court lady Eva von Buttlar (1670–1721). In the following years Marsay and his wife led an unsteady wandering life, with Schwarzenau remaining a food and reference point. Marsay traveled several times to Switzerland and southern Germany to visit his mother in Geneva or to visit friends and like-minded people. At first he earned his living with stocking knitting, later he learned the watchmaking trade. In the meantime, he and his wife gave up their loneliness to live in Basel , then in Berleburg in the county of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. But her pietistic ambitions drove her again and again into loneliness, especially to Schwarzenau and the neighboring village of Christianseck . In 1730 both joined Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700–1760) at short notice when he visited Schwarzenau from Berleburg and held meetings there in the Count's manor house . A year later he withdrew from the Philadelphian meetings in order to finally turn to a life according to the mystical ideals of Madame Guyon.

In 1732 both moved to Berleburg at the suggestion of Count Casimir zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (1687–1741), where they first lived in Berleburg Castle , then in a new building opposite (today Parkstrasse 5). Contact with the court and its radically Pietist entourage was close; the Marsays were actively involved in meetings, etc. Charles Hector worked with those in charge of the Berleburger orphanage printing house, where most of his own books were printed, and contributed to the pietistic magazine Geistliche Fama . It is also not impossible that de Marsay took part in the work on the publication of the Berleburg Bible .

In Berleburg, Marsay made the acquaintance of Count Hachenburg's court marshal Karl Sigismund Prueschenk von Lindenhofen in 1732 , who had lived at Hayn Castle in the village of Hainchen since 1735 . Contact with the Hayner lord of the castle Johann Friedrich von Fleischbein came about through the mediation of the Prueschenks . In 1736 Charles Hector de Marsay and his wife moved to Hayn, where de Marsay became the soul guide of Fleischbein and his parents. Marsay advanced on Hayn to the central figure of the Society of the Childhood of Jesus Comrades , a circle of quietists who oriented themselves to Madame Guyon's rules of the childhood of Jesus comrades. This circle built up an astonishingly extensive network of relationships spanning southern Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the Rhineland. One of the most prominent correspondence partners - from today's perspective - was Gerhard Tersteegen (1697–1769), who added 16 additional day tickets to his Pious Lottery dedicated to the Hayner Society.

In 1742 Marsay moved again to Schwarzenau, which he finally left three years later. My life stations were then Arolsen , Pyrmont , Altona , Goddelsheim near Korbach and finally Ampleben near Wolfenbüttel . Marsay died here in 1753 after returning to the evangelical church.

plant

Marsay began printing his first discourses around 1735. Parallel to his numerous activities, which at times also included charitable work on the poor in and around Schwarzenau, he translated Madame Guyon's writings into German. Due to the large number of mystical writings that he had printed in Berleburg in particular, he and the Berleburg printing company became "one of the decisive mediators of Romanesque mysticism in German pietism and thus with the ideogenetic sources of the Goethe era."

De Marsay documented his life in a detailed autobiography that has only come down to us in a copy by the Tersteegian Wilhelm Weck. This valuable source has not yet been fully explored. Marsay tries to show his life in the spirit of quietistic ideals. How things actually went with the poverty in the "wasteland" in and around Schwarzenau, which he described with such eloquent words, has yet to be examined. Archive files and some contradicting references in Marsay's own text raise doubts about the absolute poverty of the two Marsays. Phases of actual hardship are contrasted with times of prosperity. Some of the houses that they lived in seem to have been quite comfortable, and their own funds were apparently available for printing Marsay's numerous publications. We also know of a comparatively generous pension that de Marsay's brother, who lived in Paris, regularly paid.

