Tobias Philipp von Gebler

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Tobias Philipp Gebler , from 1763 von Gebler , from 1768 Freiherr von Gebler , (born November 2 , probably between 1720 and 1722 , in Greiz , Holy Roman Empire ; † October 9, 1786 in Vienna ) was a playwright and was considered one of the most progressive thinking Austrian civil servant of his time.

Half-length portrait in a medallion, flanked by a standing and a seated putti . Engraving by JE Mansfeld, early 1770s.

Life

Tobias Philipp Gebler was born on November 2nd to middle-class parents. There is insufficient evidence of the year of his birth, presumably he was born in 1722, but most likely in the period from 1720 to 1722. He was certainly not born later than 1722: the entry in the death inspection protocol of the City of Vienna of October 9, 1786 together with the fact that he enrolled at the University of Jena in May 1737, suggests this.

His father, Tobias Georg Gebler (1685–1753), was the office director and consistory president of Count Heinrich XI. from Reuss to top irritation . His mother was Christiane Renate von Vaßmer. She died in 1729. Greiz in the Vogtland can be assumed to be Gebler's birthplace . In the literature, Gebler's year of birth is given as 1720, 1723, 1724, 1726 and 1728. He was certainly not born later than 1722, as this year is based on the entry in the death inspection protocol of the City of Vienna on October 9, 1786.

Concerning Gebler's place of birth, some contemporary information mentions Greiz, others Zeulenroda. It is only certain that Gebler was born in the county of Reuss . The name Gebler does not appear in the Zeulenroda church registers from 1719 to 1735, which means that Zeulenroda can be excluded as the place of birth; the Greiz baptismal registers burned in 1802.

Gebler died in Vienna on October 9, 1786.

Education

Gebler studied law at the universities of Jena , Göttingen and Halle . In 1737 the register of the University of Jena noted: "May 22nd, 1737: Tobias Gebler, Greiza-Variscus". In the log book, the entry is: "On the 8th Martii 1738 disputirte Mr. M. Christian Johann Antonius Corvinus, De prinzipio cognoscendi absolute primo '. The respondens was Tobias Geblerus, Greiza-Variscus… ”. These entries support the assumption that Gebler comes from Greiz in the Vogtland.

Two months later Gebler was in Göttingen; the relevant registration is: "No. 979 Tobias Gebler, Graiza Variscus, LLC, ex Academia Jenensi - May 1738 -. ”In July 1738, under the chairmanship of Heinrich Christian von Senckenberg, he was the respondens “ De gravamine in legitima Romanis et Germanis usitato. ” Enrolled as a law student at the University of Halle on May 1741. Gebler completed his studies "with a lot of praise".

Gebler as a statesman

After traveling through Germany, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands, he entered the service of the States General of the United Netherlands in The Hague in 1748 . He worked from 1748 to 1753 as an employee of the Dutch embassy in Berlin . In this position Gebler found the opportunity to do an important diplomatic service in Austria, with the result that he received a post as first secretary at the Intendenza in Trieste on February 15, 1754 . In this function, Gebler was the head of this authority, which had a very large area of ​​responsibility to look after: It maintained communications with the consulates in the Levant , in France, Spain, Portugal, Naples, the Vatican, in England, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, East India, etc. This is where the “commercial relations” (reports) of the consuls came in; the Intendenza had to administer the entire littoral , the military, the recruitment, the building of fortifications; Mining, copper production and "wear and tear per mare" (sale by sea), iron and lead trade, factories and manufacturing, shipping and shipbuilding, jurisdiction, custody of delinquents , diocese matters in Trieste, Zengg and Modruš , the postal system in the littoral and tolls and customs.

In order to meet the conditions for a rapid advancement in the Austrian civil service, Gebler converted from the Protestant to the Catholic denomination before his appointment . Gebler married a Maria Anna von Werth. On April 1, 1756, he was promoted to the secret court secretary at the Vienna Commerce Directorate, and on January 1, 1759 to the Real Commerce - and Bergrat. As mine product wear director, he earned great merit through his clever management. He proved to be a versatile, ambitious businessman who used very modern strategies in many areas.

On April 1, 1762 he was appointed to the Bohemian-Austrian court chancellery , was primarily concerned with the presentation of the Upper and Lower Austrian provinces and again showed himself to be a very skilled, conscientious and progressive-minded official. In this context z. B. to refer to the funding that he gave to Josef Anton von Riegger . Riegger was one of the first in Austria to lecture in German at a university and to push for innovations and improvements. In 1768 Gebler wrote two writings against the Swabian imperial estates in favor of the Austrian Dominical Tax , which were widely recognized as testimony to his profound legal knowledge.

