Georg Rodolf Weckherlin
Georg Rodolf Weckherlin was a notable German poet and scholar born into an aristocratic family. He received his education at the prestigious Paedagogium and later studied law at the University of Tübingen. After completing his studies, Weckherlin served as a secretary to Duke Johann Friedrich of Württemberg and engaged in extensive travel across Europe, including notable periods in France, Germany, and England. In 1616, he published a significant literary work that marked his breakthrough, a prose festival book detailing the festivities of a princely baptism in Stuttgart.
Weckherlin's abilities in language and poetry were widely recognized; he demonstrated proficiency in several languages, including German, French, and Latin, and adapted German poetry to various styles. His works captured the attention of influential figures of his time, including the renowned poet Martin Opitz, who included Weckherlin's poetry in his anthology. Later in life, Weckherlin became a British subject and took on senior roles within the Stuart monarchy, ultimately serving as Secretary for Foreign Tongues. He continued to contribute to the British government until shortly after the execution of King Charles I in 1649. Weckherlin is remembered as a key figure in the evolution of German poetry and the Renaissance, passing away in 1653, survived by his son Rudolph.
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Georg Rodolf Weckherlin
- Born: September 14, 1584
- Birthplace: Stuttgart, Germany
- Died: February 13, 1653
Biography
German poet Georg Rodolf Weckherlin, the son of an aristocratic official, attended the prominent school Paedagogium as a child and teenager between 1593 and 1599 before beginning law studies at the University of Tübingen. After finishing his education, Weckherlin moved to Stuttgart and became secretary to Duke Johann Friedrich of Württemberg, whom he had met while at the university.
From 1604 to 1616, he traveled in France, Germany, and England while accompanying various nobles of the German aristocracy. It was in England that he met Elizabeth Raworth, and they married in 1616. His literary breakthrough came in 1616 as well, with the publication of Triumf newlich bey der F. Kindtauf zu Stuttgart gehalten (triumph recently held in Stuttgart for the princely baptism), which was published in English as Trivmphall Shews Set Forth Lately at Stutgart: Written First in German, and Now in English. This work was a prose festival book, describing the festivities of the baptism of the duke’s son.
Since Weckherlin had proven himself adept at the “praising of princes,” he was hired to do other works of the same variety, including Kurtze Beschreibung, de� zu Stutgarten, bey den Fürstlichen Kindtauf vnd Hochzeit, Jüngst-gehaltenen Frewden-Festes (brief description of the joyous festival in Stuttgart for the princely baptism and wedding, 1618). He proved his mastery of many languages, including German, French, English, Italian, Latin, and the local Swabian dialect. Weckherlin’s next volume, a two-book set titled Oden und Gesänge (odes and songs, 1618-1619), showed his talent at adapting German to all types of poetry styles. The infamous Martin Opitz would include eight of Wecherlin’s works in his Teutsche Pöemata und Aristarchus (German poetry and Aristarchus, 1624), thus securing his place in German poetic history.
In 1619, Weckherlin would leave Germany for good. In 1626, he was appointed secretary to the Stuart monarchy in England, becoming a British subject in 1630. A portrait of Weckherlin at age fifty proved his allegiance to the court of King Charles I in his style of beard and his fashionable style of clothing. In 1644, the poet became Secretary for Foreign Tongues, a position he passed on to John Milton.
Weckherlin continued to serve British government until shortly after the execution of King Charles I in 1649. He served as Milton’s assistant for a short time thereafter. Weckherlin is credited as one of the foremost South German poets of his time and as one who was instrumental in paving the way for the Renaissance and the works of Martin Opitz. Weckherlin died on February 13, 1653, having been preceded by his wife and daughter, and being survived by his son Rudolph.