Adelheid Amalie Gallitzin
Encyclopedia
Princess Adelheid Amalie Gallitzin (also known as Amaliia Samuilovna Golitsyna or in Russian as Амалия Самуиловна Голицына; 28 August 1748 – 17 April 1806) was the daughter of the Prussia
n Field Marshal Samuel von Schmettau
and the mother of Prince Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin
.
tutors. In 1768, she married the Russian Prince Dimitri Alexeievich Gallitzin, who was under Catherine II ambassador at Paris, Turin
and The Hague
. In each of these capitals, the princess, thanks to her beauty and her qualities of mind and heart, played a brilliant role. At the age of 24 she forsook society suddenly and devoted herself to the education of her children. She applied herself to the study of mathematics, classical philology
, and philosophy under Franz Hemsterhuis, who kindled her enthusiasm for Socratic-Platonic idealism
, and later under the name of "Diokles" dedicated to her the "Diotima", his Lettres sur l'atheisme.
The educational reform introduced by Franz Friedrich Wilhelm von Fürstenberg
, Vicar-General
of Münster
, induced her to take up her residence in the Westphalian
capital. Here she soon became the centre of a set of intellectual men led by Fürstenberg. This circle also included the gymnasial teachers (whom she incited to the deeper study of Plato), Bernhard Heinrich Overberg
, the reformer of popular school education, Clemens Augustus von Droste-Vischering, Count Leopold zu Stolberg, the profound philosopher Johann Georg Hamann
, who was interred in her garden. The poet Matthias Claudius
of the "Wandsbecker Bote" was also a familiar visitor, and Johann Wolfgang Goethe said that his hours in this circle were among his most pleasant recollections.
The reading of Sacred Scripture, necessitated by the religious education of her children and her constant interaction with Catholics led to her return to religion. On 28 August 1786, at the instance of Overberg, she approached the confessional
for the first time in many years. Soon afterwards, she made Overberg her chaplain. Under his influence, she underwent a complete change which affected all her surroundings. Her religious life took on a larger importance. She became the centre of Roman Catholic activity in Münster. In those revolutionary times, she provided for the spread of religious writings, proved a support for the religious faith of many of her friends, and induced others, among them Count Stolberg, to make their peace with the Church.
She was known for gentle charity and as a model for religious life. Portions of her correspondence and diaries were published by Scheuter (Münster, 1874–76) in three parts. She was the mother of the well-known American missionary Prince Demetrius Gallitzin
. She died in Angelmodde.
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n Field Marshal Samuel von Schmettau
Samuel von Schmettau
Samuel Graf von Schmettau was a Prussian field marshal.-Life:His father died in 1707, as Royal Prussian secretary to the ambassador in London.His mother, Marie de la Fontaine was born into a Huguenot family....
and the mother of Prince Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin
Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin
Prince Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin was an emigre Russian aristocrat and Catholic priest known as The Apostle of the Alleghenies. Since 2005, he has been under investigation for possible canonization by the Catholic Church...
.
Life
She was born in Berlin and educated in the Roman Catholic faith, although she soon became estranged from it through the influence of VoltairianVoltaire
François-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
tutors. In 1768, she married the Russian Prince Dimitri Alexeievich Gallitzin, who was under Catherine II ambassador at Paris, Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
and The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. In each of these capitals, the princess, thanks to her beauty and her qualities of mind and heart, played a brilliant role. At the age of 24 she forsook society suddenly and devoted herself to the education of her children. She applied herself to the study of mathematics, classical philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
, and philosophy under Franz Hemsterhuis, who kindled her enthusiasm for Socratic-Platonic idealism
Platonic idealism
Platonic idealism usually refers to Plato's theory of forms or doctrine of ideas,Some commentators hold Plato argued that truth is an abstraction...
, and later under the name of "Diokles" dedicated to her the "Diotima", his Lettres sur l'atheisme.
The educational reform introduced by Franz Friedrich Wilhelm von Fürstenberg
Franz Friedrich Wilhelm von Fürstenberg
Franz Friedrich Wilhelm von Fürstenberg was a German statesman and educator of the 18th century....
, Vicar-General
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
, induced her to take up her residence in the Westphalian
Westphalian
Westphalian may refer to:* The culture or people of the Westphalia region of Germany* Westphalian language, one of the major dialect groups of West Low German* Westphalian sovereignty, a concept in international relations* Westphalian , in geology...
capital. Here she soon became the centre of a set of intellectual men led by Fürstenberg. This circle also included the gymnasial teachers (whom she incited to the deeper study of Plato), Bernhard Heinrich Overberg
Bernhard Heinrich Overberg
Bernhard Heinrich Overberg was a German Roman Catholic ecclesiastic, educator and author.-Biography:He was born of peasant parents in the village of Höckel, near Osnabrück, and became a pedlar like his father. At fifteen a priest prepared him for college, and he studied with the Franciscans in...
, the reformer of popular school education, Clemens Augustus von Droste-Vischering, Count Leopold zu Stolberg, the profound philosopher Johann Georg Hamann
Johann Georg Hamann
Johann Georg Hamann was a noted German philosopher, a main proponent of the Sturm und Drang movement, and associated by historian of ideas Isaiah Berlin with the Counter-Enlightenment.-Biography:...
, who was interred in her garden. The poet Matthias Claudius
Matthias Claudius
Matthias Claudius was a German poet, otherwise known by the penname of “Asmus”.-Life:Claudius was born at Reinfeld, near Lübeck, and studied at Jena...
of the "Wandsbecker Bote" was also a familiar visitor, and Johann Wolfgang Goethe said that his hours in this circle were among his most pleasant recollections.
The reading of Sacred Scripture, necessitated by the religious education of her children and her constant interaction with Catholics led to her return to religion. On 28 August 1786, at the instance of Overberg, she approached the confessional
Confessional
A confessional is a small, enclosed booth used for the Sacrament of Penance, often called confession, or Reconciliation. It is the usual venue for the sacrament in the Roman Catholic Church, but similar structures are also used in Anglican churches of an Anglo-Catholic orientation, and also in the...
for the first time in many years. Soon afterwards, she made Overberg her chaplain. Under his influence, she underwent a complete change which affected all her surroundings. Her religious life took on a larger importance. She became the centre of Roman Catholic activity in Münster. In those revolutionary times, she provided for the spread of religious writings, proved a support for the religious faith of many of her friends, and induced others, among them Count Stolberg, to make their peace with the Church.
She was known for gentle charity and as a model for religious life. Portions of her correspondence and diaries were published by Scheuter (Münster, 1874–76) in three parts. She was the mother of the well-known American missionary Prince Demetrius Gallitzin
Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin
Prince Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin was an emigre Russian aristocrat and Catholic priest known as The Apostle of the Alleghenies. Since 2005, he has been under investigation for possible canonization by the Catholic Church...
. She died in Angelmodde.