Friedrich von Müller (politician)

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Friedrich von Müller
Friedrich Müller as Senior Harmonist (1799)
Memorial plaque on the house at Windischenstraße 12, in Weimar

Friedrich (Theodor Adam Heinrich) von Müller (born April 13, 1779 in Kunreuth ; † October 21, 1849 ) was State Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Saxony-Weimar-Eisenach and a close friend of Goethe .

Life

In Coburg he became a member of the Order of Harmonists . On May 3, 1796, he enrolled at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen as a student of law . After graduating, the citizen's son Friedrich Müller came to Weimar at the age of 22 and entered the Weimar civil service as a government assessor . In 1804 he was promoted to government councilor. When on October 28, 1806 Prenzlau Prussia under Friedrich Ludwig Prince zu Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen had surrendered to the French army, Duke Carl August personally instructed Müller to negotiate with the victors. Since Müller had already proven his negotiating skills several times, it was up to his diplomacy to maintain the independence of the duchy in negotiations. After successful completion, he was thanked with the appointment to the Privy Council and the letter of nobility. In 1809 Müller became a Freemason . His friend Goethe took an active part in his acceptance into the Weimar Lodge Amalia . Müller continued to work in the administration and took over the position of State Chancellor of the Grand Duchy in 1815 .

Müller was a multi-talented and educated lawyer and politician, valued equally by the Duchess Anna Amalia and Carl August. Goethe also drew him into his circle of friends and sought his independent and knowledgeable judgment. Müller wrote down his impressions of the time in several books. His book about his conversations with Goethe is considered an important literary testimony.

Anecdotal

Emil Ludwig narrates a memorable encounter between Müller and Napoleon I in Erfurt in 1813, which sheds light on the chancellor's courage, but also on the emperor's moral feeling:

“Perhaps unique in Napoleon's life is the scene that the Weimar Chancellor von Müller made for him in Erfurt in the year 13. Because of the arrest of two privy councilors, from whom encrypted letters were intercepted at the outposts, Müller appeared and endured an outburst of rage from the emperor, who wanted to burn Jena and have them both shot until he impetuously penetrated the emperor: 'No, Sire, You will not commit these atrocities! You will not forever darken your fame and shed innocent blood! ' In the excitement, the German comes so close to him that the Kaiser feels threatened, puts his hand on his sword, and Müller has to be pulled back by his companion. Break. 'You are very bold. But I see you are a good friend. Berthier should investigate the matter again. ' The privy councilors are pardoned. "

Works

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Einst und Jetzt, Vol. 46 (2001), p. 128
  2. ↑ See Ludwig, Napoleon, Berlin 1925, p. 549.

Web links

Wikiquote: Friedrich von Müller  - Quotes
personal data
SURNAME Müller, Friedrich von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Müller, Friedrich Theodor Adam Heinrich von (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION State Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Saxony-Weimar-Eisenach and a close friend of Goethe
DATE OF BIRTH April 13, 1779
PLACE OF BIRTH Kunreuth
DATE OF DEATH October 21, 1849