On November 14, 1768, Gebler was appointed a member of the Council of State in domestic affairs, where he successfully fought for the betterment of the peasant class, the abolition of torture, extensive restrictions on the death penalty, impunity for apostasy and less severe punishment for blasphemy. With the greatest emphasis he advocated the idea of ​​tolerance. Maria Theresa held Gebler in high esteem and her suspicious son also put his trust in him.

The tolerance patent of Emperor Joseph II, dated October 13, 1781, was designed by Gebler. In addition, on January 2, 1782, following a vote by Gebler, Joseph II issued the tolerance patent for the Jews of Lower Austria.

Gebler made a great contribution to Austria's education system; he promoted the Viennese schoolman Josef Mesmer and the abbot of the Augustinian canon monastery of Sagan , Johann Ignaz von Felbiger . On December 2, 1774, a school council was established in each country , and four days later general school regulations for the German normal , secondary and trivial schools were announced.

He also tried to replace Latin with German as much as possible at universities. He eloquently advocated easing censorship. Along with Prince Wenzel Anton Kaunitz , Gebler can be described as the most important member of the State Council.

On October 9, 1782, he finally became Vice Chancellor of the United Bohemian-Austrian Court Chancellery, and on April 7, 1785 he was entrusted with the management of the "Robotabolitionsgeschften" to reduce peasant labor and abolish various landlord attacks.

Gebler as an author of plays

Thamos, King of Egypt (1774)

At an early stage he had acquired Masonic ideas. From 1784 to 1786 he held important Masonic offices. Gustav Gugitz , who is very familiar with Gebler's subject matter , makes a blanket judgment about Gebler's dramas:

“His theatrical works are, however, pure intellectual products with the tendency to raise the level of the theater and to fight against prejudices from the stage. They have a purely civilizing mission, but no theatrical or artistic vocation in their dilettantism ; there is a lack of originality; Character drawing, action and language is paper. "

This statement coincides in many ways with Helene Mascher's opinion. It is largely correct, but is likely to be based primarily on Lessing's negative criticism. Goethe , whose judgment is certainly not subordinate to that of Lessing, judged Gebler far more favorably and assigned him a comparatively considerable place in the development of literature. Christoph Martin Wieland praised Gebler in his letters with exuberant praise, but also mixed some constructive criticism. He drew Gebler's attention to the fact that his expression was often not appropriate to the situation, directed his attention to improbabilities in the development of the plot, to poor psychological motivation, to a certain stiffness of language.

It is undoubtedly correct that Gebler's works, with the exception of two or three, are artistically irrelevant. These exceptions include Thamos, king in Egypt . A heroic drama in five acts that premiered in Vienna on Easter Monday in 1774. In this case Gebler's pathos is credible and appropriate, the plot is cleverly structured, the behavior of the people is logical and well motivated. Gebler's Freemason brother Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart created choirs and inter-act music to complement the performance. In 1780, Emanuel Schikaneder performed the play in Salzburg at Mozart's request. In November 1980 Nikolaus Harnoncourt performed these pieces of music with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam and the choirs Collegium Vocale and Netherlands Chamber Choir . The bass Thomas Thomaschke gave the high priest Sethos .

"This play by Tobias Gebler [...] is the actual model and the basis for the action of the 'Magic Flute' and from it comes the name of Prince Tamino, derived from Thamos, but also the Egyptian setting with the Sun Temple as the center and the divine way who rules in the sun temple. "

Not only in the plot there are extensive parallels between Thamos and the Magic Flute , even in the text there are literal echoes.

The drama Adelheid von Siegmar , a tragedy in five acts, is after Thamos Gebler's best work. The plot develops logically, almost inevitably, the knot is cleverly tied. Constantin von Wurzbach calls Adelheid von Siegmar "a dramatic work by Gebler that was forgotten too early." The play was premiered on November 12, 1774 in Vienna.

As a third exception, the one-act play Die Hastings , which premiered on June 16, 1770 in Vienna, can be mentioned. The piece is easy, tangy and amusing. Situation comedy is plentiful. The one-act play is a free translation of Fagan's “Étourderie”.

In any case, it can be stated that Gebler's activity as a theater poet was of great importance for the development of the Viennese drama. He played an essential part in the fact that old prejudices against the theater were falling in Austria, that German drama was freed from the odor of being an amusement for misera plebs, that regulated drama won the victory over the Bernardoniads that serious playwrights for serious actors wrote. He also suggested the establishment of the Leopoldstadt Theater .

