Gottlieb Siegmund Corvinus
Gottlieb Siegmund Corvinus was a German poet and notary born in 1677 in Leipzig, from an esteemed academic family. Enrolling at the University of Leipzig in 1694 to study law, he never earned a degree but spent much of his life connected to the institution. Corvinus is notable for his contributions to discussions surrounding the role of women in literature, particularly through his work, "Nutzbares, galantes, und curiöses Frauenzimmer-Lexikon," which encouraged women's intellectual pursuits beyond traditional domestic roles. His early poetry, characterized by romantic and satirical themes, led to controversy, resulting in the banning of his works and even a brief imprisonment due to scriptural references in his secular poetry. Throughout his career, Corvinus garnered both criticism and accolades, with prominent literary figures, including Johann Christoph Gottsched and Caroline Neuber, engaging with his work in various ways. Despite facing significant controversy, he was recognized as a poet laureate by the emperor and was offered positions as a court poet. Corvinus passed away in 1746 at the age of sixty-eight in his hometown of Leipzig, remembered for his sharp wit despite the mixed legacy of his literary contributions.
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Gottlieb Siegmund Corvinus
Fiction and Nonfiction Writer and Poet
- Born: May 15, 1677
- Birthplace: Leipzig, Germany
- Died: January 27, 1746
- Place of death: Leipzig, Germany
Biography
A native of Leipzig, Germany, Gottlieb Siegmund Corvinus was born in 1677 to a leading academic family. In 1694 in a generations-old family tradition, Corvinus enrolled at the University of Leipzig with intent to study law. Even though he became a notary in only a few years, Covinus would end up spending the rest of his life affiliated with the university, despite never actually earning a degree.
Corvinus was a German gallant poet who in the early eighteenth century engaged in the much-discussed issue of the role of women writers. To the dialogue, Corvinus contributed Nutzbares, galantes, und curiöses Frauenzimmer-Lexikon, which encouraged women to engage and develop their intellectual interests outside the household and outside the conventional role of housewife. Corvinus began his publishing career with two poetry books that included among them romantic, satirical, and public ovation poetic works and epigrams. These were ultimately banned by Dresden authorities because he had included dozens of scriptural references in his secular poetry. These poems also landed Gottlieb Siegmund Corvinus in jail for a time in the early 1710’s.
Later in life, Corvinus became aquainted with Johann Christoph Gottsched, a leading literary critic, who along with his wife, another poet, were known to playfully satirize Corvinus’s work because its overly witty nature. However, Corvinus came under fire when the actress and literary figure Caroline Neuber lashed out against Gottsched and the Deutsche Gesellschaft society he ran in Leipzig, Corvinus included.
In his career, Corvinus was named poet laureate by the emperor and offered two invitations to serve as court poet, even with the controversy surrounding his work. He amassed more criticism than praise, especially in the twilight of his career and even after his death. However, Gottlieb Siegmund Corvinus was remembered fondly for his wry wit when he died in 1746 at age sixty-eight in Leipzig, the only home he ever knew.