Dorothea Delph
Dorothea Delph (* around 1730 in Heidelberg ; † October 20, 1808 ibid) was a self-employed clerk (referred to in contemporary literature as a "commercial maid") in Heidelberg, who became known as Goethe's "maternal friend" . Goethe visited her several times in Heidelberg. In autumn 1775 Dorothea Delph tried to bind Goethe to the Mannheim court by marrying . In their house in Heidelberg, however, the messenger of Duke Carl August of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach reached Goethe . Goethe accepted the invitation to Weimar , which shattered the marriage plans.
Dorothea Delph, referred to by Goethe's mother in a letter to Duchess Anna Amalia as "the politica Delphin", was involved in secret diplomatic activities. She stood with Prussia friendly party at the Mannheim court that the plan Elector Carl Theodor , Bavaria to Austria would cede prevent, in conjunction. So she acted as an intermediary between the Prussian court and the pro-Prussian party in Mannheim . At the same time she was one of Duke Carl August's confidants. Goethe mentions them several times in Poetry and Truth .
A memorial plaque on the house at Hauptstrasse 196 in Heidelberg (on the market square ) commemorates Goethe's departure from her house to Weimar . However, this assignment is incorrect because Dorothea Delph did not yet live in this house in 1775.
literature
- Hans Christoph Schöll: The "politica Delphin" , in: Goethe and Heidelberg , published by the management of the Kurpfälzisches Museum , Heidelberg 1949
- Ilona Scheidle: The commercial maid. In: Ilona Scheidle: Heidelberg women who made history. Munich 2006.
Web links
- Information on the website of the City of Heidelberg (PDF file; 62 kB)
- Information on the website of the Heidelberg History Association
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Delph, Dorothea |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | "Maternal friend" of Goethe |
| DATE OF BIRTH | around 1730 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Heidelberg |
| DATE OF DEATH | October 20, 1808 |
| Place of death | Heidelberg |