Gebler as a Freemason

Gebler was very active as a Freemason. After the founding of the Provincial Lodge of Austria, he was Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge "Zum neue Bund", according to the Freemasons' edict of Joseph II. Chair Master of one of the two Viennese lodges, Zur New Crowned Hope . In his correspondence with his friend Nicolai in Berlin from 1771–1786, published by Richard Maria Werner (Berlin 1888), the Masonic conditions in Vienna are discussed in detail.

Honors

Gebler received a number of honors. In 1763 he received the status of imperial knight , in 1768 he was elevated to the status of baron , and in 1782 he was appointed to the Privy Council.

In 1894 Geblergasse in Vienna-Hernals (17th district) was named after him.

Works

Fonts

  • Tobias Gebler: Disquisitio juridica de gravamine in legitima Romanis et Germanis usitato praeside Henrico Christiano Senckenberg. Iuris cons. cons. reg. Et ppo in Acroaterio iuris consultorum. D. II, MDCCXXXVII H.IX.AM Defendenda a Tobia Gebler Graiza Varisco Iuris cult. Gottingae.
  • Tobias Philipp Gebler: A brief observation of what kind of taxes should be levied on the various imperial estates that are wealthy in the frontier Austrian hereditary lands . (Notes on an essay that came to light at the Swabian district assembly. This work was published anonymously.)
  • Tobias Philipp Gebler: Reasons why the most serene ore house of Austria of the highly praiseworthy Swabian district should have estates and relatives whose income from the Upper Austrian provinces, or the so-called Dominicale, are tax-free . (Answer to a recent text that came to light at the last Swabian district assembly against the then front-Austrian tax institutions. Published anonymously.)
  • Tobias Philipp Gebler: Baron von Gebler's theatrical works . 3 volumes. Prague / Dresden, 1772–1773.
  • Adelheid von Siegmar . A tragedy in 5 acts (by Mr. von Gebler in Vienna). In: Theater of the Germans . Königsberg / Leipzig, 1776

Stage plays

  • The Kabala or the lottery luck . Comedy in one act. First performance on January 17, 1770. (In 1775 it was revised in Vienna under the title Der Terno or Lottoglück ).
  • The Bindband or The Five Therese . First performance on February 17, 1770. (In 1775 it appeared in a revised form in Frankfurt under the title The Name Day ).
  • The predicate or the letter of nobility . Comedy in three acts. First performance in Vienna on April 21, 1770.
  • The friends of the old or former were good times . Comedy in three acts. First performed in Vienna on June 2, 1770
  • The hastiness . One act in 22 acts. First performance in Vienna on June 16, 1770. (The one-act play is a free translation by Fagans Étourderie ).
  • The widow . Comedy in two acts. First performance on December 1, 1770. (A Madame F. translated the play into French).
  • The family tree . Comedy in five acts. First performed on January 19, 1771. (In 1775, the comedy was published in Frankfurt am Main under the title Der Familienstreit . In a new, modified assignment, it was published anonymously in Vienna in 1776 under the title The restless names festival or the women’s dispute ).
  • The minister in five acts (no further description is available). First performed in Vienna on April 6, 1771. (It was also played successfully in Berlin. The piece was translated into Italian two times and was translated into French by Junker).
  • Clementines or the will . Drama in five acts. First performed in Vienna on July 5, 1771. (The piece was also played successfully in Berlin. A Mr de Juvigny, ancien officier, translated it into French in 1774. It was published in Hungarian in 1790).
  • You can love your wife . Comedy in five acts, freely based on the French of the Nivelle de la Chaussée. First performed in Vienna on January 19, 1772
  • The required consent . Comedy in one act, free translation of the Consentement forcée des Guyot by Merville. First performed in Vienna on October 5, 1771
  • Carelessness and good heart . Comedy in five acts. First performed on June 13, 1772 in Vienna. (Later it was also played in Berlin)
  • The osmonde . Drama in five acts. First performed in Vienna on August 8, 1772. (The drama was performed in Weimar on the Duchess' birthday on October 24, and it was performed in Augsburg on October 16, 1777. A Hungarian translation by Kazinczy (or Kazinsky) was published in Kaschau in 1790) .
  • The reconciliation . Comedy in five acts. First performance in Vienna on December 26, 1772; the play was performed in the same year in front of the imperial court in Laxenburg, and later also in Berlin.
  • Thamos, King of Egypt . Heroic drama in five acts. First performed on Easter Monday 1774. ( Digitized in the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Digital Library) - The drama was translated into French by Junker in Theatre allemand and Mr de Juvigny; a Hungarian translation by Kazinczy was published in Kosice in 1790.
  • Adelheid von Siegmar . Tragedy in five acts. First performed in Vienna on November 12, 1774; in Berlin it was given on Feb. 13, 1776.
  • The wrong world in a comedy . This piece was published anonymously in Erfurt and Leipzig in 1764. The catalog of the Vienna National Library attributes it to Tobias Philipp Gebler.

