Friedrich von Gentz

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Friedrich von Gentz, lithograph by Friedrich Lieder , 1825

Friedrich von Gentz (born May 2, 1764 in Breslau , † June 9, 1832 in Weinhaus near Vienna , today Vienna 18) was a German-Austrian writer, state thinker and politician and advisor to Prince Metternich .

Life

Friedrich Gentz ​​was born into a Prussian civil servant family: his father was a mint master, later a general mint director in Berlin, his mother a close relative of the Prussian minister Jean Pierre Frédéric Ancillon . His brother Heinrich Gentz is considered an important classicist architect .

Gentz ​​spent his childhood and youth in the environment of the educated bourgeoisie in Breslau , where he first attended the Maria Magdalenen grammar school and, after his father was transferred to Berlin, the Joachimsthal grammar school there. Then Gentz ​​enrolled at the request of his father at the Albertina University in Königsberg , where he was strongly influenced by the teachings of Kant , especially since he was personally acquainted with him and also belonged to the small group of his students. After completing two years of unfinished law studies, he started a civil service career at the Prussian court in 1785. By 1793 he made it to the 'council of war'.

However, the everyday life of a political worker soon no longer filled it. At the same time he started working as a writer and editor of periodicals . He achieved great fame with the translation and commentary of Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France into German published in 1793 . In addition to the intellectual and political success, there was the economic success, because Gentz ​​wanted to improve his civil servant salary with the letter and also hoped to find prominent patrons.

His marriage to the daughter of senior building officer David Gilly in 1793 anchored Gentz ​​even further in the solid Prussian bourgeoisie, but soon stood in stark contrast to his bohemian , debt-driving lifestyle, which he cultivated in Berlin as a regular guest of the flourishing salons of Henriette Herz and Rahel Varnhagen .

Gentz's residence and house where he died in Weinhaus, the Gentz-Schlössel at today's Währinger Strasse 169–171 (before 1918)

Because of his increasingly strong anti-French attitude, it was soon no longer acceptable for Prussian politics. Then there were marital problems, debts and disappointed career expectations. So he left Berlin and, after a long stay in England, moved to Austria in 1802 to work as a diplomat and to continue writing. As a result of the lost battle of Austerlitz , Gentz ​​had to go into exile in 1805 and was only ordered back to Austria in 1809. In the following years he worked there as Metternich's state writer and ghostwriter to his right hand in the conception of Austrian domestic and foreign policy.

Metternich particularly valued Gentz's advice in founding an officious newspaper, the Österreichischer Beobachter , in 1810. Finally, Metternich appointed Gentz ​​his closest adviser and he was given the title of extraordinary councilor. Gentz ​​took part in the Congress of Vienna in 1814/1815 as the first secretary and keeper of the minutes , as well as in all subsequent congresses up to 1822, and helped Metternich in formulating and implementing the repression policy of the German Confederation against liberal and national currents. At the latest as the originator of the censorship policy adopted in the Karlsbad resolutions in 1819, Gentz, like Metternich, became a hated symbol of the pre- March reaction . He was also called the Secretary of Europe, Metternich the coachman of Europe .

Gentz's lover Fanny Elßler

Friedrich von Gentz ​​was a passionate theater-goer. In 1829 he met the dancer Fanny Elßler . The age difference was enormous, he was 65 years old and she 19. A close relationship developed between the two that lasted until Gentz's death.

Gentz ​​developed all of his art all over again to make money. He encouraged Fanny wherever he could and showered her with gifts. He also took on the role of mentor, making efforts to educate her, teach French and correct German, get her to read books, and introduce her to influential people. Fanny thanked him with an honest and deep affection, which is evident from the letters received.

Gentz's political career ended abruptly when he criticized Metternich's course in the early 1830s and this then withdrew his favor. After the break with Metternich, he remained socially isolated. He withdrew with Fanny Elßler to his castle in Weinhaus , then a suburb of Vienna, and spent his last years with her. When Goethe died in March 1832, Gentz ​​was deeply affected, above all because the poet's death made almost no public impression. Gentz ​​died a few weeks later on June 9, 1832.

He was buried in the General Währinger Friedhof, which is now a park . Gentzgasse in the 1892 newly formed 18th district, Währing , was named in his honor in 1894 .

