Reipublicae Christianopolitanae descriptio

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Title page of the first edition

Reipublicae Christianopolitanae descriptio (German about description of the state of Christenstadt, German edition: Christianopolis ) is the name of a Christian utopia written in 1619 by Johann Valentin Andreae . The text is written from the perspective of a shipwrecked man stranded on the island of Caphar Salama and found the city of Christianopolis there. He then reports on life there.

Description of Christianopolis

religion

Christianopolis is a Christian, more precisely: Lutheran state, even if the residents reject denominational self-denominations. On a board it is stated that the denomination of the inhabitants is roughly based on the Apostolicum in terms of sequence and content in twelve sentences , but also takes into account other denominations that are considered orthodox (such as the Nicano-Constantinopolitanum and the Chalcedonian creed ). In it they state, for example, that the majority believe in the Trinity . This group believes in the overcoming of sin through the vicarious satisfaction of Christ and the victory over hell and death gained with his resurrection . They believe that God's forgiveness of all sins obliges one to be thankful and obedient to Him.

Constitution

On a second plaque, their constitution, the inhabitants of Christianopolis confess that their state is based on belief in God. Accordingly, the explanation of their moral principles is a paraphrasing interpretation of the 10 commandments . In doing so, they propagate moderation, modesty, justice and truth as virtues .

The city is described as a republic of workers. However, women are not eligible to vote . Nevertheless, it is an aristocracy : a triumvirate of chancellor, judge and professor forms the government.

Judicial system

No case is so important that a decision by the Council would not be sufficient. The severity of the punishment can be divided into three categories: Crimes against God are most severely punished, then those against other people and finally against objects. The death penalty is very rarely imposed.

Training and education

The children are raised by their parents up to the age of six. Then they are separated from their parents and brought up and trained by the state. There is no difference between orphans and children with parents, as the education is taken over by the state and it virtually replaces the parents. Women experience the same school education as men, even if they later perform other tasks in society.

society

In Christianopolis , every resident does little work. This work seems to be good for people rather than harming them.

There are differences between men and women when it comes to employment: although men are supposed to help with household chores, the main task of women is to run the household . The chastity of marriage is emphasized.

Structure of the city

Visualization of the city of Christianopolis

Christianopolis has a square floor plan . The city is surrounded by walls , in which four towers are integrated in the corners and in the walls. The city is divided into different areas.

Text output (selection)

  • Christianopolis (= Universal Library . No. 9786,2). Translated from Latin, come on. and with an afterthought. by Wolfgang Biesterfeld. Reclam, Stuttgart 1975, ISBN 3-15-009786-X (for excerpts see web links ).
  • Christianopolis. Utopia of a Christian state from 1619. With a post by Günter Wirth . Translated from the Latin: Ingeborg Pape. Collaboration on the German text and editing the appendices: Hans Giesecke. Koehler and Amelang, Leipzig 1977, DNB 770436870 (GDR edition).
  • Christianopolis. Journey to the island of Caphar Salama and description of the Republic of Christiansburg located on it (= classic of utopian literature. Volume 5). With an afterward and bibliography. by Heiner Höfener. Reprint of the Esslingen 1741 edition. Gerstenberg, Hildesheim 1981, ISBN 3-8067-0898-3 (in Fraktur ).

literature

  • Johann Valentin Andreae: Reipublicae Christianopolitanae descriptio ('Description of the State of Christian City'). Translated and edited with an afterword. by Wolfgang Biesterfeld. Reclam, Stuttgart (1975/1996), ISBN 3-15-009786-X .
  • Sixt Alexander Seewald: The constitution image in the Christianopolis of Johann Valentin Andreae (= European university publications. Series 2: Law. Volume 529). Lang, Frankfurt am Main / Bern / New York 1986, ISBN 3-8204-8803-0 (Zugl .: Mainz, Univ., Diss., 1985).
  • Andreas Urs Sommer : Religion, Science and Politics in the Protestant Ideal State: Johann Valentin Andreaes “Christianopolis”. In: Journal of Religious and Intellectual History . 48: 114-137 (1996).
  • Claus Bernet : Johann Valentin Andreaes utopia Christianopolis. In: Journal for Württemberg State History . 66 (2007), pp. 147-182.

Web links

Commons : Reipublicae Christianopolitanae descriptio  - Collection of images, videos and audio files