Friedrich Schiller


Friedrich Schiller
Portrait by Ludovike Simanowiz (1794)
Portrait by Ludovike Simanowiz (1794)
BornJohann Christoph Friedrich Schiller
(1759-11-10)10 November 1759
Marbach am Neckar, Duchy of Württemberg, Holy Roman Empire
Died9 May 1805(1805-05-09) (aged 45)
Weimar, Duchy of Saxe-Weimar
Occupation
  • Playwright
  • poet
  • philosopher
  • historian
Literary movement
Notable works
Spouse
(m. 1790)
Children
  • Karl Ludwig Friedrich (1793–1857)
  • Ernst Friedrich Wilhelm (1796–1841)
  • Karoline Luise Friederike (1799–1850)
  • Emilie Henriette Luise (1804–1872)
Relatives
Signature

Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (German: [ˈjoːhan ˈkʁɪstɔf ˈfʁiːdʁɪç fɔn ˈʃɪlɐ], short: [ˈfʁiːdʁɪç ˈʃɪlɐ] ; 10 November 1759 – 9 May 1805) was a German playwright, poet, philosopher and historian. Schiller is considered by most Germans to be Germany's most important classical playwright.

He was born in Marbach to a devoutly Protestant family. Initially intended for the priesthood, in 1773 he entered a military academy in Stuttgart and ended up studying medicine. His first play, The Robbers, was written at this time and proved very successful. After a brief stint as a regimental doctor, he left Stuttgart and eventually wound up in Weimar. In 1789, he became professor of History and Philosophy at Jena, where he wrote historical works.

During the last seventeen years of his life (1788–1805), Schiller developed a productive, if complicated, friendship with the already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. They frequently discussed issues concerning aesthetics, and Schiller encouraged Goethe to finish works that he had left as sketches. This relationship and these discussions led to a period now referred to as Weimar Classicism. Together they founded the Weimar Theater.

They also worked together on Xenien, a collection of short satirical poems in which both Schiller and Goethe challenge opponents of their philosophical vision.


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