Johann Sebastian Mitternacht
Johann Sebastian Mitternacht was a notable German Baroque writer, primarily recognized for his contributions to drama and ecclesiastical literature. Born in the latter half of the 17th century to a family involved in religious education, he had a challenging childhood marked by health issues and a diagnosis that implied witchcraft, leading to his home-based education until the age of seventeen. He later attended Jena University and transferred to Wittenburg, where he studied philosophy and theology, influenced by Lutheran orthodoxy and his instructors.
Mitternacht began his career as a pastor in Teutleben after marrying Anna Elizabeth Rösers, with whom he published his first hymns. His life was greatly affected by the tumult of war when his parish was raided, resulting in personal loss and financial struggle. Following this, he took up a position as rector at his former school in Naumburg, where he discovered his aptitude for teaching. Eventually, he became rector at the Gymnasium Ruthenaeum in Gera, where he wrote approximately thirteen plays, with one of his most notable works being "Der unglükselige Soldat und vorwitzige Barbirer."
Mitternacht later ascended to prestigious roles, including superintendent and court preacher to Duke Moritz of Saxe-Zeitz, and was named the crowned imperial poet shortly before his death in the late 1670s. His literary legacy includes both dramatic works and theological writings, reflecting his diverse contributions to German literature and education.
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Johann Sebastian Mitternacht
Composer
- Born: March 30, 1613
- Birthplace: Hardisleben, Thuringia (now in Germany)
- Died: July 25, 1679
Biography
Johann Sebastian Mitternacht, a German Baroque writer best known for his plays, was born in the latter half of the seventh century. His father was Paul Mitternacht, a pastor, schoolmaster, and cantor. Mitternacht was a sickly child, with a diagnosis of being affected by witchcraft, and so was schooled at home until he was seventeen years old. In the 1630’s, he attended Jena University, studying philosophy, and then transferred to Wittenburg to study theology. While at Wittenburg, he was influenced by the Lutheran orthodoxy there and his instructors, August Buchner and Martin Trost.
Mitternacht would incorporate Trust’s method of instruction in publications about teaching Hebrew grammar. Mitternacht received his master of arts, and then spent two years working as a private tutor in the household of Daniel von Koseritz to pay for further studies. On advice of his father and von Koseritz, he took a position as pastor at Teutleben close to where he grew up. The same year in the late 1630’s, he married Anna Elizabeth Rösers, the daughter of a pastor in a nearby region. It was at this time his first hymns were published.
Two years after he arrived in Teutleben, it was raided and pillaged by the Swedes, and his wife died of an apparent heart attack during the raid. Although he managed to save his books, Mitternacht was left a beggar, appealing to townsfolk to feed him as he traveled to Naumburg. There, he was made a rector at his old school.
In the 1640’s, he married Anna Seseman, with whom he had eleven children. Mitternacht discovered his abilities at teaching; because of plague and war, Mitternacht was responsible for much of the instruction the school because the jobs could not be filled. However, as much as he was fond of his work there, four years later, he chose to accept an offer to become rector at the Gymnasium Ruthenaeum in Gera for the pay increase. He continued to publish about half a dozen texts, but also ecclesiastical works such as Vertrawliches Gespräch zwischen vier Päpstlichen Scribenten, an argument against papacy that went into four editions. At Gera, he began writing plays for production, with thirteen plays written and presented while he was rector. The first, Der unglükselige Soldat und vorwitzige Barbirer was one of his most popularly accepted plays.
Mitternacht remained in Gera until he was appointed superintendent at Neustadt an der Orla and, just months later, as court preacher to Duke Moritz of Saxe-Zeitz. Both appointments were by the favor of Veit Ludwig von Seckendorff, a man employed by the duke. Mitternacht became the superintendent and a member of the duke’s privy council. He was appointed poeta caesareus laureatus (crowned imperial poet) just before his death in the late 1670’s.