Portraits

At least three portraits of Gebler still exist. The portrait collection of the Austrian National Library owns all three. Number 2 can also be found in the portrait collection of the Historical Museum of the City of Vienna

  1. Half-length portrait in medallion, half left, engraving by JE Mansfeld. It bears the signature: “Tobias Philipp Freiherr von Gebler, Kais. Royal State Councilor and Knight of the Royal Order of St. Stephen ”. This picture appeared in the General German Library. It is before the first piece of the 25th volume.
  2. Headpiece in medallion, left, engraving by JE Mansfeld. The signature reads: "Whoever shed tears of the most pleasant sorrow with the Clementine and who closed the author's heart with the minister, will also revere him in the picture". The verses are from Father Karl Mastalier. This picture was placed in front of the theatrical calendar of Vienna for the year 1772 .
  3. Half-length portrait in a medallion, flanked by a standing and a seated putto. In front of the standing one are books, an inkwell with a quill and an open manuscript. Engraving also by JE Mansfeld. This picture has probably not yet been published. It is thought to date from the early 1770s.

literature

swell

Unprinted sources

  • Vienna City and State Archives
    • Main archive files
    • Death examination protocols
    • Card index Gustav Gugitz, "Court Chancellery"
  • Archives of the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
    • University matriculation
  • Archive of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
    • University matriculation
  • Archive of the Friedrich Schiller University Jena
    • University matriculation
    • Protocol book of the philosophical faculty
  • House, Court and State Archives Vienna
    • State Council Protocols
    • Cabinet records
    • Zinzendorf estate
  • Austrian State Archives, Finance and Court Chamber Archives
    • Commercial records
    • Coin and mining
    • Robotic metabolism files
  • Church books of the ev.-luth. Parish of Zeulenroda
  • Vienna Museum
    • Portrait collection
  • Austrian National Library
    • Handwriting collection
    • Portrait collection
  • Vienna Library
    • Gift of Karoline Weidlich

Printed sources

  • Gebler's works
  • Brno Newspaper
  • Johann Jost Anton von Hagen: Letters from German scholars to the secret councilor Klotz . 2 vols. Halle 1773.
  • Carl Freiherr von Hock, Hermann Bidermann: The Austrian Council of State (1750-1848). A historical study . Vienna 1879.
  • Carl Wilhelm Friedrich von Schlegel: German Museum . Vienna 1812–1813.
  • Richard Maria Werner: From Josephine Vienna. Gebler and Nicolai's correspondence during the years 1771–1786 . Berlin 1888.
  • Christoph Martin Wieland: Selection of memorable letters. (Ed. By Ludwig Wieland). Vienna 1815.
  • Viennese diary
  • Wiener Zeitung

Web links

Commons : Tobias Philipp von Gebler  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

