Konstantin Reitz

Konstantin Reitz (born March 30, 1817 in Bobenhausen II near Mücke (Hesse) ; † May 26, 1853 in Doka, Sudan ) was a German African explorer and Austrian consul.

Life

Reitz studied forestry at the Hessian Ludwig University . On May 18, 1835, he was reciprocated in the Corps Hassia Gießen . The university disciplinary court punished him on December 17, 1835 with 14 days in jail because he had taken part in a duel . In 1836 there was a simple relegation to one year. After three semesters, he dropped out without a degree. From 1840 he worked for his father Christoph Reitz , forester in Dieburg .

1842 Dr. phil. doctorate, he was a realteacher and editor in Darmstadt . From 1844 he traveled to Algiers, Milan, Venice, Sicily and Egypt. In 1848 he entered the service of the Austrian Empire . As Chancellor at the Consulate General in Alexandria , he met Alfred Brehm . In 1851 he became consular agent and in 1852 he became vice consul at the new consulate for Central Africa in Khartoum . He passed through all the Nile cataracts with two barges and thus proved the navigability of the Nile up to the mouth. He bought 200 African animals for Schönbrunn Zoo at his own expense . On an expedition to Ethiopia , he was the first traveler to use the caravan route from Abu Harras to Gonder . He wanted to increase Austria's influence and open up new trade routes . He made particular contributions to the exploration of the Atbara from the mouth to the source . He also promoted Austria's Outer Mission . He died unmarried at the age of 36 of dysentery and was buried on the spot in a rock grave.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Kösener corps lists 1910, 51/254.
2. ↑ ^{a b} Hessen register of the Corps Hassia
3. ↑ The grandfather Ernst Reitz was the chief forester in Ehringshausen .
4. ↑ Austrian Biographical Lexicon 1815–1950
5. ↑ Austria in the Middle East (GoogleBooks)