Johann Thomas
Johann Thomas was a notable German court official, pastoral writer, and academic who lived during the aftermath of the Thirty Years' War, a tumultuous period in European history. Born in Leipzig in 1624, Thomas faced early hardship with the loss of his parents and was raised by his grandmother. He pursued an education in law and history, ultimately becoming a respected professor at the University of Jena. His career took a significant turn in 1650 when he joined the court of Duke Friedrich Wilhelm II of Saxe-Altenburg, where he held various prominent roles, including ambassador and later chancellor of the duchy.
In addition to his political achievements, Thomas was a prolific writer. His poem "Friedens-Gedancken," reflecting on the war’s end, was well-received, while his pastoral novel "Damon und Lisille," published in 1663, is considered his most significant literary work. This novel not only adheres to traditional pastoral themes but also provides a nuanced exploration of marriage, balancing romantic ideals with everyday realities. Thomas’s life came to an end in 1679 due to a stroke, leaving behind a legacy of both political service and literary contribution.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Johann Thomas
Writer
- Born: August 28, 1624
- Birthplace: Leipzig, Germany
- Died: March 2, 1679
- Place of death: Altenburg, Germany
Biography
German court official and pastoral writer Johann Thomas flourished politically and artistically after the Thirty Years’ War. Thomas was born in Leipzig in 1624. His parents died when he was a child and he and his older brother were raised by their grandmother. Thomas studied at home with a tutor until he was twelve. He and his brother Jacob then attended gymnasium until 1640, when they both entered the University of Wittenberg. Thomas studied law and history at a succession of universities but was ultimately named a doctor of law by the University of Jena. In 1650, he became a professor at Jena, where he was a popular lecturer. Duke Friedrich Wilhelm II of Saxe-Altenburg made Thomas a public servant of his court in 1650, and Thomas resigned from his university job in 1652.
Thomas gained increased responsibility and prestige in Friedrich Wilhelm’s court. The duke appointed Thomas an ambassador to the Diet of Regensburg in 1653. Thomas married his first wife, Marie Elisabeth von Bohn, in 1653. The couple had four children, two of whom survived childhood.
In 1658, Thomas served as an elector and attendant at the coronation of Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I. In 1659, Thomas served several ambassadorial functions and was named president of Friedrich Wilhelm’s duchy of Saxony. Thomas was later received by the monarchy of Bavaria and came to the attention of the emperor. Thomas became chancellor of the duchy of Saxony in 1668. He married a second time in 1671; his second wife, Suzanna Schröter, gave birth to one son who survived childhood.
Thomas’s poem Friedens-Gedancken (1650), about the end of the Thirty Years’ War, was well received and gained some critical acclaim. His most significant literary contribution was his pastoral novel Damon und Lisille, initially published as Lisille in 1663. As was often the case with pastoral works, Thomas published under a pseudonym. Following the brutality of the Thirty Years’ War that had ended in 1648, Thomas was likely inspired to write escapist work. He followed several conventions of seventeenth century pastorals. He veiled the autobiographical character by making Damon a shepherd. He also mixed classical mythology with a German setting. The love story that sets the two main characters on course within Damon und Lisille also followed convention. Thomas’s novel was unique, however, because Damon und Lisille not only celebrated the overlooked security and pleasure of marriage but also illustrated the mundane aspects that any marriage might encounter. Thomas died from a stroke in 1679.