Act

Gentz ​​initially welcomed the French Revolution , inspired by the writings and publications of Jean-Jacques Rousseau . In his first publication Ueber the Origin and the Supreme Principles of Law , which was published in the Berlin Monthly in 1791 , he tried to justify the declaration of human and civil rights by the French National Assembly . In all other writings, however, he criticized the French Revolution and the Napoleonic expansion policy . Like Edmund Burke, Gentz ​​advocated the idea of ​​a reform policy based on rationality and continuity, which should prevent any revolution , and rejected the Enlightenment ideals of human rights , popular sovereignty , freedom and equality as unhistorical and contrary to the principles of tradition and the historically proven. He considered the old monarchical order to be extremely worthy of protection because it ensured continuity. Gentz, however, was aware of the discrepancy between static political order and historical dynamics. That is why he advocated a system of equilibrium that could fend off war and revolution both internally and externally. In 1830 he wrote about the political situation. He recognized that advancing industrialization would make the situation of the lower classes more and more unbearable. He thus anticipated the revolution of 1848.

With his life's work as a writer, translator, especially the works of Burke, and as a state thinker, politician and censor, Gentz, like Metternich, was one of the developers of moderate early conservatism in Austria.

plant

Between 1791 and 1806 Gentz ​​wrote an abundance of essays and reviews, made several translations and published several monographs, all of which dealt with political issues. He also published magazines: in 1790, together with Gottlob Nathanael Fischer , he founded the German monthly magazine , which was printed in Berlin and Braunschweig until 1795. From 1795 to 1803 he then published the New German Monthly Journal in Leipzig and finally the Historisches Journal in 1799/1800 .

Most important writings:

  • The Origin and Principles of the American Revolution Compared to the Origin and Principles of the French (1800). English translation: The Origin and Principles of the American Revolution, Compared with the Origin and Principles of the French Revolution (1800). Edited and with an Introduction by Peter Koslowski, translated by John Quincy Adams ( oll.libertyfund.org )
  • About Eternal Peace (1800). First published in: Historisches Journal, December 1800, pp. 709-790. Reprinted in: Kurt von Raumer, Ewiger Friede. Calls for peace and peace plans since the Renaissance, Freiburg i.Br./München: Verlag Karl Alber, 1953, pp. 461–497.
  • On the origin and character of the war against the French Revolution. Heinrich Frölich, Berlin 1801 ( books.google.de ).
  • On the political condition of Europe before and after the French Revolution. An examination of the book: De l'état de la France à la fin de l'an VIII . Heinrich Frölich, Berlin 1801 ( reader.digitale-sammlungen.de ).
  • Authentic representation of the relationship between England and Spain before and during the outbreak of war between the two powers . Johann Friedrich Hartkoch, St. Petersburg 1806 ( books.google.de ).
  • Fragments from the most recent history of political equilibrium in Europe. Johann Friedrich Hartkoch, St. Petersburg 1806 (2nd edition, reader.digitale-sammlungen.de ).
  • About the difference between the state and representative constitutions. 1819.

Most important translations:

  • Edmund Burke : Reflections on the French Revolution according to the English of Herr Burke, revised with an introduction, comments, political treatises and a critical list of the writings of Friedrich Gentz ​​that appeared in England on this revolution . Friedrich Vieweg dem Aeltern, Berlin 1793 Part 1 digitized Part 2 digitized
  • Mallet du Pán on the French Revolution and the causes of its duration. Translated with a preface and comments by Friedrich Gentz . Friedrich Vieweg, the elder, Berlin 1794 digitized
  • Mounier : Development of the causes that prevented France from attaining freedom. Translated from the French (1794)
  • Edmund Burke's Justification for Political Life. Against an attack by the Duke of Bedford and Earl Lauderdale on the occasion of a pension awarded to him. Translated with a preface and some remarks by Friedrich Gentz . Friedrich Vieweg dem Aeltern, Berlin 1796 Digitized
  • d'Ivernois: History of the French financial administration i. J. 1796 . Translated from the French (1797)

swell

Friedrich Gentz: Collected writings . 12 volumes in 24 sub-volumes. Ed. By Günther Kronenbitter, Hildesheim - Zurich - New York: Olms 1997-2004 (= Historia scientiarium. History and Politics) .:

