This article is about German statesman in the 17th century. For the alleged KGB spy, see
Hans Assmann
.
Hans Erasmus Aßmann, Freiherr von Abschatz
(4 February 1646 – 22 April 1699) was a
German
statesman
and
poet
from the second
Silesian
school.
Life
[
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]
Abschatz was born at Wurbitz (
Wierzbnica
) in
Lower Silesia
in the
Bohemian crown lands
of the
Holy Roman Empire
. Even though his parents died early, Abschatz attended college in
Liegnitz
and then studied law at the universities of
Strasbourg
and
Leyden
. This was followed by a three-year travel to
Belgium
,
France
, and
Italy
. Returning to Silesia at the age of 23, he assumed the administration of his estate and married
Anna von Hund
in 1669. His financial condition was favourable and his private life fortunate, only disturbed by the death of few close relatives.
With the death of the last
Silesian Piast
(Duke
George William
) and the annexation of Silesia to
Austria
, the talent he showed in the administration of his manors led Abschatz to enter political life. He was twice a representative to the imperial court at Vienna: the first time as a syndic for the
Duchy of Liegnitz
, the second time as a representative for all Silesian lands. Emperor
Leopold I
made him a baron (
Freiherr
). In 1679, Abschatz was elected to be a permanent deputy of Legnica to the
diet
of the Silesian sovereigns (the so-called
Furstentage
in
Breslau
).
Through his public service, he gained the respect of his fellow countrymen and acquired what he once claimed to be the highest tribute to a life's work ? an inscription on his tombstone saying
he was an honest man in his fatherland
.
Poet
[
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]
Abschatz is considered to be a member of the school of poetry called
second Silesian school
(
Zweite Schlesische Schule
), together with writers such as
Daniel Casper von Lohenstein
,
Andreas Gryphius
,
Gottfried Benjamin Hancke
and
Christian Hoffmann von Hoffmannswaldau
. He was a close friend of Lohenstein. Abschatz was also an accurate translator, translating
Il pastor fido
.
[1]
Today, Abschatz is notable by the very fact that he ? a nobleman ? was interested in poetry at all. At that time, it was seen as a sign of change in the attitude towards literature and signaled that
Germany
could keep pace with the literary development of
France
and
England
. He also alluded to his hopes in this direction. He is quoted that:
Nobility without personal merit is nothing but an empty house on foreign grounds. And while it is at first assigned with the governmental and military affairs, it is only the blossom of his mind which can grant to it the highest fame.
Notes
[
edit
]
Regarding personal names:
Freiherr
is a former title (translated as
Baron
). In Germany since 1919, it forms part of family names. The feminine forms are
Freifrau
and
Freiin
.
Citations
[
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]
Sources
[
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]
External links
[
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]
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