Works

  • Freymüthige und Christl [iche] Discurses, Concerning various matters of inner life as well as the Christian religion, Or: Testimony of a child of the correctness of the ways of the spirit, given to other children as an encouragement and as a warning 1734 ... 3 parts, [Berleburg] 1735 .
  • A child's testimony of the correctness of the ways of the Spirit, presented in a mystical and literal explanation of the Epistle to the Romans. From the French original manuscript ... [by Johann Friedrich von Fleischbein] translated into the German language. o. O. [Berleburg] 1736.
  • Freymuthig - continued testimony of a child about the correctness of the ways of the spirit, presented in an explanation of the first three chapters of the first book of Moses, on which occasion many miracles and mysteries of creation are treated of, namely ... From the original French manuscript [by Johann Friedrich von Fleischbein] translated into the German language, o. O. [Berleburg] 1736.
  • A child's testimony of the correctness of the ways of the spirit, all here presented in divine, English, natural, and carnal magic. Translated from the original French manuscript into the German language [by Johann Friedrich von Fleischbein], o. O. [Berleburg] 1737.
  • A child's testimony of the correctness of the ways of the spirit; presented in a mystical and literal explanation of the revelation of Jesus Christ to Saint John. First part. Translated from the French original manuscript [by Johann Friedrich von Fleischbein] into the German language ... , o. O. [Berleburg] 1737. Second part, o. O. [Berleburg] 1738.
  • A child's testimony of the correctness of the ways of the spirit, in which the questions done are answered: What is the spirit of inspiration known today before a spirit? [...] Translated from the French original manuscript [by Johann Friedrich von Fleischbein] into the German language. o. O. [Berleburg] 1738.
  • Témoignage d'un Enfant de la verité & droiture des voyes de l'Esprit Ou Réponse à la Question, Quel est L'Esprit de L'Inspiration d'aujourd'hui? C'est à dire l'Esprit qui meut les hommes par des Gestes extraordinaires & mouvements […] , Regelein, Berleburg 1738
  • Témoignage […], Explication des trois premiers chapitres de la Genese, ou l 'on traite de plusieurs Merveilles & Mysteres de la Création […] , Regelein, Berleburg 1738
  • Spiritual Fama, giving some truthful news concerning anietzo in particular the revival and conversion of the Jews. The XXIV piece. Römer 11, 25-26, undated [Berleburg] 1738.
  • Témoignage […], or Explication mystique & literale De L'Epitre aux Romains à laquelle or joint divers discours spirituels qui regardent la vie Interieure […] , Regelein, Berleburg 1739
  • Témoignage d'un enfant de la verité & droiture des voyes de l'esprit, ou Explication mystique & literale de l'Apocalipse de Jesus Christ revélée à S. Jean Apôtre , 2 vols., O. O. (Berlin?) 1739
  • Témoignage […], ou l'on traite de la magie divine, angélique, naturelle & charnelle. Regelein, Berleburg 1739
  • Spiritual Fama, holding some messages of admonition, warning and consolation for those souls walking in God's ways, for further awakening and guidance in these times. In: XXV. Piece, Luc. 24, verse 49, [Berleburg] 1739.
  • Témoignage d'un enfant de la vérité & droiture des Voyes de l'Esprit démontré dans la Vie de Saints Patriarches, ou des XXIV Anciens. o. O. [Berleburg] 1740. German under the title: Testimony of a child of the correctness of the ways of the spirit; presented in a life description of the saints, patriarchs or the XXIV elders. According to Revelation 4, V. 4 And all around the throne ... Translated from the original French manuscript into the German language [by Johann Friedrich von Fleischbein] ... o. O. [Berleburg] 1740.
  • Témoignage […], ou Explication mystique & literale de l'Epître aux Hébreux , o. O. 1740
  • Témoignage […], ou Abrégé de l'essence de la vraie religion chrétienne par demandes & réponces , o. O. 1740. German:
  • A child's testimony of the correctness of the ways of the spirit, presented in a short term, encompassing the essence of the true Christian religion in questions and answers. Translated from French into German [by Johann Friedrich von Fleischbein] ... , o. O. [Berleburg] 1740.
  • Témoignage […], démontré dans la vie de saints patriarches, ou des XXIV anciens , o. O. 1740
  • Témoignage […], ou continuation des réponses à quelques nouvelles questions théologiques pour l'utilité tant des Juifs de bonne volonté, que des autres personnes désireures du vray culte intérieur de Dieu, avec quelques nouveaux discours , 1740
  • Spiritual Fama, communicating strange visions and apparitions, which represent the purification in this life and after death: as well as some wise sayings concerning the inner life of the Arabic and Persian philosophers. XXVI. Piece. Job, Cap. 4, 12.-17. Vers. [Translated by Karl Sigismund Prueschenk von Lindenhofen, Berleburg] 1740.
  • Nouveaux Discours, Spirituels sur Diverses matières de la Vie intérieure & des dogmes de la religion Chrétienne, ou Témoignage d'un Enfant de la Verité & Droiture de Voyes de l'Esprit, pour l'encouragement & avertissement des autres Enfants et ses Compagnons. 3 vols. Regelein, Berleburg 1738–1740
  • Témoignage d'un enfant de la vérité & droiture des voyes de l'esprit, ou Explication mystique et literale de l'Epître aux Hébreux , o. O. [Berlebourg] 1740. German translation: A child's testimony of the correctness of the ways of the Geistes, the declaration of the epistle to the Hebrews , o. O. [Berleburg] 1741.