  • Volume 1: On the origin and character of the war against the French Revolution . Preface by Günther Kronenbitter, 1997. ISBN 3-487-10411-3
  • Volume 2: On the political state of Europe before and after the French Revolution . Foreword by Günther Kronenbitter, 1997. ISBN 3-487-10412-1
  • Volume 3: Authentic representation of the relationship between England and Spain , 1997. ISBN 3-487-10413-X
  • Volume 4: Fragments from the Recent History of Political Equilibrium in Europe , 1997. ISBN 3-487-10414-8
  • Volume 5: Historical Journal. A selection , 1999. ISBN 3-487-10415-6
  • Volume 6: Translations. Introductions and Comments , 1998. ISBN 3-487-10416-4
  • Volume 7: Kleine Schriften , 1998. ISBN 3-487-10417-2
  • Volume 8/1: A memorial. Letters and Familiar Pages , 2002. ISBN 3-487-11568-9
  • Volume 8/2: A memorial. Smaller Fonts , Part 1, 2002. ISBN 3-487-11569-7
  • Volume 8/3: A memorial. Smaller Fonts , Part 2, 2002. ISBN 3-487-11570-0
  • Volume 8/4: A memorial. Correspondence between Gentz ​​and Johannes v. Müller , 2002. ISBN 3-487-11571-9
  • Volume 8/5: A memorial. Unprinted memoranda, diaries and letters , 2002. ISBN 3-487-11572-7
  • Volume 9: Correspondence between Friedrich Gentz ​​and Adam Heinrich Müller: 1800–1829 . 2002. ISBN 3-487-11598-0
  • Volume 10/1: Letters from Friedrich von Gentz ​​to Pilat: a contribution to the history of Germany in the 19th century. Century . 1, 2002. ISBN 3-487-11600-6
  • Volume 10/2: Letters from Friedrich von Gentz ​​to Pilat: a contribution to the history of Germany in the XIX. Century . 2, 2002. ISBN 3-487-11601-4
  • Volume 11: Letters from and to Friedrich von Gentz . 4 vols. Reprint, 2002. ISBN 3-487-11269-8 / ISBN 3-487-11270-1 / ISBN 3-487-11271-X / ISBN 3-487-11272-8
  • Volume 12: (a total of 5 volumes / parts) Diaries of Friedrich Gentz ​​1800–1831 . Introduction by Günther Kronenbitter, 2004. ISBN 3-487-12505-6

Fragments and excerpts from letters and works (full texts):

Diaries (digital copies):

literature

Monographs

  • Barbara Dorn: Friedrich von Gentz ​​and Europe. Studies on stability and revolution 1802–1822. Dissertation, University of Bonn, 1993.
  • Günther Kronenbitter : Word and Power. Friedrich Gentz ​​as a political writer (= contributions to political science. Volume 71). Berlin 1994, ISBN 3-428-07962-0 .
  • Golo Mann : Friedrich von Gentz. Story of a European statesman . Europa Verlag, Zurich 1947 (paperback edition: Ullstein, Frankfurt et al. 1972, ISBN 3-548-02935-3 ); revised new edition under the title Friedrich von Gentz. Opponent of Napoleon, pioneer of Europe . Fischer, Frankfurt 1995, ISBN 3-10-047912-2 (paperback edition: Fischer, Frankfurt 2011, ISBN 3-596-18800-8 ).
  • Harro Zimmermann : Friedrich Gentz. The invention of realpolitik . Ferdinand Schöningh, Paderborn 2012, ISBN 978-3-506-77132-2 ; Review of collectors of amorous love affairs and advocates of conservatism in the book market - Book of the Week on Deutschlandfunk (DLF) (February 17, 2013) by Wilfried F. Schoeller dradio.de
  • Raphaël Cahen: Friedrich Gentz ​​1764-1832. Penseur post-Lumières et acteur du nouvel ordre européen. De Gruyter Oldenbourg, Berlin 2017, ISBN 978-3-11-045534-2 .
  • Eugen Guglia : Friedrich von Gentz. A biographical study. Wiener Verlag, Vienna 1901, OCLC 836671676 .

Essays

Web links

Commons : Friedrich von Gentz  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
Wikisource: Friedrich von Gentz  - Sources and full texts

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Günther Kronenbitter: Friedrich von Gentz ​​(1764-1832). In: Bernd Heidenreich (Ed.): Political Theories of the 19th Century. Conservatism, liberalism. Socialism. 2nd, revised edition, Berlin 2002, p. 94.
personal data
SURNAME Gentz, Friedrich von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gentz, Friedrich
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German-Austrian writer and politician
DATE OF BIRTH May 2, 1764
PLACE OF BIRTH Wroclaw
DATE OF DEATH June 9, 1832
Place of death Vienna