References and comments

  1. ↑ Vienna City and State Archives, death inspection protocol, vol. 87
  2. ^ Original register of the University of Jena, 1723–1739, Volume VI.
  3. ↑ Knighthood Survey, Vienna Library, Ic 59806 and Austrian State Archives, General Administrative Archives, Knighthood Diploma of July 2, 1963
  4. ↑ Hans Schläger: Tobias Philipp Freiherr von Gebler. His life and work in Austria . Dissertation to obtain the doctoral degree at the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Vienna. Vienna 1971, p. 71f, (There is a gap in time between the completion of his studies (the date of which cannot be determined) and his work for the States General. It can be assumed that Gebler tried to close this gap by writing in 1726 than stated his year of birth. It can be proven that Gebler cheated occasionally, e.g. on the occasion of his application for the incolation of the Landmannschaft des Landes unter der Enns).
  5. ↑ This service is mentioned in the act on the occasion of Gebler's elevation to the knighthood: General Administrative Archives. Court chancellery file of July 2, 1763, Appendix A; see also Vienna Library, Ic 59806 and Alfred, Ritter von Arneth: Geschichte Maria Theresias. 10 vol. Vienna 1863–1887, vol. 9, p. 296
  6. ↑ Carl Friedrich Benjamin Leupold: General Adelsarchiv the Austrian monarchy, which, richest in alphabetical order of all rich princely houses and erbländisch Count and baronial families, even chivalrous and adeliche families anjetzt throughout kk hereditary lands ... in excellent reputation are . tape 2 . FA Hofmeister, Vienna 1789, p. 734 ff .
  7. ↑ More about this his activity: Hans Schläger: Tobias Philipp Freiherr von Gebler . .... Phil. Diss. Vienna 1971, pp. 17–58.
  8. ↑ more information about Gebler's activities during this period: Hans Schläger: Tobias Philipp Freiherr von Gebler . .... Phil. Diss. Of the University of Vienna. Vienna 1971, pp. 59-68
  9. ↑ Tobias Philipp Gebler: Comments on an article that came to light at the Swabian district assembly, entitled: Brief observation on what kind of imperial estates who are wealthy in the ancestral regions of the Austrian Empire want to be charged taxes . The same thing: Answer to a letter that came to light again at the last Swabian district assembly against the then front Austrian tax institutions, entitled: Reasons why the most serene ore house of Austria of the highly praiseworthy Swabian district estates and relatives about their income moving from the front Austrian lands, or the so-called Dominicale may have to view tax-free . The font is 136 pages long.
  10. ↑ It was Gebler who strongly recommended the empress On the Abolition of Torture (1775) by Baron Joseph von Sonnenfels .
  11. ↑ On this matter he said: “The question is raised whether it is advisable for the common man to learn to write and read, and one seems to incline pro negativa. In Russia at the beginning of the government of Peter I I would have excused such a doubt with a priest, but that such a doubt is being raised in the capital Vienna at the present time, I really don't know what to say about that. "
  12. ^ About Gebler's activity in the State Council see: Hans Schläger: Tobias Philipp Freiherr von Gebler . .... Phil. Diss. Of the University of Vienna. Vienna 1971, pp. 76–157.
  13. ↑ Gebler as Vice Chancellor of the United Bohemian-Austrian Court Chancellery: Hans Schläger: Tobias Philipp Freiherr von Gebler . .... Phil. Diss. Of the University of Vienna. Vienna 1971, pp. 158–166.
  14. ↑ For more details see: Hans Schläger: Tobias Philipp Freiherr von Gebler . .... Phil. Diss. Of the University of Vienna. Vienna 1971, pp. 247-254.
  15. ↑ Gustav Gugitz:  Gebler, Tobias Philipp Freiherr von. In: New German Biography (NDB). Volume 6, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1964, ISBN 3-428-00187-7 , p. 122 ( digitized version ).
  16. ↑ Helene Mascher: Tobias Philipp Freiherr von Gebler (Phil. Diss.). Munich 1935, p. 18.
  17. ↑ see Goethe's reflections in the 13th Book of Poetry and Truth.
  18. ↑ TELDEC has a CD of this performance.
  19. ^ Egon Komorzynski: Emanuel Schikaneder. A contribution to the history of German theater . Vienna 1951, p. 179.
  20. ↑ Constant von Wurzbach: Biographical Lexicon of the Austrian Empire. 60 volumes. Vienna 1856–1891. Vol. 5, p. 119.
  21. ↑ A detailed discussion of the plays can be found in: Hans Schläger: Tobias Philipp Freiherr von Gebler . .... Phil. Diss. Of the University of Vienna. Vienna, 1971, pp. 167-213
  22. ↑ Regarding Gebler's position in Viennese intellectual life see: Hans Schläger: Tobias Philipp Freiherr von Gebler . … Phil. Diss. From the University of Vienna. Vienna 1971, pp. 241–246.
  23. ↑ in: Eugen Lennhoff, Oskar Posner, Dieter A. Binder: Internationales Freemaurerlexikon (February 2000), p. 325
  24. ↑ What is meant is the heroine of the eponymous drama Geblers
  25. ↑ "The Minister", Gebler's drama in five acts
personal data
SURNAME Gebler, Tobias Philipp von
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Gebler, Tobias Philipp Freiherr von (full name); Gebler, Tobias Philipp
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Playwright and Austrian civil servant
DATE OF BIRTH November 2, 1720 or November 2, 1721 or November 2, 1722
PLACE OF BIRTH unsure: Greiz
DATE OF DEATH October 9, 1786
Place of death Vienna