literature

  • Johannes Burkardt and Michael Knieriem : Radical Pietism in the Sieger and Wittgensteiner Land. The beginning of German quietism at Hayn Castle 1736-1744. In: Siegener contributions. Volume 7, 2002, pp. 35-52.
  • Hans Fritzsche: Marsay, Charles Hector; Marquis de Saint George de (Art.) ( Memento of September 21, 2013 in the Internet Archive ). In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon . Volume 5, 1993, Col. 883-886 [compilation of older literature].
  • Max Goebel: History of Christian life in the Rhenish-Westphalian Church. Volume III, Coblenz 1860, Neudruck Gießen 1992, pp. 193-234.
  • Jost Klammer: The Perner von Arfeld. Church history in the Arfeld area from 800 to 1945 after Christ. Bad Berleburg-Arfeld 1983, especially pp. 84–115.
  • Michael Knieriem and Johannes Burkardt: The Society of the Childhood Comrades of Jesus at Hayn Castle. From the estate of von Fleiscbein and correspondence from de Marsay, Prueschenk von Lindenhoven and Tersteegen 1734 to 1742. A contribution to the history of radical pietism in the Sieger and Wittgensteiner Land. Hannover 2002, ISBN 3-932324-94-3 .
  • Hans Schneider: The radical Pietism in the 18th century . In: Martin Brecht and Klaus Deppermann (eds.): The Pietism in the eighteenth century (= History of Pietism, Volume 2), Göttingen 1995, ISBN 3-525-55347-1 , pp. 128–130.
  • Hans-Jürgen Schrader: Literature production and book market of radical Pietism. Johann Henrich Reitz '"History of the Rebored" and its historical context (Palaestra, Volume 283). Göttingen 1989, cf. Index.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ See Knieriem / Burkardt, Childhood Jesu-Comrade n, pp. 50–51
  2. ↑ Printed by Knieriem / Burkardt, Kindheit Jesu-Comossen , pp. 52–53.
  3. ^ Schrader, Literature Production and Book Market, p. 199.
  4. ↑ State Church Archives Düsseldorf, BM 4/1. Partial print in Klammer, Perner von Arfeld, pp. 84–115
  5. ↑ See Knieriem / Burkardt, Childhood of Jesus Comrades , pp. 81–82.
  6. ↑ On de Marsay's authorship cf. Knieriem / Burkardt, Childhood of Jesus comrades, note 11 on p. 231.
  7. ↑ See Knieriem / Burkardt, Childhood of Jesus Comrades, note 10 on p. 236
  8. ↑ On Marsay's authorship cf. Knieriem / Burkardt, Childhood of Jesus Comrades, p. 205 and note 13 on p. 206.
  9. ↑ On de Marsay's authorship cf. Knieriem / Burkardt, Childhood of Jesus Comrades, note 37 on p. 228 and 11 on p. 231.
personal data
SURNAME Marsay, Charles Hector de Saint George Marquis de
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Marsay, Charles Hector de
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Franco-German radical pietist, mystic and quietist
DATE OF BIRTH 1688
PLACE OF BIRTH Paris
DATE OF DEATH February 3, 1753
Place of death Traffic light life