Friedrich Christian Laukhard
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Christian Laukhard (7 June 1757 – 28 April 1822) was a German
novelist, philosopher
, historian and theologian
.
From 1783 to 1794 he volunteered in the Prussian army
as a musketeer. During the War of the first coalition
his regiment (v. Thadden) campaigned in Valmy
.
Laukhard's military diary is of great interest for historical research on the Prussian army and the French revolutionary wars
.
Due to his licentious and extrovert lifestyle, "Magister Laukhard" soon became a notorious figure.
where his father Philipp Burkhard Laukhard served as pastor. He was trained in Latin, Hebrew and Philosophy from an early age. Laukhards father, himself a Pantheist
, was a great admirer of Christian von Wolff and Baruch Spinoza
, always encouraging Laukhard to query canonical dogmata to become a freethinker.
Though his intellectual breeding was highly excitatory, his parents completely disregarded any further educational surveillance. As a result Laukhard got in bad company and became an alcoholic in early years.
After his graduation in 1774, Laukhard served for a while as Vikar, but he lost this position quickly on account of his overly liberal sermons.
In 1781, supported by his father's friend Johann Salomo Semler
, he resumed his studies in Halle
. In 1783 he finally earned his doctorate and served for short while at the University of Halle.
Due to his bohemian and costly lifestyle, Laukhard got plunged in debt and had to enter the Prussian army. In 1792 he took part in the battle of Valmy
.
In 1794 he was captured by the French and henceforth became a member of the Sansculottes.
movement.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
novelist, philosopher
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, historian and theologian
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
.
From 1783 to 1794 he volunteered in the Prussian army
Prussian Army
The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...
as a musketeer. During the War of the first coalition
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
his regiment (v. Thadden) campaigned in Valmy
Battle of Valmy
The Battle of Valmy was the first major victory by the army of France during the French Revolution. The action took place on 20 September 1792 as Prussian troops commanded by the Duke of Brunswick attempted to march on Paris...
.
Laukhard's military diary is of great interest for historical research on the Prussian army and the French revolutionary wars
French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
.
Due to his licentious and extrovert lifestyle, "Magister Laukhard" soon became a notorious figure.
Youth
Laukhard was born in WendelsheimWendelsheim
Wendelsheim is an Ortsgemeinde – a municipality belonging to a Verbandsgemeinde, a kind of collective municipality – in the Alzey-Worms district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.- Location :...
where his father Philipp Burkhard Laukhard served as pastor. He was trained in Latin, Hebrew and Philosophy from an early age. Laukhards father, himself a Pantheist
Pantheism
Pantheism is the view that the Universe and God are identical. Pantheists thus do not believe in a personal, anthropomorphic or creator god. The word derives from the Greek meaning "all" and the Greek meaning "God". As such, Pantheism denotes the idea that "God" is best seen as a process of...
, was a great admirer of Christian von Wolff and Baruch Spinoza
Baruch Spinoza
Baruch de Spinoza and later Benedict de Spinoza was a Dutch Jewish philosopher. Revealing considerable scientific aptitude, the breadth and importance of Spinoza's work was not fully realized until years after his death...
, always encouraging Laukhard to query canonical dogmata to become a freethinker.
Though his intellectual breeding was highly excitatory, his parents completely disregarded any further educational surveillance. As a result Laukhard got in bad company and became an alcoholic in early years.
Studies
At his father's urging, Laukhard began to study theology at the university of Gießen in 1771.After his graduation in 1774, Laukhard served for a while as Vikar, but he lost this position quickly on account of his overly liberal sermons.
In 1781, supported by his father's friend Johann Salomo Semler
Johann Salomo Semler
Johann Salomo Semler was a German church historian and biblical commentator.-Youth and education:He was born at Saalfeld in Electoral Saxony, the son of a poor clergyman. He grew up in pietistic surroundings, which powerfully influenced him his life through, though he never became a Pietist...
, he resumed his studies in Halle
Halle, Saxony-Anhalt
Halle is the largest city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is also called Halle an der Saale in order to distinguish it from the town of Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia...
. In 1783 he finally earned his doctorate and served for short while at the University of Halle.
Army
Battle of Valmy
The Battle of Valmy was the first major victory by the army of France during the French Revolution. The action took place on 20 September 1792 as Prussian troops commanded by the Duke of Brunswick attempted to march on Paris...
.
In 1794 he was captured by the French and henceforth became a member of the Sansculottes.
Influence
Laukhards autobiographic writings are of historical interest. In his lifetime he made a contribution to the spread of humanist ideas and thus can be seen as part of the enlightenmentAge of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
movement.
Works
- Leben und Schicksale von ihm selbst beschrieben, 5 Bände, 1792-1802
- Der Mosellaner- oder Amicisten-Orden nach seiner Entstehung, inneren Verfassung und Verbreitung auf den deutschen Universitäten dargestellt, Halle 1799
- Leben und Schicksale von ihm selbst beschrieben, herausgegeben von Karl Wolfgang Becker, 1989 Koehler u. Amelang, München, ISBN 3733800524
- F. C. Laukhard, ein abenteuerliches Leben während der Französischen Revolution, herausgegeben von Franz Dobmann, 1969 Heidenheimer Verlagsanst., ISBN B0000BS9K8
- Leben und Taten des Rheingrafen Carl Magnus, den Joseph II. auf zehn Jahre ins Gefängnis nach Königstein schickte, 1798, herausgegeben von Lothar Baus, Asclepios Verlag, ISBN 3935288190
- Friedrich Christian Laukhard (1757-1822) : Band I: Nachrichten aus der wirklichen Welt - Studien zu Laukhards politischen Romanen. Band II: Kommenti ... und Materialien. Band III: Ausgewählte Texte, hg. von Christoph Weiss, Karl Richter, Gerhard Sauter, Gerhard Schmidt-Henkel, Röhrig Universitätsverlag GmbH, ISBN 3861100053
- Friedrich Christian Laukhard: Ein bemerkenswerter Wendelsheimer, von Jakob Schwind und Richard Wilhelm, Rheinhessische Druckwerkst., ISBN 3878541694